People: Together; Bridging Finance Solutions; Calderpeel Architects & more
HELGA Wright has joined specialist lender Together, taking on the role of commercial finance director, as the business continues with its ambitious growth strategy.
Wright joins the Cheadle, Greater Manchester company from the Co-operative Bank, where she was financial director of the retail, commercial and business banking businesses, and brings a wealth of financial services experience, spanning nearly 20 years.
Wright, who is ACA qualified, previously held senior roles with Lloyds Bank for nine years.
She said: “Together is experiencing exceptional growth and it’s an exciting time to join, given the boom in the alternative finance sector. I’m keen to utilise my expertise to help shape the commercial division as we move forward.”
Group chairman Mike McTighe added: “Helga is a great asset to our commercial board and her credentials speak for themselves. Having worked with leading banks throughout her career, her commercial acumen and understanding of the industry will help us to expand in a soundly structured manner.”
Together takes a common sense approach to lending and has a current loan book in excess of £1.7bn, with total new lending for the year ended 31 March 2016 at £971m.
::
CHESHIRE-based Calderpeel Architects has expanded its team with the appointment of Amaleed Elturkie.
Elturkie joins the practice as an architectural assistant. She recently graduated from the National Design Academy with a BA honours degree in interior design, adding to a BA honours degree in architecture she gained from Manchester School of Architecture in 2012.
The 25-year-old will work alongside Calderpeel’s architects and interior design contractors on a wide range of leisure and commercial projects.
Alison Thomas, senior designer at Calderpeel Architects, said: “Amaleed is a bright talent and the fact she has gained honours from both the National Design Academy and Manchester School of Architecture is testament to this. She’s a valuable addition to the team.”
Elturkie will be based in the firm’s growing commercial team at its Altrincham office, working on projects such as hotel refurbishments and office schemes.
She said: “I’m already getting stuck in to designing a range of schemes, including the interior brand proposals for four new leisure centres in Birmingham.
“Calderpeel has built a strong reputation for helping clients create the perfect space that is reflective of their brand personality while meeting its intended use. It’s a great practice with a growing blue-chip client base. It’s an exciting time to be joining the firm.”
::
BRIDGING Finance Solutions (BFS) has announced the appointment of Barbara Corbett as its new finance controller.
Corbett, who was formerly a management accountant at an international construction consulting firm, brings a wealth of experience as she takes responsibility for the finance operation at BFS.
“I was keen to work with Bridging Finance Solutions as they are an exciting, growing company,” she said.
“The bridging sector is also an area that’s new to me, but one which is really interesting and I’m sure [it] will be challenging, presenting lots of new opportunities.”
Corbett will soon become a CIMA qualified chartered global management accountant and Steve Barber, managing director of BFS, said he was very pleased to welcome her to the team.
He said: “She comes with a huge range of skills in the finance sector and will be [an] important part of our growth strategy moving forward.”
“As the business becomes bigger in terms of volume and products available, BFS will naturally evolve into a more complex organisation. I believe Barbara is the right person to help us manage this transition.”
::
STOCKPORT-based accountant Hallidays has welcomed new team member James Wheelan to extend its expertise in the not-for-profit sector.
Hallidays has already developed a strong reputation acting as a business partner to more than 50 charity, academy and multi-academy clients, and this sector continues to grow.
Wheelan has gained a broad range of skills during his 16-year career working for a variety of accountancy practices based in Stockport and Manchester.
Director Anna Bennett said: “We are thrilled that James has joined Hallidays. We were looking for a talented and friendly person to join our team, supporting our clients. With James’s extensive knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector he is a great addition to our hard-working team.”
Hallidays have a long history of working within the education and charity sectors and have been supporting Manchester High School for Girls for over 100 years.
