People: Eddisons; H&H Land & Estates; SRL Traffic Systems; Mansell Building Solutions; Farleys Solicitors; Slater Heelis

Property group Eddisons has appointed highly experienced healthcare specialist, Kate Deakin, to its valuation team as a director.

Based in Eddisons’ Manchester office and working for clients across the UK, Kate, who has more than two decades’ property industry experience, joins the firm’s valuation team from Cushman and Wakefield.

Kate will carry out valuations and provide strategic property advice for a range of healthcare providers including nursing and specialist care homes, children’s day nurseries, pharmacies, dentists and GP surgeries.

Eddisons’ managing partner, Anthony Spencer, said: “With an ageing population and continuous advances in medicine, the healthcare industry is one the fastest growing globally and we’re seeing a huge increase in demand for our services in this field.

“With many years of sector-specific experience, Kate will be a really valuable addition to the team across the UK, providing essential support to our lending, public, private and primary care.”

Also joining the Eddisons valuation team in Manchester are surveyor Malcolm Kilpatrick and graduate surveyor Jack Mayfield.

::

Amy Wilson

H&H Land & Estates has welcomed Amy Wilson as Property Advisor to its growing South Lakes team, based at the company’s Staveley hub.

Brought up on a Lune Valley farm, Amy brings with her an exceptional combination of team spirit and passionate understanding of rural life and property to her new position.

H&H Land & Estates Director, Mark Barrow, said: “Amy’s hands-on farming background and understanding of the agricultural and property markets, combined with her professional grounding in rural property, makes her a great fit for our business and our plans for the future. We’re absolutely confident that her enthusiasm and knowledge will be an invaluable asset to the business.”

Amy said: “I’m so excited to be joining the team at H&H Land & Estates and working in such a beautiful part of the country. Growing up in the Lune Valley has given me a real passion for the extraordinary part of the world we’re lucky enough to live in, and I’m eager to bring my experience and energy to this role, helping clients achieve their own property goals here in the South Lakes.”

::

John Mason

Winsford-based SRL Traffic Systems, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of mobile intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions to the traffic management, construction, events and utilities sectors, has made four appointments to newly-created senior leadership positions as it strives to combine commercial growth with sustained technological innovation and customer service excellence.

John Mason has become SRL’s first managing director of Ireland and will take responsibility for developing and overseeing the implementation of the company’s strategy to increase its capabilities and market share in the territory. The former group sales director at international manufacturing group Emtez has 25 years’ experience in business development and sales, and a strong track record in developing and implementing successful corporate growth strategies across multiple sectors.

Ian Chapman has become SRL’s first key account director, bringing with him extensive customer relations expertise gained during a construction sector sales career spanning almost 20 years. He joins the company from Ainscough Crane Hire where he was regional sales director north.

SRL’s esteemed and longstanding business development director, Iain McDonald, assumes the newly-created role of research and development director, with responsibility for driving the technological innovation and pioneering product development on which the company has built its name since its creation in 1997.

McDonald will be replaced in October by new business development director, Ben Parsons, who will lead SRL’s drive, not only to grow the business but also to identify new opportunities for strategic commercial partnerships to further enhance the company’s customer offer. Parsons has 25 years’ business development and sales experience, gained in the infrastructure products and e-mobility sectors.

As SRL’s new head of HR, Victoria Wood will help to underpin the company’s ambitious commercial and technological development plans by supporting the ongoing development of a positive and dynamic workplace culture. The former deputy head of HR of Peel Ports Group, Wood brings with her 26 years’ HR experience, including considerable expertise in the field of corporate transformation.

SRL’s chief executive, Mark Eburne, welcomed the appointments, saying: “Each of them brings a unique set of skills and experience that align exactly with our strategic goals to combine commercial growth with continued technological innovation and excellent customer service. Their contributions will be pivotal to our future success.”

::

Ian Curme

Mansell Building Solutions has promoted Ian Curme to the position of head of pre-construction, making him a director of the business in the process.

