People: Lowry Hotel; Proicere; E3P; Bamburgh Capital; Beyond Law Group; Armstrong Watson; Vincents Solicitors
Manchester’s luxury five-star hotel, The Lowry Hotel, has strengthened its managerial team with the appointment of new General Manager, Victoria Marshman.
With more than 10 years of experience in hospitality under her belt, primarily in hotel management and operations, Victoria will now head up the Lowry Hotel’s day-to-day running and maintenance working closely alongside the experienced team.
Joining from her role as Regional Operations Director at Native, Victoria brings a wealth of experience in hotels with a proven track record of ‘best in class’ delivery within 4 and 5-star Hotels around the UK.
Victoria said: “The Lowry Hotel is a pillar in the Manchester community, inspired by the city’s spirit and character. I intend to do everything in my power to ensure our guests have an exceptional, five-star experience with us with every visit.”
Exiting General Manager, Adrian Ellis, said: “After 10 years of leading this incredible team through some of the most challenging times we’ve ever faced in hospitality it was incredibly important to me that we found someone that would pick up the reins and continue to uphold the amazing standards we’ve strived to maintain.”
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Kurt Metcalfe
Warrington based programme and project digital consultancy, Proicere, has appointed Kurt Metcalfe as Associate Director.
Having a background in Digital Engineering within the nuclear and energy sectors, Metcalfe will play a key role in helping Proicere – whose clients include Sellafield and Urenco – in its ambitions to deliver intelligent and cutting-edge digital techniques.
CEO Karl Dooner said: “Now is an exciting time for the nuclear and energy sector. With the Labour government committing to investing in new renewable infrastructure, digital solutions are going to play an important role in ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently.
“Kurt has a proven record in managing and supporting the delivery of digital and BIM services on numerous multimillion-pound construction projects. He will help us push new boundaries in the delivery of intelligent and cutting edge digital techniques for our clients in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) services sector.”
Metcalfe joins Proicere from Babcock International where he led a Digital Engineering Function, delivering engineering design compliance to BIM, providing digital services to projects and re-educating on the BSi ISO19650 project delivery modules.
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Stephanie Cox
E3P, a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy supporting the built environment, has opened its second UK office in Birmingham.
The new site, located on Lifford Lane in Stirchley, is the first regional office for the Manchester-based firm and offers an array of services.
The Midlands office will house a new team of specialist consultants offering several multidisciplinary services including environmental, ecological, acoustics and geotechnical work.
Existing company director, Stephanie Cox, has been appointed as Managing Director of the Midlands. She joined E3P more than a decade ago and will oversee the opening of the new site. In her new role, Cox will manage the day-to-day operations of the Birmingham office and will drive new business across the region through new and existing clients.
Cox will split her time between the North West and Midlands, remaining a key presence in Manchester through her role as a director. E3P, which currently employs more than 70 people, will use the new base to increase its presence nationally and open up opportunities in the region, as well as in the South of England.
The expansion is set to create several new jobs in Birmingham and the surrounding areas, with E3P aiming to build a team of 20 in the next two years. Medium to long term ambitions include creating a centre of excellence that will employ between 75 and 100 professionals.
Stephanie Cox said: “It’s been an incredible decade for E3P. Expanding our presence to the Midlands and the South with a new office was a natural next step, and I’m thrilled to be at the helm of it.”
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Gabriel Schwalbe
Bamburgh Capital, the independent corporate finance advisory firm, has promoted Gabriel Schwalbe to Director in recognition of his contribution to the firm’s recent growth.
Gabriel, who joined the Bamburgh team in 2020 and is based in the firm’s Manchester office, has been involved in a number of key transactions for the firm, including several cross-border acquisitions, such as the sale of software companies Jexo and Old Street Solutions in 2023.
More recently he advised North West-based Mantec Engineering on its sale to Allied Global and ReadyGo Diagnostics on its investment from Foresight Group.
In his new role, Gabriel will focus on deal origination and project delivery, managing growing teams in Manchester and Newcastle and leading responsibility over several live transactions.
Co-founder and Director, Alex Clarkson, said: “Gabriel’s promotion is well deserved – he’s an excellent and popular member of the team and will have a key role to play as we look to continue our positive momentum.”
