People: Commercial property firm makes five promotions; LEP chairman to step down; and more
National commercial property and investment company LCP has announced five promotions at its West Midlands headquarters.
The board of directors has appointed Jason Goss, head of estates, Pensnett, and Mark Binner as associate directors, while Rakesh Joshi and Simon Eatough are promoted to senior asset managers. Martin Wade has also been promoted to asset manager.
Nick Burgess, LCP managing director, said: “LCP continues to go from strength to strength, thanks to our focused approach on investment and intensive asset management of our portfolios across the industrial and retail sectors. As a business that prides itself on rewarding staff for a job well done, I’d like to congratulate these members of staff on their promotions.”
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The chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), David Frost, is to stand down.
For the last five years, he has championed enterprise, skills and economic growth across the city and county, overseeing tens of millions of pounds of investment and the creation of thousands of jobs.
Frost was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident earlier this year. He has decided to stand down with immediate effect a few months earlier than the official end of his second and final three-year term as chairman, to aid his recovery to full health.
The search is now underway for a successor to ensure the LEP keeps bringing together employers, local government and education providers to strengthen and grow the local economy. The LEP vice-chair Alun Rogers will oversee LEP activities in the interim.
Frost said: “The LEP is at a critical stage in its development, with a new chair and board to be recruited and an industrial strategy to be implemented.
“It is essential that the LEP has a chair that can devote all of their time to guiding it through this next phase of development.
“However, it is sadly clear to me that my recovery from a serious motorcycle accident in the summer has still some way to go and I am unable to devote the necessary energy to the LEP. I have therefore agreed with the board that it would be best if I stepped down with immediate effect.
“My term of office was due to finish in early 2020 and the LEP is clearly in good hands. Much has been achieved over the last five years, with the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone being a particular highlight. My overall memory will be of an area where the private and public sectors continue to work for the good of the communities of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.”
Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “Over the last five years David has worked tirelessly to bring business and public sector leaders together, and to lobby Government for the funding and freedoms we need to create the right conditions for economic growth and job creation across the whole of Staffordshire.
“In that time the LEP has secured tens of millions of pounds of funding to invest in business sites, transport improvements and skills programmes that will leave a legacy of opportunity and increased prosperity for employers and local people.
“I know this has been a difficult decision for David, but one that everyone involved with the LEP fully understands and supports. We hope he makes a speedy recovery and can continue using his skills and experience to support enterprise and employers across Staffordshire and the Midlands Engine for many years to come.”
Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, added: “Under David’s stewardship, the LEP has made key investments into some of the biggest and most positive transformational projects in the city. This includes supporting the huge success of the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone which has secured 2,000 jobs in its first two years, and the soon-to-be-developed Etruria Valley Link Road, a major multi-million-pound scheme that will unlock a significant area of brownfield land for development.
“I’d like to thank David for his support and commitment to Stoke-on-Trent and join colleagues in wishing him a swift and full recovery.”
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Place Partnership has welcomed Richard Hurford as the company’s new energy manager.
Hurford has an extensive background in energy and sustainability, having previously worked for npower, Schneider Electric and the Greater London Authority.
At the London Borough of Lewisham he was responsible for achieving Beacon Status in Sustainable Energy and for becoming the second authority in the UK to have all its electricity supplied from 100% renewable sources.
At Place Partnership, he will provide advice to the company’s clients and partners on how they can reduce their carbon outputs, increase efficiencies in their energy usage and reduce costs.
He said: “There are 1,400 public sector buildings around Worcester, many of which can be re-engineered to cut cost and reduce their carbon output to create a better environment.
”Our team will undertake an evaluation of the buildings within our portfolio, identify the least efficient and outline how we can bring them up to standard.
“One important element will be to review bills and invoicing to see where we might be able to generate savings in the short term while we explore what alternative, renewable systems might be appropriate in the longer term.
“This could take the form of a number of different initiatives and products, such as building energy management system, installation of PV solar panels, or utilisation of battery technology to store generated energy for later consumption.”
Andrew Pollard, managing director at Place Partnership, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Richard to Place Partnership. A significant part of our mandate is to drive greater efficiencies across public sector assets and Richard’s appointment will be instrumental in ensuring that we are providing the best possible advice to our partners and clients.”
Richard will ensure that buildings are also conforming to the Worcestershire Energy Strategy, which outlines the Local Enterprise Partnership’s aspirations to boost sustainability across the region.
