People: Acorn Recruitment; High-Rise Communications; WestBridge; Champion Accountants; Turley
Bernard Ward has been appointed as the new managing director of Acorn Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading recruitment firms.
Mr Ward will lead Acorn through the next stages of its expansion, as the company continues to break into new markets, drive further growth and further enhance its presence locally across the North West of England, and throughout the UK.
Multi-specialist Acorn has offices and business operations UK-wide and a turnover of more than £100m.
Previously the regional director (South West, Wales & Midlands) for Blue Arrow, Mr Ward has also been managing director of recruitment businesses in the UK and internationally, spanning a career in recruitment of more than 22 years.
During that time he has held a number of positions in the recruitment industry, from starting out as a top billing consultant, to eventually becoming a country director, and then managing director, working across the UK, and also heading up businesses in Qatar, Dubai and the EMEA region, and covering a range of sectors such as professional services, digital and tech, construction, aviation, manufacturing, engineering, automation, general industrial and commercial, oil and gas, driving, and hospitality.
As well as Blue Arrow, Bernard brings a wealth of experience from other recruitment firms including Daniel Owen and CBSbutler, both where he was managing director, as well as Reed and Adecco – and for which he oversaw many award-winning operations.
Mr Ward said: “I have watched Acorn’s impressive growth and achievements over many years, and it’s certainly a real privilege to pick up where my predecessor left off.
“And I guess my arrival sparks a new era for Acorn – a journey which I’m absolutely delighted to join my new colleagues on, and for which we’re envisaging exciting times ahead, not least in the North West, as we continue to draw from, and build on, the rich industrial heritage available to us.
“We’re already working on plans to expand the business into new directions, and also, of course, to get back out after the confines of the pandemic to continue to support our amazing clients, and as Acorn does every year, supporting thousands of people into work.
“I have picked up the wonderful buzz here, and whilst we’ve got loads to do, I’m already appreciating how great it is to get stuck into things and to be tasked with leading Acorn forward onto its next stages of growth.”
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Manchester-based public relations agency High-Rise Communications has boosted its team with the appointment of Sarah Tulley as account manager.
The agency, which specialises in working with clients that create stronger communities, has expanded its team following a series of recent client wins, successful campaigns and award nominations.
Sarah began her career at Manchester-based Citypress before joining the BBC North Communications team at MediaCityUK. This was followed by four years with BBC Studios in Australia, delivering successful publicity campaigns for BBC brands and shows including Doctor Who and Sherlock, as well as handling internal, corporate and digital communications.
High-Rise has significantly expanded its team over the past year, with Sarah joining recent recruits Laura Thomas and Vicki Philips who were appointed to the team as account manager and trainee account executive, respectively.
Sarah Tulley
Sarah will work with the team to provide strategic communications support across the agency’s range of clients, which includes recent addition, POhWER, the largest advocacy charity in the UK. High-Rise’s client base also includes ethical financial advisers The Path, the UK’s leading used car retailer CarShop, and Derbyshire-based Ashgate Hospicecare, for which the agency’s work was recently recognised with a Silver PRmoment award for Best Community Engagement Campaign.
Founder and managing director, Helen Furnivall, said: “Over the past year we’ve been extremely fortunate that, as an agency, we have managed to help our clients respond to the pandemic and work on some really impactful campaigns. We’re delighted that our hard work is being recognised at industry awards – but we’re not taking anything for granted.
“Sarah’s appointment is a real boost for High-Rise. She brings with her considerable media relations, corporate and digital communications expertise that will be invaluable in helping us to continue our growth and deliver the best possible strategic communications support to our clients.”
Sarah said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the High-Rise team at such an exciting time. The High-Rise ethos of providing purposeful communications for purposeful clients is something that definitely aligns with my own values. I’m really looking forward to working with the team to help build the next chapter of High-Rise’s exciting journey.”
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Private equity house WestBridge has promoted Peter Barkley to director.
Barkley joined WestBridge in August 2019 to head the firm’s newly-opened Manchester office and establish the firm in the North West, North East and Yorkshire markets.
After qualifying at BDO, he joined Dow Schofield Watts where he came to the attention of WestBridge after advising the firm on its £10m investment in environmental consultancy APEM. Since moving to WestBridge he has joined the APEM board and is actively supporting the company’s buy and build strategy.
Barkley was also instrumental in the delivery and completion of the firm’s second North West deal, its £12.8m investment in Aptus Utilities.
Most recently, he took responsibility for the firm’s largest transaction, its £29m investment in construction software provider Eque2.
Managing partner, Guy Davies, said: “Pete is a superb member of our team. He made the transition from adviser to investor with ease and has forged solid relationships with the management teams of our portfolio companies, helping accelerate growth and create shareholder value in all of them.
Peter Barkley
“His focus and drive have already ensured WestBridge has rapidly and successfully established itself as an active and dynamic participant in the North West and beyond. Our regional success is in no small part down to him being able to leverage the close relationships he has developed and nurtured over the years.
