People: Bridging Finance Solutions; Avison Young; Tech Returners; Foursquare Group; Professional Liverpool
Finance specialist, Lee Gilmore, has been appointed as head of business development at Bridging Finance Solutions.
A former relationship director at HSBC, Lee has been working with Wallasey-based BFS for several years in a consultant capacity, delivering coaching and mentoring while supporting the team in making informed investment decisions within the business including development and growth.
Managing director, Steve Barber, said: “This was a natural step for us and the appointment of Lee in this senior role is an incredibly positive and exciting move. He has some fantastic ideas around how we can begin to integrate his existing work within the business development, operational and finance areas of the business to improve and enhance wider performance.
“His existing knowledge of BFS will undoubtedly be a huge asset and will allow us to make the shift in role a seamless one.”
He added: “We have ambitious plans in place and I have huge confidence in Lee who will help us drive this forward, realising all of our objectives.”
Lee will lead the regional teams from the BFS head office and is looking to make a series of new appointments in the coming 12 months. He said: “This is a brilliant move for me. I’ve worked with BFS for a number of years and continue to be impressed by their refreshing and unique approach in a busy and challenging market.
“BFS has undoubtedly found its niche position within the short term finance sector and it is these foundations that we’ll continue to build upon. We have a strong business development team already in place but will need to further strengthen resources if we are to grow in line with our strategy.”
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Avison Young has appointed Matt Pickersgill as associate director within the office advisory team in Manchester, where he joins Rupert Barron, Mark Cooke, Scott Meakin and Chris Cheap.
Matt joins from Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) where he was regional lead on all aspects of office advisory work, supporting institutional funds, private investors, and national and regional property companies, as well as helping businesses from a range of sectors formulate their office occupational strategies.
Matt Pickersgill
He joins Avison Young at a key moment for all aspects of workspace, and his extensive experience, especially in growth occupier sectors, will further enhance the business’s strong reputation.
Chris Cheap, principal and managing director of the Manchester office, said: “Matt is someone who has established a really strong reputation in the Manchester office advisory market, and I am very pleased to welcome him to the team. Our regional growth ambitions are clear and recruiting talent of Matt’s calibre is fundamental to achieving them.”
Matt said: “I’m delighted to be joining such a forward-thinking business with strong ambitions to advance its North West transactional offering at every opportunity.
“Avison Young has an established office advisory team in Manchester with a breadth of experience, as we move out of lockdown and into this new era of workplace solutions, I’m excited to assist with driving the team forward and providing the best service and advice for our clients.”
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Manchester-based Tech Returners has added to its team, expanding its presence across the UK with the appointment of a head of marketing and operations and a tech coach/software engineer for its rapidly growing team, and has created further roles in marketing, talent and careers and software engineering across the business.
Sarah Little
The organisation, which was set up in 2017 by Beckie Taylor and James Heggs, has appointed Derby-based Sarah Little to lead marketing and business operations, while award winning software engineer, London-based Kim Diep, will develop in-house tech platforms as well as deliver technical coaching for career returners looking to get back to roles in technology.
Since its inception the organisation has placed 79 returners back into careers in technology, with 64 of those women, through its ‘Your Return To Tech’ programme working with businesses including AutoTrader, ANS, Lloyds Banking Group, Booking.com, ao, Infinity Works, Northern Power Women, and Padoq, while a move into London during 2020 saw a link up with Eigen Technologies, OpenCredo, IDBS, BJSS, Blackrock, Coeo, Vodafone and Zuhlke.
Future cohorts of the programme will be sponsored by businesses including The Telegraph Media Group and Nando’s.
Kim Diep
Head of marketing & operations, Sarah Little, joins from Worcester based Liaison Group which inspires and achieves savings for the health economy through its workplace, financial and care business, while tech coach and software developer Kim Diep joins from national firm The Trainline.com. She has also been a Fellowship Program mentor and Python Coding instructor at Code First Girls and a board member at Girls In Tech London.