Gabriel said: “Joining Bamburgh offered a broader exposure and experience on deals that has been incredibly enjoyable and a driving force in my personal progression to date, working with some amazing clients and colleagues along the way. Having a flexible view on deal opportunities allows us to work on some interesting transactions, often with an international angle, that fall outside the narrow criteria of some competitors.”
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Steve Smith and Matt Fleetwood
Beyond Law Group has appointed Steve Smith as a Non-Executive Director of the Group. A Chartered Accountant with nearly 40 years’ experience in professional services, Steve will support the executive team on its ambitious growth and development strategy.
Steve’s appointment follows the news that Manchester-based Beyond Law Group has secured investment from Waterland Private Equity. The investment will support the group in delivering its long term vision to become the UK’s leading law firm for corporate and consumer legal services, which will be achieved through both organic growth and a precise and strategic approach to acquisitions.
Steve’s experience will enable the group to bring acquisition capabilities in house, supporting its strategy to expand its specialist practice portfolio and further develop its existing practices in primary locations across the UK, with a focus on high quality acquisitions.
Steve spent 11 years as a Partner at EY advising entrepreneurial businesses followed by 14 years as CFO and Corporate Development Director at telecoms and IT-focused Daisy Group. This role included working on multiple transactions as well as fund raising activity under both public and private equity ownership.
Steve Smith said: “I am not a stranger to Beyond Law Group and have been impressed with the organic growth and success the business has achieved over the years. I am joining at a very exciting time for the group as it secures funding to execute its ambitious acquisition strategy. We already have an active pipeline of high quality acquisitions which will not only strengthen existing services but will add new specialist capabilities.”
Matt Fleetwood, Beyond Law Group’s founder and Chief Executive, said: “Steve’s M&A experience will enable the group to manage its M&A strategy internally in a more focused way. His appointment brings invaluable expertise to the business as we look to expand our specialist practices and build on our existing practice areas through a focused acquisition strategy, as well as demonstrating our commitment to delivering growth for our people and all our stakeholders.”
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Armstrong Watson 2024 ACA student intake
Armstrong Watson has welcomed 37 new graduate trainees as it continues its commitment to investing in young people.
This is a record number for the Cumbria-based accountancy, business and financial advisory firm, up from 28 in 2023.
Based at offices across the north of England and Scotland, the new students, including five based in Carlisle, will be working towards their ACA qualification to become Chartered Accountants. Three of this year’s graduate students are former trainees who have progressed from their AAT apprenticeship to go on to train as Chartered Accountants.
In September they will start their three-year programme which combines study with hands-on experience, support, coaching and mentoring from the business.
Armstrong Watson takes on graduate trainees every year and as a result of continued growth over the past 12 months – during which the firm has acquired West Cumbria-based Gibbons Accountants, Business and Financial Advisers and moved its Carlisle headquarters to a larger office in Rosehill – the 2024 intake is its biggest to date.
Paul Dickson, CEO and Managing Partner, said: “We have a long history of growing our own talent and strongly believe in investing in our people as our people are our business, providing solutions to our clients. Our training programme provides us with an incredible pool of talent, many of which go on to have successful careers within the business.”
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Deeanna Coker, Zarafsha Hussain and Kieran McGahey with HR manager Katie Elsworth (left) and director David Hawke (right)
Three new training contracts have been awarded by Vincents Solicitors. Each of the new trainee solicitors has been selected from Vincents’ own junior talent pool as part of the firm’s commitment to developing young professionals.
Zarafsha Hussain joined Vincents’ Personal Injury team in Preston in October 2021, and has been working as a litigation executive. She has a Masters degree from the University of Central Lancashire where she completed both her LLB and Legal Practice Course.
Deeanna Coker has been a compliance and conveyancing assistant in the Lytham office since joining Vincents in January 2022 after completing a Law degree from the University of Central Lancashire. She has just finished her Legal Practice Course and Master of Laws postgraduate degree at the University of Law.
And Kieran McGahey, who started in July 2022, following completion of his Law degree from the University of Central Lancashire, has been working as a paralegal in the Poulton office and hopes to specialise in residential conveyancing.
Director, David Hawke, said: “Congratulations to our three training contract recipients for 2024, they worked extremely hard throughout a lengthy and comprehensive selection process to successfully demonstrate they have the skills, attitude and enthusiasm to take this next important step in their careers.”
Katie Elsworth, Vincents’ new HR manager, said: “These trainees are already part of the Vincents family and we will continue to nurture their personal development as they progress professionally.”
