People: 21Digital; +24; Haworths Chartered Accountants; LTE Group; SRL Traffic Systems
Blackburn digital agency 21Digital has appointed Alex Waddicor as web and graphic designer.
Alex brings with him more than four years’ experience from previous roles as digital designer at Studio Retail and web designer at EKM.
21Digtial managing director Sam Fletcher welcomed Alex, saying: “Throughout all the madness of 2020, we’ve stayed firmly committed to our ongoing development and expansion plans here at 21Digital.
“As part of those, we’re thrilled to welcome Alex on board where he will be responsible for creating many of the beautiful visuals you’ll see on our clients’ sites, as well as our own social media.
“Alex was a self-starter from a young age – one of the many things that makes him a perfect fit for our team. He taught himself the basics of Photoshop at age 12, and began a digital marketing apprenticeship when he was 18.
“Now a fully-qualified graphic designer, in just a few short years, he’s expanded his impressively varied portfolio with custom themes for ecommerce stores, as well as designs for general website content, email marketing, social and printed material, and more.
“Alex is also something of a petrolhead, which gives him head start with many of our automotive clients and helps him fit right in with the many racing and car-mod enthusiasts here at 21Digital.”
Alex said: “I’m really pleased to have joined 21Digital. As part of a tight-knit team, I love having the freedom to get creative with my designs, an I like how I’m encouraged to hone my skills and push the boundaries working on a wide variety of client briefs.”
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Award-winning Burnley-based digital agency +24 is rounding off a sucessful year announcing it has bolstered its already strong team by bringing on board a highly experienced operations director.
Carrie Nestor is thrilled to become part of the company, working alongside founder and managing director Dave Walker, and recent appointment Steven Emery, technical project manager.
Carrie brings an impressive array of credentials and almost two-decades of project managing and operations experience earned at some of the North West’s premiere firms.
Dave Walker said he was delighted to bring Carrie in as a new operations director, a role she will begin in the new year.
Carrie said: “I’m going to be looking across the business in terms of continuing growth and profits.
“I have worked and managed a lot of projects over the years as operations director, and know that sometimes the best thing for me to do is skim along the top.”
The Lancaster University law graduate, who lives in the Ribble Valley with husband Dave and their two children, Hollie and Theo, has 15 years’ experience in project management and operations roles.
Carrie Nestor
Carrie joins +24 after spending the past two years as operations director at Magma, the Chorley-based software, development and consultancy firm.
As +24 seamlessly made the move to remote working at the very start of the pandemic, ahead of many companies, Carrie will initially be based at home.
Dave Walker is looking towards major plans in the middle of 2021 to open new flexible working headquarters for the +24 team.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome Carrie into the +24 family. With her experience and industry knolwedge Carrie will soon make her mark on the business.
“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and we feel very fortunate to have continued our strong growth and provide a glimmer of positivity by creating new job roles.
“I firmly believe the recovery of the economy next year will be heavily reliant on the digital sector which will lead to our biggest year yet, but perhaps most importantly, the launch of The +24 Academy which aims to help reduce the devastating impact the digital skills gap has on the UK economy.
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Accrington-based Haworths Chartered Accountants has made a senior internal promotion and strengthened its team with the addition of an apprentice.
Dean Rodgers, a Chartered Accountant formerly acting as an accounts senior, has been promoted to client manager after 11 years with the practice, having started his tenure as an apprentice in 2009.
Dean Rodgers
Hoping to follow in his footsteps, Katie Tomlinson has joined Haworths having completed her A-Levels and after previously undertaking work experience with the company.
Dean will now primarily focus on strengthening relationships with Haworths’ SME clients as well as bringing in new business and driving the company’s digital and cloud accounting services. Meanwhile, Katie will gain on-the-job experience while the company guides her through her Level 4 CFAB Accounting Technician training.
Dean said: “I’ve enjoyed every single minute of working for Haworths and am pleased to be taking the next step in my professional development.
“My ambition now is to play an active role in accelerating the company’s organic growth. I’ve also amassed a portfolio of clients for whom I want to ensure we continue to deliver the most comprehensive consultancy, especially as the financial landscape is currently facing so much change.”
