People on the move: Tangerine; UMI3; Preston’s College; Roberts Jackson; ECTA Training; Dow Schofield Watts

MANCHESTER-based Tangerine Communications has recruited five new members, across all levels.

The agency has bolstered its B2C team, with the appointment of Laura Weightman as senior account director.

Joining with more nine years’ experience working for creative agencies across a diverse range of sectors, Weightman brings a wealth of digital and social expertise from McCann London, working with brands such as Nestle Cereals, Johnson & Johnson and First Group.

Also joining the B2C team is senior account managerSarah Schofield, who has arrived at the agency from Mason Williams. She will help grow the lifestyle, travel and hospitality offering, with four years’ experience in the industry.

Digital manager, Kineta Kelsall has joined the agency from Manchester PR firm Smoking Gun, having previously worked at the Co-Operative Group and Meltwater. Kineta will work across the agency on both B2B and B2C clients, with a focus on rich and paid-for content.

Account executive, Emma Bowkett is the final addition to the consumer team, joining Tangerine from Hearst Magazines in London.

Following the appointment of Susan Milne-Bennett as deputy managing director, Tangerine has further strengthened its B2B team with the recruitment of senior account manager, Myriam Khan.  Khan joins Tangerine from Leeds agency Grayling, having previously worked at Hill & Knowlton’s offices in Qatar, with experience in financial and professional services.

Sandy Lindsay, Tangerine’s founder and group MD, said: “Tangerine has continued to receive fantastic recognition from the industry for the outstanding work that we do for our clients in 2016. We have received a number of industry awards for our clients, such as Iceland, Pizza Hut and Encric.”

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THE Un
iversity of Manchester’s Innovation Company (UMI3) has unveiled Dr Luke Hakes as its new independent chairman.

Hakes will commence his role on 1st January 2017. A triple graduate of the University in biochemistry with biotechnology; bioinformatics; and computational genetics, Luke completed a PhD in 2006.

He is currently Investment Director at venture capital firm, Octopus Ventures, based in the City of London. Over the last eight years Luke has advised and been a board member of a number of University spin-out companies.

In addition he has held numerous non-executive directorships at start up and growth companies and has considerable experience of building and exiting businesses in the disruptive technology arena.
 
Outside of Octopus, Luke is an angel investor and adviser to a number of early stage companies with a particular interest in the Artificial Intelligence and Genomics spaces.

Hakes said: “I am delighted to be joining UMI3 as Chairman. Universities play a hugely important role in fostering innovation and talent and nowhere is this more true than at The University of Manchester. I am incredibly excited to work with the fantastic team at UMI3 to support its continued growth and success.”

Clive Rowland, UMI3 CEO, said: “Luke’s appointment is an important step for us as we embark on a new business plan in an exciting time of development for the University and the Northern Powerhouse.

“Luke’s enthusiasm for technology venturing, his commitment to help the University further enhance its standing in this area and his expertise and wide investor networks all bring a new and refreshing dimension to our approach which is crucial for our next phase.”

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PRESTON’S College has made two appointments in response to growing skills shortages and demand for upskilling from Lancashire employers.

Keith Middlebrough and Sarah Hall will take senior key account manager positions in the College’s ROI solutions team. Launched in 2015, ROI Solutions provides Lancashire businesses with a positive ‘Return on Investment’ through bespoke training, apprenticeships, CPD programmes, e-learning and higher education courses.

Middlesbrough has been at Preston’s College for eight years and has more than 20 years commercial experience. His promotion will see him engage with the county’s technical employers across sectors including construction, engineering and gas, to ensure they’ve access to the skills needed to succeed.
 
Sarah Hall will specialise in helping local health and social care employers overcome skills shortages and an ageing workforce that is creating an imminent shortfall in the number of workers. She has more than 20 years’ sales and management experience.

Both will also help businesses navigate the upcoming Apprenticeship Levy reforms and ensure clients utilise the funds available to develop their internal workforce.

Andrew Richardson, head of employer engagement & recruitment at Preston’s College, said: “Many of Lancashire’s key employment and economic sectors are suffering major shortfalls with construction and engineering needing 36,000 new workers a year to cover the deficit and two million additional staff required nationwide in health and social care by 2022.
 
“Sarah and Keith have great commercial links across Lancashire and will work with employers to create long-term skills solutions that ensure staff meet current and future needs. Businesses are slowly starting to realise and address skills through Apprenticeships and training, but there’s still far more to be done.”
 
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INDUSTRIAL Disease specialist law firm Roberts Jackson, based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, has promoted two of its up-and-coming practitioners, Koyes Ahmed and Mardin Ali.

Ali has been promoted to associate solicitor and will specialise in industrial disease claims, in particular noise induced hearing loss, occupational dermatitis and asthma claims.  

In his new role as associate, Ahmed will be specialising in industrial disease claims, in particular noise induced hearing loss, occupational dermatitis and asthma claims.

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STOCKPORT-based skills course provider ECTA Training,has grown its smart metering offering with the appointment of a new trainer and assessor.

Mark Jarman joins the team from G4S Utility Services, where he was an electric technical assurance engineer, responsible for the auditing process and offering technical advice and training both in field and in the workshop.

Jarman has more than30 years’ experience in the engineering sector, which includes single, three phase and CT meter installation for various meter installation companies.

ECTA Training, based in Stockport, delivers a range of trade skills courses including smart metering, gas, water, and electric qualifications. The courses range from refreshers for those who need to renew qualifications and sessions for new entrants to industries.

Jarman joins the business as the UK approaches its 2020 deadline to install 53 million smart meters in homes and businesses. The ambitious project is currently suffering a skills shortage of around 6,500 engineers to be able meet demand.

In his new role, he will be delivering classroom and workshop based smart meter training programmes to students and assessing their needs to assist with their training and development.

He said: “It’s exciting time within the smart metering industry as there is such high demand for engineers, so I’m looking forward to mentoring students in this environment.

“In my new position, I will be looking to develop and deliver training programmes that are tailored to the needs of those undertaking the courses, to ensure best in class teaching.”

Dave Berry, director at ECTA Training, said: “We’re really pleased that Mark will be joining the team. His extensive experience in the industry means he is perfectly placed to deliver training to students and support them throughout their studies.

“Energy companies are currently calling out for as many new recruits as possible to fill the smart metering skills gap, so Mark’s skills will be vital in training up these new engineers.”

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INDEPENDENT advisory business Dow Schofield Watts has further expanded its services with the appointment of Nick Woodward as partner in its new tax advisory arm.

He will cover the company’s offices in Daresbury, Cheshire and in Yorkshire.

Wooward is a specialist in mergers and acquisition tax with significant international business experience. He joins from the global private equity firm the Gores Group, where he led key transactions and was instrumental in the restructuring of portfolio companies such as German telecoms company Unify and UK bakery and milling business Hovis.

He has more than 18 years’ experience in tax and finance. He previously worked with Grant Thornton and KPMG, where he advised major names such as Odeon and UCI Cinemas, 3663 and JD Sports.

Woodward will work alongside other businesses within the group including corporate finance, transaction services and DSW’s private equity firm, PHD Equity Partners.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining a market leading team with an exceptional track record of success. Past experience has shown that a genuinely joined up approach to tax and structuring, with a commercially strategic mindset, adds significant deal value and I very much look forward to bringing that to the firm and our clients.”
 
James Dow, founder of Dow Schofield Watts, said: “Nick’s unique set of skills spanning tax, international business and private equity will complement our existing corporate finance and due diligence offers in the North West and Yorkshire.”