People: Redmoor Health; Innovation Agency; Ultimedia; Anwyl Homes Lancashire; Typhoo Tea
North West-based tech agency Redmoor Health has made two key new appointments as part of its growth strategy to reach £5m turnover inside three years.
The tech agency, which has offices in Wigan and Chorley, specialises in supporting health and social care staff to deploy technology and has seen a huge surge in demand for its services during COVID-19.
Experienced NHS executive, Helen Holmes-Fogg, has joined as director of strategy and planning while Steve Tingle brings a wealth of experience with him in his new advisory role.
Holmes-Fogg has held a number of senior roles including CEO of West Lancashire GP Federation while Tingle’s previous roles include the director of digitisation for Regulated Care Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Holmes-Fogg has worked in the healthcare sector for 20 years and said she’s delighted to join Redmoor Health: “Done in the right way, I see digital as an enabler of healthcare and Redmoor Health is doing it right.
“Digitalisation of healthcare is only going to grow and I’m hoping to bring my experience of working with grassroots NHS into Redmoor to help shape the future direction.”
Tingle said: “My background is social care and I’ve seen how technology has benefited the social care sector and carers. Technology-enabled care allows people to stay at home for longer and avoid going into care. Redmoor Health has forged a reputation for being a trusted partner of the NHS and I’m delighted to join.”
Marc Schmid, who founded the business in 2017, described the appointments as ‘game-changing’ as they look to grow from £2m turnover to £5m.
“Both Helen and Steve bring strategic support and experience operating at a senior executive level in the NHS and social care,” he said. “They are working with our leadership team on connecting the ambitions of Redmoor Health with national policy developments to ensure our growth strategy is aligned with the rapidly changing national picture.”
He added: “We want to ensure Redmoor Health is not just responding to current challenges but instead helping shape the direction of digital health and care over the next five years.
“We are already involved with a vast number of transformation programmes but we also want to explore where we can use our expertise to support health and care in new emerging areas which will, in time, embed Redmoor Health as a key NHS and social care transformation partner.
“We have also recently won a number of contracts in local government and see the expansion into these areas as a method of offering a much more holistic approach to improving the digital skills and maturity of both the NHS and social care.”
Redmoor Health has just taken new office space at Strawberry Fields Digital Hub in Chorley and is planning a number of additional appointments after being asked to work with the majority of London practices with training and support.
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A former NHS trust chief executive who set up one of the country’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks eight years ago has joined the Innovation Agency as a non-executive director.
Raj Jain recently retired as chief executive of the Northern Care Alliance, one of the largest organisations in the NHS, providing specialist, acute and community services in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford.
In 2013, while he was chief executive of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Raj helped to set up the AHSN for Greater Manchester, becoming managing director for the organisation’s initial 18 months and helping to establish the national AHSN Network.
He then returned to Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust where he led on the development of a hospital group which became the Northern Care Alliance, formally established in October 2021. He later became CEO of Salford Royal and its group the Northern Care Alliance.
Raj Jain
In an earlier role Raj was director of HR and organisational development at Salford Royal, and deputy HR director at St Helens and Knowsley NHS Foundation Trust, where he also undertook senior operational and modernisation roles. He joined the NHS after an early career in the oil and gas industry.
Raj said: “Innovation is really important in the NHS; we cannot square the circle of demand, affordability and patient experience, without some major innovations in the way we work.
“I wanted to join the Innovation Agency because their values, culture and leadership style align with my own, and I want to play a part in spreading innovations which benefit our local population and support our local systems in meeting the challenges of increasing demand.”
Innovation Agency chair Gideon Ben-Tovim, said: “We are delighted to welcome Raj to our senior leadership team. We believe our organisation and our region will benefit from his knowledge and experience as an NHS leader, particularly in managing change, developing place-based partnerships and his interests in innovation and addressing health inequalities.”
Raj has achieved a number of national recognition awards, including HSJ Hospital of the Year for Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Global Digital Exemplar and CQC Outstanding rating for Salford Royal, an Honorary Professorship from the University of Salford, and a national excellence in leadership award.
He is working on a number of assignments as an independent practitioner in fields that include digital enabled health, NHS provider development and addressing inequalities. These include a role as lead officer for the NHS North West BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) Assembly.
Raj was born in the UK, lives in Liverpool and has Punjabi Indian parents who emigrated to the UK in the 1950s.
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Manchester-based digital specialist agency, Ultimedia, has appointed Craig Johnson as CEO as it moves into an exciting new period of growth in the digital experience space.
Industry specialist Craig joins Ultimedia, bringing nearly 30 years’ of experience in helping enterprise-level brands to elevate their digital performance.
Having spent his career working at big titles such as JWT, the Guardian Media Group and Rippleffect, the former UNRVLD (previously Kagool) CMO brings a wealth of experience in growing businesses using digital experience platforms such as Sitecore and Episerver.
