People: Architect announces office move and raft of hires; New chairman for Santé Group; and more
Jon Matthews Architects has announced a number of staff promotions and revealed a new city centre studio move.
The practice has taken space at Union on Albert Square and will move in spring following the completion of an in-house designed fit-out.
The new studio will overlook the newly transformed Lincoln Square and Hidden Gem Church and neighbours The Lincoln a Grade A office scheme which the practice designed for Marshall CDP.
Jon Matthews said: “It is an exciting time for the practice as we continue to deliver innovative work for high calibre clients who want to create legacy schemes across the North West.
“Integral to this is the team of talented, loyal staff who care passionately about what they do and it is right their hard work is both recognised and rewarded.”
The promotions see Frances McGeown, Richard Scott and Sam Ainsley become associate directors with Ian Burnett, Joanna Beal and Joanne Bradbury made associates.
Founded in 2018, JMA is delivering a number of high profile residential and commercial projects for a client list that also includes ASK Real Estate, Property Alliance Group, MUSE and Salboy.
The new studio will occupy 3,000 sq ft of space in Bruntwood’s Union building taken on a ten-year lease.
Joshua Hancock, head of commercial at Bruntwood Works, said: “Overlooking the recently transformed Lincoln Square in between Deansgate and the Town Hall, Union provides the perfect blend of easily accessible, high quality workspace and lifestyle-enhancing facilities.
“We’re confident the JMA team will not only enjoy making full use of the location and their own vibrant, flexible space, but also Union’s wellness studio and hospitality operators, Ditto Coffee and Maray – opening their first Manchester restaurant at Union this summer – located on the ground floor.
“As a key customer of Bruntwood Works, it’s been a pleasure to welcome JMA to their new home right here in the city centre.”
:::
Brian Hall, the former chief commercial officer of BHSF, has joined the board of Preston-based Santé Group to lead it through a growth plan.
Hall spent 19 years at the not-for-profit BHSF, transforming it from a health insurer turning over £14m to a leader in health and wellbeing group with annual revenues of £60m employing approximately 300 people.
Under Hall’s guidance, the Santé Group will be looking to grow through diversification, acquisitions and strategic partnerships to build the group’s insurance premium book to £55m by 2025.
Following the success of PMI intermediary Nugent Santé, the group was established in 2019 by Paul Nugent and now comprises life insurance business Santé Life, broker support business ArchAngel and specialist private medical insurance broker network, Santé Partners.
CEO Paul Nugent said: “Brian’s experience in driving innovation within employee benefits and his track record in growing businesses were key attributes that we wanted to add to the board.
“As we continue to develop our strategy of building the business on strong customer service and robust systems, Brian’s corporate governance experience will help us grow sustainably. He’ll also be key to enhancing our broker proposition and help us achieve our goal to be one of the leading distribution businesses in our sector.”
Hall added: “The group enjoys a strong reputation in the PMI and corporate protection markets, and the employee benefits market is one I know well. With my experience and connections within the sector, complemented by the expert team here, we’ll enhance the already compelling proposition that is Santé Group.
“As many established players look inwardly at their structures and processes, Paul’s team are confident in their platform and ambitious in what they deliver for their customers – It’s an exciting vision and I‘m proud to be joining them.”
:::
Horwich Farrelly, the legal adviser to the insurance and commercial sectors, has made another round of new promotions.
This follows 20 made in August last year when the firm recommenced career pathways for its associates and senior associates after temporarily pausing the process in 2020 due to the pandemic.
CEO and managing partner Ronan McCann said: “I am proud and delighted to announce the promotions of two colleagues to partner and a further five to associate partner.
“ As well as recognising individuals who are demonstrating exceptional levels of technical, operational and client management expertise, they further cement the foundations we’re building in order to achieve our ambitious plans for growth and diversification.
“Not only do they showcase the breadth of services now offered by Horwich Farrelly, but they also reflect our growing geographical reach with successful applications made by colleagues in our Belfast, Glasgow, London and Manchester offices.”
Promotions:
Graeme Mulvoy – Partner, Manchester (Counter Fraud)
James Power – Partner, Southampton (Motor & Casualty, Large & Complex Injury)
Laura Fanning – Associate Partner, Manchester (Legal Operations)
Sarah Fanthorpe – Associate Partner, London (Motor & Casualty, Large & Complex Injury)
Ryan Kelly – Associate Partner, Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Raheema Mohammed – Associate Partner, Manchester (Motor & Casualty, Volume)
Val Pitt – Associate Partner, Glasgow (Scotland)
:::
Executive and business support recruitment firm Lily Shippen has appointed a new director, Georgina Law.
Law, who brings with her 14 years experience working in the boutique finance and consulting sectors, joins the firm to head up a new consultancy arm of the business.
She said: “I am so excited to be joining Lily and the team and cannot wait to provide the kind of coaching to PAs and EAs that I wish I had had access to during my career. In the past, I often saw training needs for administrative staff overlooked, and it resulted in a high turnover of staff – I can’t wait to be able to create change in this space and help organisations map out career paths and develop these incredibly capable people who are already doing so much.”
Law will work with Lily Shippen clients to assess their current administrative teams, identify opportunities for improvement and growth and coach their Executive and Personal Assistants to ensure their potential is maximised.
Managing director Lily Shippen said: “I am delighted to welcome Georgina to our team and to launch our new offering. Her appointment is an important and exciting step for us. Many of our clients are going through restructures due to the pandemic and looking to get the most from their business support function. Us offering a consultancy piece will allow us to continue to support them, not just at the hiring stage, but every step of the way.”
:::
Denton-based business rates reduction specialists RVA Surveyors is advancing its ongoing expansion and recruitment plans with the appointment of field sales manager James Hulme.
Hulme joins the business as part of a sustained period of intensive growth for RVA Surveyors, which has already seen the business double in size from 50 to 100 personnel.
RVA Surveyors is expecting to expand further and is anticipated to reach 150 employees by June. Hulme is the newest of recent senior appointments in response to growing demands for businesses seeking to reduce their business rate liability.
In his new role, he will form an integral part of the company’s sales operation overseeing and expanding coverage throughout England and Wales to ensure that the increasing demands for business rates reduction services can continue to be met in all corners of the country.
He brings with him a wealth of sales management experience both in managing internal and external sales teams. His most recent position was as a senior sales manager, responsible for all sales activity at Perry’s Group in Burnley.
Managing director Anthony Hughes said: “It is great to have James join the company to oversee our field sales division. He brings with him a great deal of sales management and customer service experience and will help to deliver our plans to correct the business rates systems as government Covid help and support for businesses end imminently.”
