People: Lloyds Bank; Journey9; Co Angel Investments & more

LLOYDS Bank Commercial Banking has strengthened its specialist support for the healthcare sector in the North West with the appointment of two new locally-based relationship managers.

Kate Salt, 34, and Lauren Derbyshire, 29, both join as healthcare relationship managers, charged with building and managing the bank’s portfolio of healthcare professional customers.

They will work with clients in the sector to support their requirements from day-to-day banking to funding growth and acquisitions.

Both Salt and Derbyshire join from fund management company FW Capital and both have more than 10 years’ experience working in the banking and financial services sectors.

Salt said: “I am really looking forward to working in a team of sector specialists in what is an exciting and dynamic time for the healthcare industry.

“By working closely with our customers in the sector we can support their growth ambitions and enable them to respond to the opportunities that are out there.”

Derbyshire added: “Healthcare is a specialist industry that requires tailored support and advice, and we can offer a range of products and services to keep them in good health.

“We know that healthcare businesses have unique financial needs and we work hard to providing the specialist guidance they need, so they can get on with caring for the communities they serve.”

The new recruits will work under Ken Garvie, senior manager, commercial, healthcare & education, North West.

He said: “It is great to be able to bolster our specialist team, which will only enhance our knowledge and support for this important sector.

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AMY Beresford has been promoted to client relationship director at Journey9, the Manchester-based events and marketing agency.

Beresford, who has been with Journey9 since its launch four years ago, has worked on many of the agency’s live campaigns for clients including Manchester Airports Group, Qatar Airways, Barratt Homes, Central Manchester Foundation Trust, The FED, the Northwest Football Awards, Goody Good Stuff and Swizzels Matlow.

Laura Wolfe, managing director said: “There is no one better to look after our clients and work with me to build our position as the north of England’s premier live brand experience agency.

“We are about to announce a major rebrand for the agency, which will go live on January 18, with a new name, a new website and a new identity.  Amy will be an integral part of the next stage of our journey.”     

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PR company Ignite PR has rebranded for the new year as  marcorichards and recruited a new senior member of staff.

The revamp of the MediaCity, Salford-based company comes after its appointment of Neil Goodwin, 35, as a full time PR consultant.

The move from journalism to public relations came after a 10-year stint at national publication The Sunday Sport.

Dave Richards, 29, director of  marcorichards, said: “As our company grows and we gain more and more clients from all over the UK we decided that now was the time to smarten up both internally and externally.

“As a team we have more 60 years of combined journalistic experience and with Neil on board we can deal with our expanding client base.”

The team, deal with both consumer and celebrity clients, as well as crisis management.

Richards said: “The rebrand just reinforces what we are about and that’s a professional, smart establishment that ensures our clients are the ones leading the news agenda- for all the right reasons.”

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THE Co Angel Investment service, which is supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and managed by Business Finance Solutions, has significantly expanded its team with the appointment of Barry Flynn.

Flynn’s  appointment comes as the number of high net worth private investors from across the UK and overseas working within Co to invest in Greater Manchester businesses reached 100 this month.

Co is Greater Manchester’s approach to angel investment and works with businesses to access equity investment from Angel investor syndicates, the Angel Co Fund and VCs.

Flynn joins BFS, which is part of the Manchester Growth Company, from his role as managing partner of EY’s Liverpool office, having spent 36 years with the company, 21 as a partner.

Throughout his career Flynn has played a significant role in driving entrepreneurship across the North West and has worked with many new and growing companies, from start-ups through PE backed to FTSE 250.
 
He will be working with the BFS Co Angel team to leverage investment from syndicates of Angel investors into ambitious and growing businesses in GM, leading in particular on major corporate and institutional relationships.
 
Paul Breen, director of BFS, said: “Barry has unrivalled experience and expertise in working with investors and start up businesses and we are privileged to welcome him to the BFS team.

“As we take the Co investment schedule to the next stage and into its second year with over 100 private investors on board we will continue to identify the best and brightest early stage businesses that the region has to offer and to match them with investment teams that can support their drive and ambition.”

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SMITH & Williamson, the accountancy and investment management group, continues to grow and expand its North West service offering, with the appointment of Latha Rodgers as tax manager.
 
Based at the Manchester office in Spinningfields, Rodgers will work alongside Lee Blackshaw, head of the Manchester private client team.

She brings a wealth of experience to the team, having previously working at Forbes Dawson, KPMG and Grant Thornton.

Her role will include advising entrepreneurs, non-domiciled individuals, high net worth individuals and families on all aspects of their personal tax affairs.

Jake Widdowson, who will be working as tax assistant, has also joined the expanding private client team. A further recruit is due to be announced in late February.

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A SPECIALIST lawyer with more than 15 years’ experience in franchising litigation has joined law firm, Knights.

Gurmeet Jakhu will be bringing his expertise to the rapidly expanding firm joining the litigation team and brings extensive experience and knowledge of franchising and licensing to the firm including: dispute resolution, construction and interpretation of franchise agreements and franchise-related contractual documentation, IP rights and termination rights.
 
He has lectured at numerous international and national conferences and is a published author on the topic.

Jakhu said: “I’m looking forward to using my franchise expertise for the benefit of both regional and national clients.

“The litigation service is already extremely strong and with my background and experience I will be able to further expand Knights’ highly regarded franchising offering.”

Knights has offices in Chester and Hale, south Manchester.