People: Ashlands Manor; pro-manchester; Inciner8; Matthews & Goodman; Gorvins
Care centre Ashlands Manor in Sale has welcomed a new management team – local ladies Isobel Scott join as registered manager and Rebecca Regan as deputy manager.
With Ashland’s existing manager, Lisa Astley, moving to help establish the team at New Care’s latest care home Bridgewater Manor in Worsley, Isobel and Rebecca have the knowledge and expertise to continue the high standards and warm atmosphere for which the care home in Ashton-upon-Mersey is renowned, said the company.
With many years’ experience in nursing and specialisms in mental health and dementia care, the duo makes a formidable team and take responsibility for the safe running of the 57-bed care home, ensuring the highest quality leadership and care for its residents and 100-strong employee team.
A registered mental health nurse since 1995, Isobel is an accomplished manager, having managed care homes for both corporates and family-run businesses for more than 15 years.
She said: “New Care has a wonderful reputation for being a great company to work for. When I visited Ashlands Manor I found the environment and provision of care second to none and wanted to be part of this exciting adventure.”
With a nursing degree and a Master of Science in Dementia Practice, Rebecca is also well qualified having previously been clinical dementia lead at a care home in Cheshire. She is looking forward to supporting Isobel and further enhancing the care and provision at Ashlands Manor.
Rebecca said: “I was initially attracted by New Care’s superb industry reputation but my mind was made up when I entered the home for the first time and immediately received a warm welcome.”
Commissioning director at New Care, Dawn Collett, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Isobel and Rebecca to the team at Ashlands Manor and am confident they will enhance and further develop the home’s wonderful atmosphere and reputation.”
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New co-chairs of its retail and e-commerce committee have been appointed by business organisation pro-manchester.
Jennifer Smith, a partner at Forbes Solicitors, and Lauren Somers, a trade mark director at HGF, will share the post.
The retail steering group works with pro-manchester members across the sector to develop an insightful programme of events, addressing shared challenges and opportunities, as well as supporting networking and business development for retail professionals in the region.
Based in Forbes’ Manchester office, Jennifer deals with a range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters and has previously chaired the pro-manchester group from 2016 to 2019. She returns to the role having built further significant experience advising retail and ecommerce clients, with extensive expertise in providing strategic advice to board members and to HR teams on employment matters.
Jennifer Smith
In particular, Jennifer advises on complex issues such as the national minimum wage, changing terms and conditions, board disputes, change management (restructures, reorganisations and collective redundancies) and TUPE transfers. Jennifer was named as a Next Generation Partner in the 2021 Legal500 publication and a name to note.
She said: “After an extraordinary two years, the retail sector is unrecognisable having weathered the perfect storm of Brexit, COVID-19 lockdowns, supply chain disruption, staff shortages and an increasingly discerning consumer.
“Many of the challenges facing retailers are people-focused and the majority of retailers truly leading their markets are doing so because of a strong employer brand, culture and talent strategy. This is why it’s a sector I am passionate about as an employment specialist. The pro-manchester group allows me to continuously develop my own knowledge and collaborate with other industry specialists across the city region.”
Lauren, based in HGF’s Manchester office and serving clients nationwide, is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and a long standing member of the pro-manchester group. She works to assist retailers with their branding, design and copyright matters. This includes providing legal clearance for new brand launches, securing registered protection for trademarks and designs in the UK and internationally and enforcing these rights on and off-line. Lauren has been listed as a key lawyer in this year’s Legal500 and has provided comment for publications including the World Trade Mark Review.
Lauren said: “Consumer trends are constantly shifting but the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for change. Consumers now require retailers to be digitally agile and have become more selective in the brands that they engage with – a greater focus being placed on sustainability and ethics.
“We have seen many success stories in those that have risen to these challenges over the past two years, but have also lost some high street greats. Although, it’s reassuring to see how some of these names have been snapped up by online retailers and live on in the digital world, at least.”
