People: Eight hires for ecology consultancy; Senior role for university professor; and more

Ecology specialists RammSanderson is celebrating its fifth birthday by appointing eight staff at its Stafford office.

Founded in 2014 by Oliver Ramm and Nick Sanderson, Ramm Sanderson has steadily grown its turnover to £2m and expanded offices by providing Ecological Consultancy, Flood Risk Assessment and Arboriculture services. The company now employs 43 people in offices located in Ilkeston, Sheffield, London and Stafford.

The Stafford office was opened in September 2015 and is headed by director, Anthony Mellor, who also joined in 2014. Since then, the Stafford team has won a number of key clients, particularly in the infrastructure and residential sectors.  Growth of its client base across all sectors in the West Midlands has led to the appointment of ten new staff since April.

Ramm said “We’re really proud of how our business has grown and developed over the last five years. Whilst major national infrastructure projects have been crucial to our success, we are proud of our work and reputation with a portfolio of land owners, developers, planning consultants, architects, and utility companies across the UK which has enabled us to build our credibility to generate referrals that have helped continue the expansion of our business.”

The new appointments are in the Ecology division and support functions, ranging from graduates to experienced consultants.

Mellor added: “We are building a fantastic team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic specialists and I am delighted to welcome ten more additions to the Stafford office. We are strategically located to serve HS2 and other major projects that are taking place within the region which include new highways, enterprise parks, and regeneration projects, all of which will need environmental impact assessments and ongoing advice.”
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Birmingham City University has appointed Professor Hanifa Shah as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE).

Shah joined the University in 2010 as Associate Dean for Research at the Faculty, then known as Technology, Engineering and the Environment (TEE) following a successful academic career at Aston University and Staffordshire University.

Since her arrival, she has worked together with colleagues to build on practice-based education with CEBE and to help translate this into successful research activities; frequently in collaboration with industrial partners.

In September 2018, Shah took on the interim role of Executive Dean of CEBE, following the retirement of Professor Mel Lees. With immediate effect, she will take on the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of CEBE.

She said: “I am committed to continuing my work to building an excellent academic, research-informed and practice-led offer to students in this exciting new chapter. The close partnerships with industry and the professions that I am progressing in the Faculty are enabling students, staff and our
partners to co-learn and co-create knowledge, through working placements, live briefs and project activities. My Faculty is at the heart of the University’s unique and compelling future-looking, digitally driven flagship project, STEAMhouse.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Philip Plowden said: “It’s very pleasing that we have had the opportunity to appoint someone who has been such an ambassador for the Faculty, and for BCU more generally. Hanifa brings with her the deep knowledge of the Faculty’s strengths and challenges, so that the work to meet the Faculty’s ambitions can continue without a hiatus.”

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Redditch-based Lab Culture Brewery has appointed a sales representative to drive the continued growth of the eco and vegan-friendly craft beer brand.

John Waterman joins after several years of experience in the industry with The Dubella Group, Marston’s and Birmingham based independent Pub and Bar group ‘Bitters and Twisted Venues’.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining Lab Culture at such a crucial time for the business and cannot wait to get started.

“I have an interest in all things craft beer and the role provides a huge opportunity to join an exciting project in their infancy.

“Despite only launching last year, the business has already developed so much and I’m looking forward to playing my part in their efforts to expand even further.”

Launched in late 2018, Lab Culture boasts a unique brewing process, taking advantage of the wasted heat from LED lighting used for the group’s vertical farm, Vertivore, which produces high-quality year-round salads, herbs and plants.

Michael Capewell, founder of Lab Culture, said “The appointment of John signals our intention to further expand the Lab Culture brand within new markets and get our tasty brews onto shelves and bars in more places than ever before.

“John brings with him a wealth of experience in the food and drink industry that will be incredibly valuable to the team and the brand as a whole.”

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