People: Digital Rewards Group; ForHousing; Weightmans; Chancerygate; Hill Dickinson
daysout.com, part of the Knutsford-based Digital Rewards Group (DRG), has appointed Catherine Warrilow to the role of UK managing director, to coincide with the new brand’s UK launch.
DRG’s other brands include Kids Pass, the UK’s largest days out discount app, and digital perks, one of the first apps that companies can offer to employees to receive discounts across a wide range of days out and leisure activities from their smartphones.
DRG executive chairman, Dave Clayton said: “We believe there is a huge opportunity to shake up and disrupt the search & ticketing experience currently available to consumers both in the UK and worldwide. We will offer a superior search and purchasing experience to thousands of attractions both directly contracted and through leading edge API integration and mapping.
“Catherine will add significant value with her experience in this sector and lead the strategy in the UK prior to the US launch later in 2022.”
“Catherine will join in January 2022 to lead the UK strategy bringing her days out, travel and entertainment pedigree having worked across brands including Attraction World Group (awg), Vrbo, Hard Rock Hotels and Mecca Bingo.”
Ms Warrilow said: “There is an extraordinary opportunity within DaysOut.com and I am looking forward to putting the foundations in place from January.
“This is a fantastic challenge to revolutionise the way people find, compare and book days out. Leisure time is precious so the experience around the planning process needs to reflect that. We plan to really challenge the norms of how customers search and buy days out and entirely reimagine the booking experience.”
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Mark Lowe has been appointed as the new interim director of sustainability at ForHousing.
The landlord, which manages 24,000 homes across the North West, is dedicated to providing quality homes and places. Mark was previously the director of assets at ForHousing and has been with the landlord for more than 20 years.
His new role will be key to helping ForHousing reduce carbon emissions and play its part in the country reaching net zero targets by 2050.
He will ensure all existing ForHousing homes meet EPC Band C by 2030 and will contribute to the design of new build developments so that they are fit for the future and carbon zero by 2028. Mark will also be responsible for securing environmental sustainability commitments from ForHousing’s main suppliers.
Mark Lowe
Mark will be responsible for driving the delivery of ForHousing’s Green Strategy which will see the landlord working with tenants and staff to make greener choices to benefit their homes and communities, such as recycling and being mindful about how they use heating and water.
ForHousing’s approach is part of its wider mission to work with tenants, the community, and partners to take action to protect our planet.
Mark said: “I am really proud to have been appointed to this vital position. It will be a challenging role, and we will all, staff, tenants and our colleagues in the sector, need to pull together to ensure we achieve net zero.
“Sustainability needs to run through every single decision we make, both professionally and personally. Tenants are at the heart of our approach. My team and I will be working closely with tenants to share simple tips on living greener, such as how to save energy to reduce bills while helping to protect our planet.
“I’m passionate about achieving net zero and ensuring the homes we provide are fit for the future. I’m really looking forward to getting everyone involved as we focus on providing top quality and sustainable homes.”
Colette McKune, ForHousing CEO, said: “Over the next decade, what we do to get to net zero will have a major impact on the world we live in. As a people-focused business, we want to ensure we do all we can to secure the future of the planet for the next generation. Not doing anything is not an option.
“Mark’s role reflects our dedication as an organisation to delivering on zero carbon housing. We are focused on creating quality homes and places that make more things possible for more people. I wish Mark every success in his new role. His experience, commitment and passion make him the perfect fit.”
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Liverpool-based national law firm, Weightmans, has strengthened its offering for corporate clients with the appointment of three lawyers to its corporate team, including a new partner and solicitor in the North West, with plans to recruit more after a busy six months.
The firm has welcomed Louise Neave as a partner in the Liverpool office. An expert in consumer finance and financial services regulation, Louise has experience in advising some of the UK’s best known high street and challenger banks, retailers, motor manufacturers and brokers.
She joins from DLA Piper, where she was responsible for the firm’s consumer finance practice as a legal director.
Christopher Galley has been appointed as a corporate solicitor in the Manchester office. He joins from Latham & Watkins, having also previously worked for the global law office in Shanghai as foreign legal counsel. He brings with him global experience in M&A, capital markets and corporate restructurings.
Louise Neave
Weightmans has also appointed Emily Beere as a corporate solicitor in London.
