People: Knight TS; Knight Frank; H&H Land & Estates; Rochdale Law Association; Apadmi; Peleton Real Estate

From left: Jennifer Serridge, Hayley Brightmore, Erin Berry

Specialist financial due diligence firm, Knight Transaction Services (Knight TS), has announced that Umber Irshad and Jathusan Naguleswaran have joined the team as assistant managers, as the firm celebrates its first year anniversary.

Knight TS, which supports owner managers, corporate acquirers, banks and private equity firms throughout the transaction process, also achieved double its target revenues in its first year of trading – with 26 deals completed since launching in June 2021.

Umber Irshad joins Knight TS from EY where she spent five years as an associate and senior associate. Jathusan previously held roles at Thompson Wright Accountants and Dains Accountants.

Founded by Hayley Brightmore, with associate directors Erin Berry and Jennifer Serridge, Knight offers a range of services to SMEs, including buy side due diligence, vendor due diligence and vendor assistance.

Hayley Brightmore said: “We’ve had a phenomenal first year, and I’m grateful to everyone who has worked with us and supported us so far. Hitting double our projected revenues, winning multiple awards and partnering with companies such as Foresight, Maven and Pelican Capital in the UK, as well as international clients including Tivian in the US and Sweden-based Humble Group AB – it’s surpassed all our expectations.”

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Jason Gray has joined Knight Frank’s Manchester office as lead partner in the business rates team with a brief to expand the regional team and grow the client portfolio.

With 26 years working in the North West property market, Jason has unrivalled business rates experience, practicing initially with Gerald Eve and latterly with Altus Group.

Jason deals with all rating matters and handles rating advisory services for his clients across a wide range of property types with particular emphasis on offices, manufacturing, distribution and general industrial sectors. He also specialises in the licensed and leisure sector representing ratepayers occupying public houses, hotels, golf courses and sports stadia.

He provides strategic rating advice on client portfolios, covering rate management, appeal strategy and non-appeal related matters including advice in respect of strategies to minimise empty rate liabilities.

Jason Gray

He said: “In my 26 years practicing as a Chartered Surveyor, Knight Frank will be only the third company in my career and when they invited me to join them it was an opportunity I could simply not turn down.

“With the next national Rating Revaluation fast approaching in 2023, businesses across all sectors will need expert advice on the accuracy of their new assessments and if and how they should be challenged. The depth of knowledge and detailed research available at Knight Frank is second to none and a huge asset for helping companies plan their business strategies.”

Head of office, David Porter, said: “Jason’s brief is to lead and grow this important team and tap into the wealth of knowledge and co-operation that colleagues can provide. He will be a huge asset to the office and is already making an impact helping clients as they prepare for new draft valuations coming in October and what it means for their business.”

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H&H Land & Estates has appointed two woodland specialists as it expands its offering to meet the growing demand for forestry services across the North of England.

Sarah Radcliffe will head up the division as woodland and forestry manager, with Will Livesey taking on the role of woodland and environmental advisor for South Lakes.

Sarah began her career more than 14 years ago as woodland officer before progressing through to field manager for the Forestry Commission. Her primary responsibility will be to provide professional advice to clients on all forestry and woodland matters, especially government schemes and legislative requirements, preparing and submitting woodland creation projects, managing sales, planting and maintenance, securing necessary consents and grants, and undertaking assessments, mapping, and reporting.

She will operate on a hybrid working system splitting her time between H&H Land & Estates’ Carlisle and Durham offices as she leads this key area of growth for the company across Northern England.

Sarah Radcliffe and Will Livesey

Sarah said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for me to utilise the skills and knowledge I have acquired through my time at Forestry Commission and put them to use by helping landowners and farmers gain clarity and understanding of forestry and woodland management, which is an ever-changing area. I’m looking forward to guiding this new team for H&H Land & Estates and am excited to see what we can achieve.”

Will Livesey’s role will primarily entail providing woodland management and grant services to South Lakes clients. Since gaining his degree in Woodland Ecology & Conservation in 2017, Will has gained a wealth of experience working for Stobart Forestry, undertaking woodland surveys, supervising operations, and grant applications.

