People on the Move: Bathgate Business Finance; ClearFibre; Savants; Leonard Curtis

West Kirby-based finance company, Bathgate Business Finance, has appointed leasing specialist, Rachel Berry, as a business development manager.

Rachel brings more than 13 years’ experience in the leasing industry to Bathgate’s growing team, garnered in her role as a new business and account manager for Lombard Vehicle Solutions and ALD Automotive.

In her previous role Rachel worked extensively with SMEs and large corporate organisations in the professional services sector to deliver effective fleet solutions.

Her understanding of leisure and light commercial vehicle customers and specialism in asset finance brings new skills and connections to the Bathgate Business Finance team.

Despite challenging economic conditions, Rachel joins the team just a few months after the appointment of property specialist Ben Humphreys, highlighting Bathgate Business Finance’s commitment to growth and the provision of an ever-wider range of finance solutions for businesses across the North West.

Rachel said: “Bathgate Business Finance is a well known, professional company with an outstanding family feel and I am excited to be joining the team.

“I hope to use my expertise in the leasing sector and key contacts within the financial industry to support the company’s growth and develop new funding offers, while also diversifying my skills into new sectors.”

Bathgate Business Finance managing director, Gordon Andrews, said: “We are committed to growth and offering our clients the most diverse range of funding and finance options, especially at a time when innovative and personalised solutions are vital to the survival of so many businesses.

“Rachel’s expertise and connections within the leasing industry and her understanding of leisure and automotive customers will further diversify our offer, so we can extend even more support to clients at a time when it is very much needed.

“We’re excited to welcome her to the team and wish her the best of luck in the new role.”

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ClearFibre, the Manchester-based residential connectivity experts and part of the Telcom Group, has appointed Paul Eaton as its chief commercial officer and Richard Curwood as chief delivery officer.

Paul Eaton

Paul and Richard have a pedigree background which stretches back over 25 years in the industry.

Most recent success took their own creation, Smart Fibre Infrastructure into a market-leading proposition at Glide Residential.

Paul said: “Richard is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable and innovative thinkers in his field. Together we have redesigned our previously ground-breaking infrastructure system to create ‘Clear Convergence’.”

Richard Curwood

Richard said: “I have always admired the entrepreneurial approach that Doug and Shaun have adopted and their commitment to developing the country’s best products and services for their customers. I look forward to working with them as part of their long-term commitment to revolutionising the country’s internet provision.”

Shaun Gibson, Telcom Group chief executive, said: “Paul and Richard have been on our radar for some time now and have always admired their honesty, dedication and professionalism which shows in the industry they have worked, being respected by so many of their clients. We are so excited to have them join us in another great milestone in the Telcom story.”

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Savants, a provider of business advisory and consultancy services, has appointed Stephen Norfolk to national director of hospitality and tourism from its North West region.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry Stephen is a Member of the Institute of Hospitality and has a career covering the management of public and hospitality event catering, in-store restaurants, family dining concepts, licensed premises, self-catering accommodation and was awarded The Best Independently Owned Hotel on consecutive years at the Group Travel Awards.

Stephen Norfolk

He said: “Our strong expansion could not have come at a more critical time for so many hotel and hospitality businesses. This role provides me the opportunity to bring together the wealth of knowledge we possess amongst our team of specialist consultants located throughout the UK to operators seeking restructuring, turnaround, insolvency and refinancing options.”

Savants recently opened an office in Kendal to serve the Lake District and Cumbria, and Blackpool.

Managing director Andrew Anthony, said: “As we continue to strengthen our operations we recognise the importance of the hospitality industry to the service sector and the unprecedented challenges it faces as the UK economy retracts in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have 150 years of experience offering quality informed advice to business owners and their advisors. Stephen is creating a dynamic team, the quality and credibility of which is first class.”

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Further strengthening its support of SME accountants and their clients across Lancashire and the South Lakes, Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group has appointed Robyn Snape as business development manager.

She joins the company from the UK’s leading supplier of bodyshop courtesy cars, where she held an account management role.

Based in Leonard Curtis’s Preston office, Robyn is now tasked with developing the profile of the professional services group and its lifecycle network amongst accountants in and around Lancashire and Cumbria. It is one of the company’s 19-strong office network that spans the UK and Channel Islands.

Robyn said: “I’m looking forward to supporting accountants and the clients they represent at a time when demand for our business advisory services is high.

Robyn Snape

“The furlough scheme coming to an end, and the impact it will have on businesses and the options available to them, is one of the most frequent reasons that accountants are coming to us at the moment.

“Similarly, our corporate strategies team is currently busy supporting clients to secure loans from the Redundancy Payments Office and Reach Commercial Finance, our bespoke brokerage division, is providing lots of SMEs with cash flow solutions. Needless to say, the response that I’ve already received has been hugely positive.

“There are tens of thousands of SMEs in Lancashire alone, all of which play a really valuable role contributing to the UK economy. I’m delighted to now be able to do my bit to help them – and their accountant advisors – during what is sure to be a difficult time for many, through to the other side.”

Mark Colman, Leonard Curtis board director and Preston office lead, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Robyn to the team, especially so at a time when more SME accountants than ever will require our specialist, multi-disciplinary professional services support for their clients. Her high-calibre, market-leading background is obvious, and she’s already proving to be a real asset to the group.”