Louise Neave said: “Weightmans is a firm grounded within the North West business community, respected and relied upon by many of the region’s top companies. I look forward to working with the corporate team to support clients throughout this important period as the economy rebalances.”
Sarah Walton, partner at Weightmans, said: “It has been an incredibly busy time for the team over the past six months, with M&A activity surging. These appointments represent a significant investment in our corporate team in the region.
“We are committed to supporting our corporate clients throughout this exciting and challenging time for North West businesses, as they work to find new opportunities for growth as they build back post-pandemic.
“Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our recruitment drive across the region’s corporate team, investing in the best talent and giving all of our staff the development opportunities they need to thrive.”
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Industrial property developer and asset manager Chancerygate has announced a trio of key appointments in its Warrington office as it continues to grow its team in the North West.
Stuart McGill
Stuart McGill joins as asset manager, Andy Farrer as development manager and Joe Johnson as project manager.
Stuart joins from Cowiesburn Asset Management, where he headed up the Manchester office. A chartered surveyor, he is responsible for the asset management of the Northern properties in Chancerygate’s industrial portfolio, both balance sheet and third party asset management mandates.
Andy arrives from Peel L&P, where he was most recently development director on business parks. He has also worked for CBRE and Lambert Smith Hampton and will deal with some of the existing portfolio of industrial developments in the North as well as source new development opportunities as the business continues to achieve its growth ambitions.
Andy Farrer
Joe is also a chartered surveyor and joins from Lambert Smith Hampton’s Manchester office, having previously worked for Deloitte Real Estate and Dot Residential. Joe will work with both the development and asset management teams to advise on technical and construction activities on Chancerygate projects in the region.
Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is a multi-unit industrial developer and asset manager and the only one operating nationwide across 23 sites ranging from Bournemouth to Edinburgh, it said.
Mike Walker, development director at Chancerygate and head of the Warrington office, said: “These are three great additions to the business as we continue to grow across both asset management and development.
Joe Johnson
“We are delighted to welcome Stuart, Andy and Joe to Chancerygate. They bring a wealth of experience and proven success with large firms, as well as a strong understanding of the industrial property market in the North.
“We have grown our asset management portfolio and development pipeline significantly in the North West in the past 12 months. Their appointments will be key in ensuring that we achieve our ambitions to continue with our rate of growth and maintain our position as a leading developer and asset manager in the region.”
Chancerygate currently has up to three million sq ft of industrial space under construction or ready for development. The company also manages in excess of £255m of assets across more than five million sq ft of commercial space in more than 390 units.
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International law firm Hill Dickinson has promoted a record number of associate lawyers to senior associate positions in its latest promotions round.
Manchester promotions. Top from left: Harriet Adgie, Tassneem Attia, Rosie Edwards. Bottom from left: James Redshaw, Leah Selkirk, Sean Lightfoot.
The move reflects a period of intense work and commitment throughout the pandemic and the success of the firm’s people-first strategy, combining lateral recruitment at the most senior levels with clear and achievable promotion paths for everyone from within.
A total of 28 lawyers across all three of the firm’s core business groups become senior associates with effect from November 1, 2021, more than in any other year since the current system of announcing promotions each November began.
In addition, Sean Lightfoot, of the firm’s Manchester corporate team, has been promoted to legal director.
Liverpool promotions. Top, from left: Elizabeth Finnie, Ajith Prasad, Krystyn Hall. Middle, from left: Lizzie Jones, Kerry Barlow, Victoria Haughey. Bottom, from left: Mark Cranshaw, Rachel Kelly-Brandreth, Martin Rothwell.
The promotions are spread across each of the firm’s three core business groups and in eight of its nine UK and international offices.
Hill Dickinson chief executive, Peter Jackson, said: “I am delighted to see so many of our people successfully advancing their legal careers with Hill Dickinson.
“It feels particularly rewarding to make this number of promotions to senior associate in a single round, reflecting our ongoing commitment to growing our people. This is a very proud moment, not only for them, but for us as a firm.”
He added: “Of this year’s senior associate promotions, 17 are women – over 60%. Our challenge now is to maintain the ratio of women progressing upward through the ranks so that, in time, we also achieve greater balance at our most senior levels.
“As a law firm, we are putting huge effort into achieving that vision and our flexible and agile working policies play a big part in that.”