Sam Booth, CEO at pro-manchester, said: “The value, energy and insights that Jen and Lauren bring to the retail group is invaluable to our members. They are deep sector experts so their insights and commerciality helps us build and deliver a programme that makes a real difference. They are two of Manchester’s most well respected professionals and together, it’s clear they will be a force to be reckoned with – I look forward to working with them both to achieve our ambitions for the group.”
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Stuart Parker has been announced as the new operations manager of Southport-based waste management specialist, Inciner8.
A specialist in advanced manufacturing and exporting of industrial products, Stuart has moved to Inciner8 having most recently held the position of head of operations at Cheshire-based Cygnet Texkimp, where he oversaw purchasing, assembly and installation of its globally-exported fibre handling and conversion technology since 2013.
He will now be responsible for the delivery of Inciner8’s wide range of waste management solutions, ensuring the company reaches its ambitions of exporting to all 195 countries around the world.
Stuart, who has a Masters in Business Administration, said: “There are a wealth of synergies across my previous experience and Inciner8, including its desire to be a profitable and proud British manufacturer. Joining the company today is a fantastic opportunity to support its continued and projected growth journey, and ensure Inciner8 achieves its ambition of becoming the world’s leading exporter of waste management solutions.
Stuart Parker
“My initial, short term goals are to integrate processes and procedures across the business that will lay the foundation for growth in key markets. While our reputation shines across developing countries, we’re keen to establish a strong foothold in America and Europe and have our excellence recognised.”
He added: “What’s clear to see is that everyone within Inciner8 is bought into the same vision and wants the business to thrive – and it’s my job to deliver on that shared goal.”
Stuart Winship, managing director of Inciner8, said: “Stuart’s wealth of experience in advanced manufacturing, and his role in ensuring his former employers have achieved some outstanding goals when it comes to exporting, is exactly the type of driving force we need within our operations at Inciner8.
“Stuart will be integral to identifying new strategies and procedures which help us achieve our goals, and we consider ourselves very lucky to have him embedded in our ranks. It’s people like Stuart that truly give our business a competitive edge.”
In recent months, Inciner8 has made a flurry of new appointments in its charge to become the world’s leading exporter of waste management solutions.
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Matthews & Goodman, one of Liverpool’s established property consultancies, has recruited Jonathan Young to head up the firm’s business rates team in the North.
Young, an MRICS-registered valuer, who has more than 25 years’ experience of business rates consultancy and commercial property valuation, has deep knowledge of all asset classes – from offices and educational organisations, to leisure and retail venues – in markets stretching across the country.
Jonathan Young
He also has an enviable track record of securing successful settlements on appeals, against the Valuation Office, on behalf of clients.
Prior to joining Matthews & Goodman, Young held senior positions with Savills and J Ross Developments.
Chris Morrow, head of the firm’s national business rates team, said: “Jonathan’s personality and depth of knowledge makes him a perfect choice to head up our business rates capability in the North and play a key role as part of the firm’s Northern Professional Services Team.”
Young said: “I’m delighted to join such a well respected national firm with such a strong local presence. It is a great opportunity to lead the business rates team in the North and continue to build the firm’s excellent client and existing work base.”
Based at Matthews & Goodman’s Liverpool office, he will be responsible for a region including Northern England, North Wales and Scotland.
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Julie Burgess has been made a partner in the wills, trusts and probate team at Greater Manchester-based solicitors, Gorvins.
The team helps clients put their legal, personal and financial affairs in order.
Julie Burgess
Julie joined Gorvins in 2018 and has more than 18 years’ experience specialising in high value, complex estate administrations, estate and inheritance tax planning, and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
She said: “Becoming partner was always going to be a key career achievement for me, however, to be a partner in the wills, trusts and probate team here at Gorvins is particularly significant as we have such a pivotal role to play. We help to ensure our clients have the right plans in place and to guide them through what can be very difficult times, and that’s of the upmost importance to me and the team here.”
Mark Deverell, managing partner, said: “Julie is such a valuable asset to us at Gorvins and now as partner Julie will be able to continue to lead and maintain the outstanding contribution she makes to the team.”