Katie Tomlinson
Both Dean and Katie are based at Haworths’ Accrington office, but the company also has premises in Settle. It has been providing high quality career opportunities from both sites for several years, having supported upwards of 10 local people to achieve CFAB qualifications or equivalent.
Katie said: “Having had several work experience placements with Haworths in the past, I already knew the type of team I would be joining and I’m so pleased to now be a fully-fledged member.
“I’m working alongside experts, from whom I am sure I’ll gain a wealth of experience as I continue my training.”
Dean added: “Katie is already making huge progress here and has had a big impact in just a few short weeks. I’m sure she will go on to be a major success for Haworths.”
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LTE Group chief executive, John Thornhill, has been officially elected as chair of the Collab Group board.
LTE Group is the first integrated education and skills group of its kind in the UK and the largest social enterprise in the country dedicated to learning, training and employment. The Group employs 4,200 people and provides education, training and employment opportunities to more than 95,000 learners.
The Group is made up of five specialist organisations – The Manchester College, UCEN Manchester, Novus, MOL and Total People – all with a shared mission and values.
John has been chief executive of LTE Group for eight years and a director with Collab Group Board since 2019.
LTE Group is behind the building of a brand new £93m campus in Manchester city centre for The Manchester College and its higher education provider UCEN Manchester.
This new appointment sees John follow on from, Shelagh Legrave, principal and chief executive of the Chichester College Group who served on the Collab Group board since 2014 and as chair since 2019.
The Collab Group brings together large UK colleges and college groups, who aim to transform the UK economy by delivering high quality technical and professional education.
John Thornhill
John will play a vital role in helping the group to deliver on its strategic objectives. His appointment comes at a unique time in which Collab Group colleges have a critical role to play to support local communities to navigate the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
John said: “These are unprecedented times for society and the economy. I firmly believe that FE and skills are part of the solution and catalyst the country needs to move forward.
“Collab Group member organisations will be in the vanguard as we address new and exciting challenges ahead. I’m honoured to be able to support Ian Pretty, CEO of Collab Group, and colleagues in the months ahead.”
Ian Pretty said: “I am delighted to welcome John Thornhill as chair of the Collab Group board. He brings with him many skills that will help Collab Group to grow and allow us to build on our success. I look forward to working closely with him on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.”
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Middlewich-based SRL Traffic Systems, a manufacturer and supplier of mobile intelligent transport system (ITS) equipment, has appointed its first group product and compliance manager in a move designed to support the ongoing delivery of solutions to the traffic management, construction, events and utilities sectors.
A well-known and highly regarded figure within the industry, Kevin Gilday has more than 40 years’ experience of new product development and lifecycle management. He joins SRL from traffic systems provider Dynniq, where he was responsible for innovation and product management.
Gilday will coordinate the management of new and existing products from across the company’s entire hire and sale portfolio – variable message sign (VMS), CCTV, traffic signals and the Urban64 traffic solution that coordinates multi-directional flows of traffic and pedestrians.
Gilday’s role will include UK-wide business development, negotiation, coordination and the protection of SRL’s intellectual property, trademarks and forthcoming patents, together with technical compliance.
His team is set for steady expansion under his leadership and direction. He will represent SRL in industry trade associations, including ARTSM, TOPAS and ITS Executive.
Kevin Gilday
SRL’s chief executive, Richard Tredwin, said: “SRL has ambitious plans to continue to develop and supply innovative new temporary ITS products to the UK and Republic of Ireland market. Kevin’s appointment as our first group product and compliance manager will enable us to retain our competitive technological edge and continue to offer customers leading-edge equipment to allow them to efficiently address their traffic management needs.
“As an experienced and widely respected figure within the ITS sector, and with a network that spans both the temporary and permanent markets, he is the perfect fit for SRL.”
Gilday’s appointment at the beginning of 2021 follows a prolific year for SRL, during which the company expanded its VMS offer with new products for the high speed and compact markets, developed its traffic light range to include adaptive detection system technology, enhanced its CCTV offer, expanded its management and board team and opened the largest ITS depot in the UK and RoI.
Founded in 1997, SRL offers expertise, supported by more than 170 staff and 140 specialist vehicles. It has the UK and RoI’s largest distribution network, comprising 29 depots, and says it is the only ITS manufacturer available to customers on site, 24/7, 365 days a year.