Having started his career in pre-construction as a trainee estimator in the early 90’s, Ian has gradually made his way through the ranks. Predominantly working for main contractors, some of which had turnovers in excess of £130m, Ian has worked for the Bolton-based specialist contractor since June 2023.

Ian’s role is considered as the ‘glue’ in the pre-construction process, incorporating business development, estimating, technical, design and commercial aspects, working closely with colleagues, suppliers, contractors, consultants and clients.

He said: “I’ve worked for regional contractors previously but working for a family-run business makes everything so much more personal and meaningful.

“I’ve worked in pre-construction for as long as I can remember and have made it my mission to be knowledgeable and approachable, mainly to ensure positive outcomes for all involved.

“Now, as a member of the senior leadership team, I’m looking forward to working closely with my peers to help drive the business whilst continuing to evidence and grow Mansell’s capabilities in many areas including social value, training and sustainability.”

::

From left: Reta Rose, Stephen Bolton, Ian Liddle

North West law firm, Farleys Solicitors, has announced the appointment of former Lancashire Business View Managing Director, Stephen Bolton, to the role of Head of Business Development.

The appointment marks the next step in the firm’s growth plans which have seen the acquisition of Mulderrigs, strategic new hires, record partner appointments, and continued appointments through the firm’s training programme in the past two years alone.

Farleys, alongside regional firms Fisher Jones Greenwood, Nelsons and Slater

Heelis, is part of legal services business Lawfront. The growth of Farleys is part of the group’s strategy to achieve a £150m turnover and be among the top 40 UK firms​. 

Stephen joins Farleys having spent nearly 20 years with Lancashire Business View, joining at its inception in 2005. Stephen led the commercial side of the business.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Farleys. The firm has gained a great reputation across the region, driven by its people and culture. This is a hugely exciting time to be stepping into the new role. Farleys have ambitious growth plans and I cannot wait to get started, make my mark and help drive both the business and brand forward.”

Reta Rose, Partner and Head of Marketing at Farleys, welcomed Stephen, saying: “We look forward working with him to amplify our business development and marketing efforts.  Alongside being a very well known face in the local business community, he is commercially focused, results-driven and enthusiastic – an all-round great fit for the team.”

Ian Liddle, Managing Partner at Farleys, said: “Stephen is joining at an exciting time for the business as we continue our strategy of growth as part of Lawfront. We’ve got some exciting projects in the pipeline which Stephen will very much be at the forefront of and we’re looking forward to seeing where he takes this role.”

Axel Koelsch, COO at Lawfront, said: “Fresh talent is essential to the growth of our regional teams with Stephen being yet another welcome addition. We are backing Farleys’ investment into local talent and their business community – it’s what makes them true regional leaders.”

::

From left: Ambreen Lafinhan, Alishan Khan, Jay Lafinhan

Manchester-based law firm, Slater Heelis has promoted Jay Lafinhan to Partner and Head of Real Estate Finance, a specialist provision only recently added to the firm’s roster of services and which is already thriving in its own right.

Jay first joined Slater Heelis in September 2015 as part of the Commercial Property team with some background experience in acting for private investors and bridging loan providers. Jay ventured into the real estate finance field to complement his commercial property work having identified a niche gap in the market following the financial crisis in the late 2000s which saw lots of banks withdraw from the property investment loan market.

Organic growth in the real estate field over nine years now sees Jay lead a team of three from his standing start with Slater Heelis in 2015. With Jay now at the helm of the team, he is supported by Alishan Khan and Ambreen Lafinhan who collectively offer legal services for people operating in the real estate finance realms whether that is within the regulated and unregulated sectors.

Jay said: “Having a commercial property background coupled with financial integrity and a passion to help steer growth and development is a key driver for me and to have this recognised with my promotion is an achievement I am incredibly proud of.”

Rachel Fletcher, Managing Partner at Slater Heelis, said: “Seeing departments evolve and prosper from being just one employee is a great feeling of satisfaction and Jay should quite rightly be proud of growing a department in its infancy to being a team of three already. His appointment to head of the team is testament to his desire, passion and, of course, acumen, ability and success in such a complex field and I can’t wait to see how the team grows from here and the difference we can make as a firm.”