People: Walkers Transport; Graham + Sibbald; Charterhouse Recruitment Services; Mediaworks; Exchange Chambers; Mustard Media
Rochdale-based Walkers Transport says it has demonstrated its commitment to closing the gender gap in the transport and logistics industry by promoting Janine McMaster to sales director – a role that also sees her become the company’s first female director.
Jason Scott, group managing director, said: “At present, female employees in the transport and logistics industry only account for 20% of the entire workforce, but positively that figure is rising.
“Our aim is to help transform the employment landscape in what was once a male dominated industry, and we hope that Janine’s story supports and gives confidence to women looking to pursue careers within transport and logistics.”
Janine joined Walkers Transport in 2015 as business development manager and has since played an instrumental role in its ongoing success, which in 2021 saw the company deliver more than 1.3 million pallets across the UK and Europe.
Janine said: “When I began my career in transport and logistics, women in the industry were a rarity and senior promotions to director and board level roles were very much the domain of men. Today, the gender gap is closing at an encouraging rate, and I do strongly believe everyone is now judged on their skills rather than their gender.”
She added: “I hope that with a conscious effort from more employers, combined with key calendar awareness dates such as Women’s Empowerment Month and International Women’s Day, we can get to the stage where men and women operate on a truly equal footing across the industry.”
Founded in 1979, Walkers Transport today operates a fleet of vehicles from depots in Leeds, Manchester, and the Midlands. It currently employs female forklift truck and HGV drivers and has an equal number of women and men in several departments.
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A prominent retail property expert has joined the growing Manchester office of property consultancy and commercial agency Graham + Sibbald.
Conor Mulloy has joined as director of commercial agency, bringing the total headcount to 12.
He said: “Graham + Sibbald just felt right. There are ambitious plans for the Manchester office and it is moving forward in a very positive direction. I’ve been given the platform to continue to do what I love, which is deliver retail and leisure deals and schemes for great clients.”
“I am excited to be part of the Graham + Sibbald team, building on their Scottish platform to grow as an agency south of the Scottish border and bring something fresh to the marketplace with expert advice and insights.”
One of the largest property agencies and consultants in Scotland, Graham + Sibbald has 18 offices across Scotland and England. The Manchester office now provides a range of commercial agency, building surveying and hotel and leisure services to meet significant demand.
Conor Mulloy
Partner and head of agency, Keith Watters, said: “It’s an exciting time for Graham + Sibbald as we have just celebrated the three-year anniversary of our presence in Manchester and with our ambitious growth plans. Conor’s knowledge, experience and extensive network will be an excellent addition to our business. Conor has been involved in some high profile deals throughout his career and we very much look forward to seeing him advance his career with G+S going forward.”
Mulloy started work on February 24. He joins Graham + Sibbald after two decades at retail property specialists, Cheetham & Mortimer and prior to that, five years for CB Hillier Parker, which became CBRE.
His appointment follows hot on the heels of Hugh Anderson and Martin Davis joining the team in October. Anderson and Davis are developing the hotel and leisure service offering across England. Together they have brought more than 50 years of experience to the team.
The Manchester office was the second of the company’s offices in England, after London and before the opening of a Birmingham office. Graham + Sibbald has more than 220 staff members and 23 partners working across its 18 UK offices in Scotland and England.
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Charterhouse Recruitment Services has appointed a specialist recruiter to head up its new IT division, launched after fast growth amid growing demand for jobs in the North West.
Shaneece Aked, who started at the firm as an administration apprentice before completing her training running both a temporary and permanent office support desk, will lead on bespoke recruitment for the IT sector.
It comes after a successful year for the York-headquartered firm, which supported more than 100 clients with their recruitment needs in 2021.
Shaneece’s appointment follows the news that vacancies in the IT sector are the fastest growing of any industry, with roles continuing to be created as businesses look to bolster IT support following the rise of homeworking.
She said: “Since joining the recruitment sector, I’ve seen first hand the massive growth in demand for IT workers, and we expect this to continue for years to come as businesses adapt to become digital.
Shaneece Aked
“After working closely with a number of new clients in the past year, I’m delighted to be leading our new IT Division which will further expand our offerings for North West businesses.”
Shaneece will be based in Ellesmere Port.
Emma Ceballos, managing director at Charterhouse Recruitment, said: “The launch of our IT division is a significant milestone for us as a business, and the right step to support the creation of even more roles in the sector.
“When we started as a company 20 years ago, no one could’ve imagined how important IT would become for businesses, and the pandemic only served to increase the need for companies to bring more IT staff on board.
“We’ve always developed alongside the people we work with, and after a fast-growing 2021, I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of our IT division on both businesses and candidates in the North West.”
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One of the UK and Ireland’s largest independent digital marketing agencies, Mediaworks, has appointed Oliver Goldring as managing partner of its Manchester operation.
The agency’s client base in the North West has grown rapidly and Oliver’s appointment to head up operations here marks a concerted effort from Mediaworks to increase its physical footprint in Manchester and across the North West.
The hire follows the agency’s recent client partnerships with various brands including Leisure Lakes Bikes – recently acquired by JD Sports – Johnnie Johnson Housing, and United Utilities. Mediaworks has grown successful operations in Leeds, Edinburgh and Dublin in the past 24 months. Its combined workforce across those three sites alone now nears 50.
Oliver Goldring
Oliver arrives with a wealth of experience, not least in the housing sector, as well as in utilities, telecoms and recruitment. He was most recently director of communications, marketing and digital at Trafford Housing Trust. He also ran his own consultancy for eight years, advising c-suite and executive teams on corporate strategy in digital, customer experience, and marcomms. Most notably, he led on the hugely successful re-brand and international launch of Airswift, the Manchester-based global workforce solutions provider, following its $1bn merger in 2016.
