People: Colmore Capital; Bradford Estates; and more

Real estate investment firm Colmore Capital has welcomed on board Matt Grainger and Tim Bromley-Martin.

Grainger joins Colmore Capital as an investment and asset manager with more than nine years of experience at Wesleyan Assurance Society.

He oversaw in excess of £175m transactions and was a key team member actively managing the £425m UK property portfolio consisting of retail, industrial, offices and alternatives.

Bromley-Martin has more than 15 years experience in property asset management companies based in London, working nationally across office, retail, industrial and residential sectors.  He became a partner at the age of 30 at Lawson & Partners and has worked at London & Cambridge Properties (LCP) and EPIC Property Asset Management prior to relocating to Birmingham.

David Corridan, co-founder at Colmore Capital, said: “Despite the evolving macroeconomic situation, we are confident of finding opportunity and growing the business further, and I am excited for Matt and Tim to contribute to this expansion.

“Our investors continue to have an appetite for well-located assets where there is the opportunity to add significant value through targeted, well-considered investment and hands-on asset management.”

Colmore Capital’s current portfolio includes Quartz Point at Solihull, Wavendon Business Park in Milton Keynes and Bedfont Lakes Business Park in West London, after the recent exits from AMH55 in Aston and Swift 34 in Rugby following successful completion of the assets’ business plans.

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Four recruits have joined landed estates business Bradford Estates, adding to the team which stewards 12,000 acres on the Shropshire and Staffordshire borders.

Construction manager Graham Young has started at the landed estates business, which has its HQ at Weston-under-Lizard near Shifnal, alongside other recent starters Tyla Jackson, who is the new administrator, financial administrator Will Pincher and land management student Alexander Pearson.

Managing director Alexander Newport, said: “It is a pleasure to see the new colleagues join our team at an exciting time for Bradford Estates, as the business evolves to implement responsible and sustainable practices in everything we do while ensuring we meet our responsibility to the generations to come. I wish all four new starters the very best for their careers with Bradford Estates.”

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Anne Boyd has stepped down as chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire local enterprise partnership (LEP) following an 18-month leadership.

Boyd has been instrumental in helping to secure a strong business-led economic recovery at a local level, champion growth for the future and develop a stronger profile across both domestic and international markets.

Despite a turbulent economic backdrop and period of significant change for LEPs following the LEP Review and Levelling Up White Paper, Boyd has led the LEP’s close partnership work with businesses, investors, academia, local authorities, and senior Government figures to build a strong business investment pipeline for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire going forward.

Boyd will now take-up a new national role as Director of Advice and Business Solutions service across Great Britain for ACAS (funded by BEIS).

She said: “It’s been a privilege to serve as chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The difference the LEP has made throughout the course of the past few years is clear. From supporting businesses navigate the complexities of post-covid recovery and the impact of Brexit, to delivering better infrastructure, accelerated innovation, and business growth, I’m really proud to have been able to play a part in that journey.

“A real highlight for me has been leading collaboration with our Local Authority partners to secure a future blueprint for the LEP and evolve it into a new Business Partnership that will add value and ensure that the voice of business is amplified and firmly embedded in local decision-making.

“I’m also particularly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with wonderful partners, a talented Board and an inspirational team, leading on the first economic Situation Report for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire subregion, which will provide partners with a detailed understanding of business needs to inform their recovery and growth interventions.

“Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the LEP team and to those who have served alongside me on the LEP board, in particular, the passion and energy from our chairman. It has been a privilege to work with such a strong, dynamic team. I look forward to championing and hearing about your continued success over the next 12 months.”

Alun Rogers, chair of Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP, said: “Anne has been a key driving force for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, guiding and overseeing delivery of some fantastic achievements for our region during her time as chief executive.

“Her leadership throughout the pandemic helped to ensure that local businesses were listened to and supported through this incredibly challenging time. Embodying the LEP’s being as the voice of business, Anne has been central to our discussions with Central Government to ensure we have the right support available to help businesses grow and helping to shape the policies of the future that will benefit Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

“On behalf of the LEP and all our partners, I would like to thank Anne for her dedication and wish her well in her future endeavours.

“There is now an exciting chance for a new chief executive to join the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP.”

The search for a new chief executive is underway.