Through his role, Will will be primarily accountable for preparing and submitting environment and forestry scheme applications, including felling licences and Environmental Impact Assessments. He will also be responsible for undertaking ecological and forestry surveys, producing ecological appraisals in relation to planning applications and proposed renewable energy developments, and preparing accurate and detailed plans and maps using specialist GIS software.

Operating from the Kendal office, Will will also be part of the wider forestry and environment teams which greatly enhance the company’s capacity to deliver new and existing instructions within this field.

Thomas Armstrong, director and Chartered Surveyor at H&H Land & Estates, said: “With the focus on forestry and its impact on the environment snowballing, we wanted to make sure we were in a position to offer the best professional advice and support to both existing and new clients, which is why we have introduced a team of specialists in this area.”

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Private client lawyer, Sarah Milner, has been appointed as the last ever president of the Rochdale Law Association, which was formed in 1905 to provide legal assistance and guidance to people in the local area.

A partner at the full-service law firm JBHS Solicitors, Sarah was inaugurated at the organisation’s AGM on June 15, and takes over the role from outgoing president Zoe Clough.

Sarah Milner

As part of her official duties, she will oversee the association’s last annual dinner for its members, which includes legal experts from across the town. The association has decided to cease to operate later this year.

Sarah, who specialises in all aspects of family law and private client work, said she was “privileged” to have been made president: “For more than 100 years, the members of Rochdale Law Association have been committed to maintaining the high standard of integrity and service, delivering expert legal advice to the people who live and work in our local community.

“I am proud and privileged to be given the opportunity and whilst it’s sad that the association is coming to an end, I’m very much looking forward to hosting the annual members’ dinner in November when we can reflect on all that the association has achieved over the years and go out in style.”

An expert lawyer with more than a decade of experience, Sarah Milner is one of a number of partners at Rochdale law firm JBHS Solicitors.

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Digital technology consultancy, Apadmi, has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of Stu Lunn as UK managing director.

Based in Manchester, and with further offices across the UK and Europe, 200-strong Apadmi is the digital product partner for some of the world’s leading organisations including Domino’s, Co-op, NHS, BBC, Chelsea Football Club, Co-op and Argos Financial Services.

Lunn, who brings with him more than 20 years of experience within the marketing and digital sector, will oversee the growth and development of the group’s UK arm as it accelerates its expansion across the EMEA region.

Stu Lunn

Previously MD at Havas Media Group, leading the expansion of the group’s nationwide business pipeline, Lunn has also held positions including sales lead at Google, head of Global Marketing Solutions EMEA at Facebook, and vice president – strategic projects at MAG (Airports Group).

Lunn’s appointment comes during an exciting period for Apadmi, following a stellar year and further expansion following new offices in Edinburgh and Holland.

Chief executive, Garry Partington, said: “We’re really pleased to have Stu on board, particularly at such a busy time. His combined agency and digital platform experience will be invaluable as Apadmi’s remit expands beyond mobile technology across the UK.”

Lunn said: “Apadmi’s expertise is second to none and I’m thrilled to be joining as we take on the challenge of further national and international growth.”

Lunn will take over the managing director responsibilities from M&A director, Jasper van de Luijtgaarden, who returns to focus on M&A and overseeing Apadmi’s new Dutch office.

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Manchester-based Peloton Real Estate has announced a new appointment as it continues to grow its team.

John Whitehurst joins as an asset manager to work alongside the existing team. He joins after five years at property consultancy JLL where he was a senior surveyor in its Manchester Industrial Agency team.

John Whitehurst

David Tyson, asset management director at Peloton Real Estate, said: “John is a fantastic addition to the business as we continue to grow our asset management platform across our range of private and institutional clients. John brings with him some fantastic experience with a large firm having had great exposure to the industrial market in the North West.

“We have grown our assets under management significantly over the last six months and John’s addition will ensure we are able to continue with our growth plans and to create a business that can create a positive difference.”

Peloton Real Estate is a national asset management platform servicing a core number of institutional and high net worth clients. The team currently manages £640m of assets across 4.5 m sq ft plus a development pipeline.

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