People: Harrison & Hetherington; ThinCats; PM+M; New Care; Make Events

After more than 10 years with Carlisle-based Harrison & Hetherington, the last two as joint managing director, Scott Donaldson will take on the role of managing director of the company.

In taking up this position he will be assuming what is undoubtedly one of the key roles within the UK’s livestock industry.

Operating nine auction marts across the North of England and Scottish Borders and hosting regular digital sales, H&H is at the core of H&H Group plc’s Agri-business operations. With an annual turnover in the region of £180m, this internationally-recognised livestock business sees a throughput of in excess of 850,000 head of livestock across its auction marts and online trading platforms.

Chief executive, Richard Rankin, said: “Scott is the perfect man for the job. He has the right skill set and experience carried through from his previous roles.

“His career path has demonstrated continuous professional development, and in working alongside David Pritchard for the last 10 years he has developed an in-depth understanding of the business and its needs for the future. Now is the time for him to step up and take overall responsibility.”

Aged 53, Scott has worked within the livestock industry his entire career, and has an in-depth understating of the sector at all levels. He said: “We live in a very fast moving world now, far removed from what worked 10 or 20 years ago. As such, we have to keep reacting and responding to new challenges. So, in taking up this role, my main aim is to make sure that both Harrison & Hetherington and the team behind it are well equipped to move forward into the next decade and beyond, grasping the full potential of innovation.”

::

Following ThinCats’ recent announcement of a record year for lending in 2020 with almost £300m provided to mid-sized businesses across the UK, the company has added to its Northern credit team with the addition of Ben Drummond as credit partner.

ThinCats operates a regional credit model where origination and credit terms work together to service funding proposals from corporate finance advisers, brokers and accountants.

Ben Drummond

Having initially qualified as a Chartered Accountant at PwC, Ben brings experience of working in corporate finance advisory functions specialising in MBOs and PFI contracts, as well as commercial banking across RBS and Lloyds, and has a wide variety of experience in both relationship management and credit.

Ben will be working within the existing credit team covering Manchester and the North West, Yorkshire and the North East and Scotland.

Dave Parr, director, regional business development, said: “It is great to have someone with Ben’s experience to enhance the team, and he will be a huge benefit in providing our clients with a timely, hands-on credit experience on an even more local basis.”

Rob Thompson, regional head of credit-North, said: “We are delighted to have Ben join the team. He brings an impressive amount of knowledge and experience and will enable us to expand our capacity to assess mid-sized businesses across Manchester and the Northern region very early in the funding process.”

::

PM+M, the chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management firm, has appointed Luqmaan Essa as a director in its accounting and advisory team.

Luqmaan will primarily be based in PM+M’s Bury office with a focus on supporting PM+M’s continued growth in the region.

He joins from Azets, previously Baldwins, where he was a client relationship manager. He joined Cassons Chartered Accountants in 2003, which was subsequently taken over by Baldwins in 2017.

Over the past 18 years he has mainly dealt with owner-managed businesses so has extensive expertise in advising and helping clients to achieve their short and long term business objectives.

Luqmaan Essa

PM+M’s accounting and advisory team primarily advises the owners and directors of family and privately-owned businesses to support them in achieving their business and personal goals. It offers a wide range of services including forecasting and business planning, annual accounts and tax returns, bookkeeping, company secretarial and VAT compliance.

Helen Clayton, partner and head of PM+M’s Bury office, said: “We are delighted that Luqmaan has joined us at what is an exciting time of growth – both for our Bury office and the wider firm.

“The pandemic has, of course, made many businesses reassess their goals and objectives, so his skills, insight and expertise will be of huge value to our clients as we all move towards brighter times and plan for the future.”

Luqmaan said: “I have long admired PM+M’s ambition and its commitment to always strive for excellence, so this is an exciting step in my career.

“My appointment in the Bury office also further cements the firm’s commitment to the region and our clients. I am now looking forward to helping further strengthen the team and contribute to its continued success.”

::

New Care has appointed Janet Lewis, from Manchester, as the registered home manager of Cheadle Manor, its recently opened £15m care facility on Stockport Road in Cheadle.

Janet joined the company in October 2019, and was previously the home manager of Ashlands Manor in Sale.

She will be responsible for a team of more than 100 employees and 68 residents and has been involved with Cheadle Manor since day one, having an active interest in its build programme.

Janet Lewis

This year Janet celebrates 40 years working in the health sector and has held several senior positions in the NHS as well as various management roles in the private health and social care sector since 2004.

Janet said: “Joining New Care was an easy decision, and I enjoyed my time at Ashlands Manor, one of the company’s most sought-after homes. However, it is wonderful to be appointed home manager at Cheadle Manor. I have watched the home being built and now that it is open it really is a stunning care facility that has naturally already generated lots of interest and enquiries.”

Cheadle Manor is the company’s latest care facility. It features 68 private bedrooms, each fully furnished and with an en suite wet room, as well as stylish communal lounges and elegant dining rooms, a spa-assisted bathroom, hairdresser and nail bar, plus secure landscaped gardens.

::

Make Events’ further growth and investment sees the company hire its first managing director, former TRO board director, Nick Burrows.

This is a fundamental decision to ensure the continued growth and success of the Wilmslow company, it said.

Make Events has seen its virtual event offering increase in demand and the company respond to client needs with the creation of new revenue streams requiring new hires and recognising growing talent within its existing team.

Holly Moore, founder and CEO, said: “At the start of 2020 it was my goal to make enough profit to be able to employ a managing director. When sat at home contemplating how I would get us through COVID-19 there had to be something at the end to motivate me and that was to carry on and find an MD. A brave move and financial investment at this time.

Nick Burrows

“We decided to search beyond the events industry, and this is becoming clear that was exactly what we needed. We have started to shape the business to create the ultimate experience live, virtually and tangibly and develop into a marketing and experience agency.

“The team and I are very excited for this injection into the business.”

In his new role Nick will be responsible for the operational running of the agency and ensuring the team achieve their individual goals.

Nick said: “I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to continue driving growth within Make Events in a Post-COVID-19 world. The agency has great clients, great people and a great set of products and services backed up by a positive culture. The future is what we make it, and Make Events are positioned to support organisations recover in 2021 and beyond.”