Gaining recognition for his expertise, Craig is a nominated professional in the BIMA 100. Every year BIMA 100 recognises the top 100 professionals who are shaping the future of Britain’s digital industry.
From left: Nick Towers, CEO Remarkable Group, Craig Johnson, CEO Ultimedia, Glenn Stewart, MD Ultimedia, Paul Stephen, CGO Remarkable Group
Ultimedia recently joined The Remarkable Group, a collection of specialist digital consultancies, including one of the UK’s leading Sitecore partner agencies. Ultimedia is the most established Optimizely Partner (formerly Episerver) who’s clients span a variety of sectors, including The Co-op, NHS and Just Group.
The Remarkable Group co-founder and chief growth officer, Paul Stephen, said: “Appointing Craig to lead Ultimedia into this next chapter of growth signals a bright new future for the agency. Craig was pivotal in the significant expansion of his previous agency and now we’re excited to have him on board to bring his extensive knowledge and strategic expertise to Ultimedia.”
In his new role, Craig will oversee the agency’s growth in the UK and new markets. Craig is well known for his enthusiasm for digital and his strategic approach to helping organisations become more profitable. Craig has also received recognition for his work in developing new talent in the industry to bridge the digital skills gap. In his role at UNRVLD, Craig launched an innovative graduate scheme, in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.
Craig said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining the most established Optimizely Partner in the UK. It’s a privilege to be working with an exceptionally talented team of industry specialists in the DXP space, especially as Optimizely are leading the way with innovative technology that’s able to completely transform digital experiences for ambitious brands.”
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Two former apprentices are building careers in construction having been promoted to the role of site manager by growing business Anwyl Homes Lancashire.
Between them Danny Newton and Ian Tomlinson have more than 30 years’ experience. Their first hand knowledge of working on development sites is the perfect tool to help them oversee construction teams on behalf of Anwyl, said the company.
Danny said: “I was an electrician for four-and-a-half years and then went to work as a trainee site assistant for a housebuilder. I wanted to step up in my career so applied to work for Anwyl.”
When Danny first joined Anwyl he was the site assistant at Carr’s Rise where he finished off the final phase of homes as site manager. He’s since been covering various sites across the company’s Lancashire region, which also includes parts of Merseyside and Cheshire.
Danny Newton and Ian Tomlinson
Ian Tomlinson trained as an apprentice when he left school in 1993, then worked as a joiner for more than 20 years before becoming a site assistant, a role he held for two-and-a-half years prior to his most recent promotion to site manager.
He said: “Construction is a fantastic industry to be involved in as you’re working outside and seeing something you’ve produced with your own hands take shape. I wouldn’t change a thing about my career.”
Anwyl’s Chorley-based Lancashire business doubled its output in the 12 months to September, completing 198 properties. It’s targeting close to 300 legal completions in the current financial year.
Managing director of Anwyl Homes Lancashire, John Grime, said: “As we continue to grow the business, both in terms of the number of homes we build and the areas in which we operate, it’s important that we support staff development. Both Danny and Ian have demonstrated drive and commitment to helping ensure we continue to build high quality homes and maintaining the standards our homeowners expect as we increase our output.”
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As part of Typhoo’s Tea strategy to grow its brands in a sustainable and ethical manner, the Moreton company has made a senior appointment and engaged the services of a specialist consultant.
Rocío Ortiz
Rocío Ortiz joins the company as responsible sourcing manager and Lesley Western will be working with Typhoo as a corporate social responsibility consultant.
The move follows a business restructure earlier this year which saw Zetland Capital, a London-based private equity firm, become a majority shareholder and Abercross expand its shareholding.
Des Kingsley, CEO of Typhoo Tea, said: “With the support of our shareholders, we have a renewed focus on growing Typhoo Tea and its brands, but it’s important to us that we do so in a responsible manner.
“The new team brings an incredible wealth of experience in brand building and responsible sourcing strategy, and have hit the ground running as we continue to rebuild one of the nation’s favourite tea brands.
Lesley Western
“Rocío brings a critical understanding of the social impact businesses can have on communities, having spent five years working on community socioeconomic development and wellbeing in Africa and India. Her work with the Spanish Red Cross focused on developing sustainable livelihoods for rural communities and women farmers, bringing first hand insight on why it is important that businesses behave responsibly.
Des added: “Lesley’s understanding of the retail sector has already been a powerful asset for us. Her work for both brands and our retail partners, including Tesco and ASDA, will provide important insight for us as we reassert our brands across all channels.
“Both are incredible additions to the Typhoo Tea team. As we continue to build a bright future for Typhoo, these roles underpin our commitment to deliver our roadmap that we believe will provide best in class responsibly sourced tea and better lives for our tea garden workers.”