“Pete is playing a pivotal role in our ongoing success and it is clear he will play a significant role in our business in the future.”
Barkley said: “I couldn’t be more delighted and am thoroughly enjoying taking an active role in supporting investee companies and believe the way we do business is really refreshing. It’s a particularly exciting time to be here as the WestBridge team and our offering continues to develop and evolve.”
WestBridge, which has offices in London, Manchester and Cardiff, typically invests between £10-£25m into established, profitable and ambitious UK SMEs with enterprise values of between £15m and £50m.
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Champion Accountants has announced the promotion of a former audit and accounts trainee to group partner.
David Herd, 29, joined Champion’s Blackpool office in 2010 as a trainee, studying for his AAT qualification, before moving straight onto ACCA.
During the last year of the certification, in 2014, David discovered a penchant for tax advisory and relocated to Champion’s Manchester office to work under the company’s group tax partner, Gill Molloy, where he qualified as a chartered tax adviser.
Since then, David has been integral to the growth of Champion’s tax advisory arm and has spearheaded the company’s R&D tax relief, land remediation relief and stamp duty land tax services. David and his team have, to date, achieved a 100% success rate for R&D, which has resulted in more than £45m of tax relief claimed for clients, while total revenue for the team has increased threefold due to a flurry of new appointments.
David also launched the company’s crowdfunding service aimed at high growth businesses looking to raise finance, offering strategic advice across all tax advisory services, alongside a range of support from accounts preparation, management information and payroll.
David Herd
Appointed to the role in Champion’s 50th year in business, David’s promotion marks the company’s ongoing commitment to offer the next generation of accounting talent the best opportunities in the industry; and comes at the start of another new chapter in David’s life.
He said: “When I joined Champion 11 years ago, I was promised the chance to earn while I learn and the ongoing opportunity to train to truly succeed in my field. I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside some of the best in the industry who were happy to give up their time and share their experiences to help me succeed, and I would like to thank them for arming me with the knowledge required to reach this position.
“It’s been an exciting time both professionally and personally. I welcomed my daughter into the world just a few months ago and will soon be celebrating my 30th birthday. To have been appointed to the role of group partner before the age of 30 was somewhat of a dream of mine, and I put achieving it down to the incredible support I’ve received from the Champion team.”
He added: “I hope that in my new role, I’m able to inspire our many trainees that they, too, can step into such roles one day with the right backing around them.”
Ged Cosgrove, group managing partner, said: “Since David joined our team all those years ago, it was clear he had the type of ambition you don’t often come across. He was constantly spotting opportunities, but he didn’t just sit back and wait for other people to make things happen – he acted above his position to convert them into services that have been integral to the success and growth of the group.
“There was no other role discussed when it came to David’s next steps and progression. We want him alongside us at board level, to help shape the future of Champion.”
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Manchester-based planning and development consultancy, Turley, has expanded its economics offer with the launch of a new business cases and funding service. The specialist team will be led by Andy Rumfitt who joins as a senior director.
Andy was a former director of economics & economic development at AECOM, where he spent seven years at the firm building a team of 30. Andy led the due diligence of more than 140 business and investment cases across all infrastructure types and directed case making work on major transport schemes such as Crossrail2, Sutton Link and the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension.
He will head up Turley’s newly-launched service, which provides business case development, appraisal, and funding applications for the private and public sector. Further appointments to the team will be announced imminently.
The team specialises in leading and producing integrated ‘five case’ applications based on the most recent Treasury Green Book guidance. Services include appraisal and due diligence, production of business cases, impact assessments, evaluation and benefit realisation, training and coaching.
Turley says the launch of the new service will help clients meet the Government’s change in investment approach and approval processes, which reflect greater emphasis on the levelling up agenda and meeting net zero targets.
Andy Rumfitt
Andy said: “Turley’s existing services marry up extremely well with a business cases and funding team. Being part of a broad development economics service, which includes in-house development viability expertise, enables an integrated service to clients. Working alongside a dedicated sustainability team also means we can work with clients to validate and provide advice on measuring ESG. This is extremely valuable in helping organisations demonstrate the case for investment and development.
“I’m really looking forward to building a market leading business cases and funding team and working alongside new colleagues and clients at Turley.”
Turley’s chief executive, Dave Trimingham, said: “This new service comes at a pivotal point for Turley and our clients. With increasing emphasis on the levelling up agenda and net zero targets, early demonstration of the business cases for new projects and how they align with government’s changing investment approach is crucial for any successful bid.
“Andy has unrivalled experience in making successful business cases and funding bids. We are incredibly pleased he will be leading our new service. Working closely with colleagues across our 14 locations we see opportunities for Andy and team to support clients and partners in bringing forward a wide range of development and regeneration in all parts of the UK and Ireland.”