Brett Jacobson, CEO and founder of Mediaworks, said: “Having someone of Oliver’s stature and experience steering our plans for expansion into the North West is a huge statement of ambition. His understanding of the housing and utilities sectors, in particular, is complementary to our own agency specialisms. That’s a potent combination that will drive both regional and group growth.
“The potential for increasing Mediaworks’ presence in the city is huge. We have more exciting announcements on the way as we strengthen our position in Manchester.”
Oliver said: “Mediaworks is a business I have had my eye on and admired from afar as one of the best digital agencies in the UK. The ambitious vision for the company was an immediate draw. This is a huge opportunity to drive growth in the North West. I’m excited to be on board and working with a brilliant team, both in region and across the wider Mediaworks group. We’re already recruiting for several digital roles in Manchester, so already starting to realise some of these exciting growth plans.”
Mediaworks delivers a range of services across SEO, PPC, web dev, brand, content and digital PR. The agency currently has 190 staff across its six offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester, London and as MWi in Dublin.
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Chris Barnes and Lisa Linklater from Exchange Chambers have been appointed as QCs.
The title of QC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy in the Higher Courts.
Christopher Barnes QC, based in Liverpool, practices exclusively in the areas of personal injury, clinical negligence and related litigation, with significant experience at all levels of multi-track claims up to and in excess of £10m. He has particular expertise in military claims and is consistently ranked as a leading junior by Chambers UK and the Legal 500 in the field of personal injury.
He said: “I’m very grateful to all of those whose support has led to my appointment. All of the staff at Exchange Chambers have played a huge rule in developing and advancing my career and I would not be where I am without their efforts. I owe a similar debt to all those solicitors who have instructed me. Without their loyalty my practice could never have progressed as it has. I look forward to continuing to work with them and to developing my practice in silk.”
Chris Barnes QC and Lisa Linklater QC
Lisa Linklater QC, based in Leeds, specialises in high value, legally and factually complex shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate insolvency and commercial litigation in the Business and Property Courts of the High Courts of Justice, as well as appellate advocacy in those fields of practice. She is recommended as Tier 1 by the Legal 500 in Company and Insolvency and Band 1 by Chambers UK in commercial dispute resolution. Lisa is the first female barrister from the North Eastern Circuit practising in the field of Commercial Chancery to take Silk and the second female barrister in her practice area from Chambers outside London to be appointed Queen’s Counsel.
She said: “I am very honoured and delighted to be appointed Queen’s Counsel. I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my career and doors opening to new opportunities. With the help of the senior clerking team across each of the three cities in which Exchange Chambers is based, which I very much appreciate, the transition of my practice to silk has been relatively smooth so far.”
Jonathan I’Anson, chief executive at Exchange Chambers, said: “On behalf of everyone at Exchange I would like to congratulate Lisa and Chris. This recognition is very much deserved and is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication.”
Bill Braithwaite QC, head of Chambers at Exchange, said: “Congratulations to Lisa and Chris. They are both fantastic barristers and we are very grateful to have them as members of Exchange.”
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Manchester-based global festival and events agency Mustard Media is expanding its team with five new hires, including three new senior team members and an internal promotion of a new strategy director.
After navigating through a challenging few years, Mustard Media is finding that the festival and events industry is gearing up for a busy 2022.
In 2021, the agency helped clients to sell 620,000 tickets and this year has set its sights on doubling that to help clients around the world sell 1.2 million tickets.
The five hires are Laura Buckley as campaigns director, Rory Palmer Rowe as senior strategist, Kristian Maxwell as head of paid, Jim English as marketing strategist, and Caolan Savage as paid media manager.
From left: Laura Buckley, Kristian Maxwell, Jim English, Caolan Savage, Rory Palmer Rowe, Sian Bennett
Rob Masterson, managing director, said: “2021 was a pivotal year for us. Despite the difficulties faced by our industry, we were still able to achieve incredible results, including selling 620,000 tickets and generating £35m in total revenue for clients.
“We weathered the storm and have come out on top, which has culminated in the expansion of our business, with 15 client wins in January alone. We have big plans for the year ahead and are aiming to double last year’s results, by helping clients to sell 1.2 million tickets in 2022.
“We welcome new members Laura, Rory, Jim, Kristian and Caolan to our team. We are truly excited about the innovation, energy and expertise that they bring with them. We are also proud to announce the promotion of Sian Bennett to strategy director. Having been with us for eight years, she has been a key part of the success of the agency and an integral part in the development of our strategy department.”
Laura Buckley has more than 15 years’ experience in the music and festival industry. As head of marketing for Cream Group, part of Live Nation Entertainment, one of the world’s leading event promoters, she was responsible for creation, management and implementation of marketing strategy.
Laura has worked with clients including Creamfields UK, Creamfields international including Buenos Aires, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Ibiza, Mallorca, Peru, Spain, UAE, and has managed partnerships with brands such as BBC Radio 1, Mixmag, YouTube, Yahoo, and MTV.
Rory Palmer Rowe has come from Ph.Creative where he spent three years as creative strategist and one year as account director.
Jim English has 12 years of experience as a marketing and strategy specialist. He joins from Target-Live media agency, where he was responsible for planning strategic 360 marketing campaigns for some of the UK’s biggest live, club, festival and arts events.
Kristian Maxwell is rejoining Mustard Media after three years in the B2B world. Caolan Savage previously worked at Social Trinity.
Sian Bennett has been with Mustard Media since 2014 and has overseen the strategy, launches and campaigns for hundreds of global festivals.