Tech Returners CEO, Beckie Taylor, said: “We are so excited to welcome Sarah and Kim to the team as we expand into other areas of the UK.
“We have always been incredibly ambitious in terms of our plans to scare and provide more opportunities to empower careers in technology and to support these growth plans we have made key appointments and created new roles which will allow us to put in place the right framework to deliver more programmes and initiatives and create more life changing journeys back into technology.”
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Foursquare Group, a health and safety provider for independent hospitality, retail and leisure, has announced two key appointments which will help it move into new markets and offer additional services.
The Liverpool group, founded in 2019, has welcomed Simon Taylor and Louise Kissack to the board as non executive directors.
Simon Taylor
Foursquare works with high profile clients such as Maray, Leaf and The Art School and 2021 will mark a period of significant growth with the company embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy bringing its customer first approach to new areas and new markets, delivering new services such as HR, data protection and growth strategies.
Simon, a high level retailer with experience with brands such as New Look, N Brown Group and Osprey London, will help Foursquare break further into the retail market. His leadership will ensure that the group’s products and services address the challenges and opportunities specific to the industry.
Meanwhile, Louise, who has equally high level experience in hospitality working for brands such as McDonalds and Costa Coffee, will ensure that the relentless customer focus that Foursquare has become known for, remains prominent throughout its growth.
Louise Kissack
Founder, Liam Jones, said: “We have exciting plans to grow our business significantly over the coming years but as we do that our priority is to remain as customer focused as the day we started. In order to do that we need to understand our customers inside out and Louise and Simon, both specialists in their fields, will provide us with the insight and strategy to do just that.”
Simon said: “It’s great to be part of a team that is passionate and enthusiastic about the road ahead. People in the F&B and retail industries really need help and support in these troubled times and for me being part of an organisation that can help means a lot to me.”
Louise said: “I’m delighted to be joining a business who is as obsessed with supporting our local indies as I am. One of the things that drew me to Foursquare was its passion for local independents, and how dedicated the company is to helping them succeed.”
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Professional Liverpool, the organisation that represents the Liverpool City Region’s professional community, has welcomed three leaders from the region to its non-executive board.
The Director of Tate Liverpool, Helen Legg, founder and director of Ametrine Coaching & Consultancy, Irene Afful, and Matt McLaren, professional risks director at Griffiths & Armour, will all bring their experience and expertise to the Professional Liverpool board.
The new board members represent diverse sectors of the regional economy and will offer fresh perspectives and insight as Professional Liverpool continues its evolution from a traditional membership organisation to a diverse, future-focused community.
Andrew Ruffler, Professional Liverpool chief executive, said: “Professional Liverpool is committed to leveraging our influence as a champion for positive change in the city region. We want to connect and inspire the community we represent by spearheading key initiatives and supporting the education, diversity and inclusion agenda within the city region.”
Andrew Ruffler
“Helen, Irene, and Matt are true leaders in the city region, who have forged remarkable careers, while also pioneering positive change and bringing real value to their respective communities and sectors at a national and international level. Their influence and insight is significant and we’re delighted to have them on board and look forward to drawing on their considerable expertise and experience as we set the course for continued growth and innovation within our organisation.”
Helen Legg said: “It’s a hugely exciting time for the city region and it’s great to be joining forces with Andrew and the team as we build on the strong foundations in place to grow and nurture a thriving community that will act as a catalyst to deepen inclusion, support the next generation, and enable collaboration and connection within our professional sector.”
Irene Afful
Irene Afful said: “Having been a member for several years, I have seen the important work that PL does leading the way in the professional and business sectors. I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members and the PL team to further enhance the offering of PL to build wider connections and lead the way in embedding support, connections, opportunities, education and diversity and inclusion in the Liverpool City Region.”
Matt MacLaren said: “The environment that businesses across all regions have faced recently has been extremely challenging, but I truly share Andrew and the board’s belief that we are entering a period where the Liverpool City Region has huge opportunities ahead of it.”
