People: Evelyn Partners; Aston University; Persimmon Homes

Evelyn Partners, the wealth management and professional services group created from the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson, has bolstered its professional services team in Birmingham with the appointment of Matt Hughes as private client tax partner.

Hughes joins Evelyn Partners from PwC where he worked for the last 12 years, latterly as director. He works with individual, trust and family office clients to deliver bespoke tax, legal and commercial advice covering personal and business wealth. He has experience of working with clients across financial services, UK and global entrepreneurs, family businesses, c-suite and private equity executives, plus family offices.

At Evelyn Partners, Hughes will focus on advising private clients, private businesses and their owners on commercial and tax issues. He has a particular expertise in helping private business owners navigate exit or other restructuring events. Hughes will also focus on Evelyn Partners’ growing Sport, Media and Entertainment offering.

He will be based at Evelyn Partners’ new Birmingham office at the city’s landmark 103 Colmore Row.

Stephen Drew, professional services regional managing partner at Evelyn Partners in Birmingham, said: “I am delighted to welcome Matt to our growing professional services team in Birmingham. He brings extensive experience in providing tax advice to high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and private businesses, which is exactly where we see an opportunity to grow in the region. We are continuously growing the team so that we can expand the range of services we are able to offer our clients in the West Midlands.”

Hughes added: “I am delighted to be joining Evelyn Partners and continue my work with the fantastic entrepreneurs and private businesses in the Midlands. I feel that Evelyn Partners is uniquely placed to provide services in the Midlands market due to its expertise across professional services, financial planning and investment management, and I cannot wait to get started.”

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The former managing director of JCB Finance has joined Aston University as a visiting professor.

Paul Jennings has joined Aston University’s Advanced Services Group within the College of Business and Social Sciences with his main focus being on servitization and how outcome- based contracts can aid the pathway to Net Zero.

Professor Jennings has nearly 50 years experience in the finance industry, having been at JCB Finance in various roles for over 43 years before retiring earlier this year.

He has also recently retired as a board director of the London based Finance & Leasing Association and chair of their Asset Finance Division.

He has recently been awarded an honorary fellowship by the London Institute of Banking and Finance and is a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. He has been an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers since 1980.

Jennings said: “I am thrilled to have joined Aston University and look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to the next generation of business minds.

“Capital investment plans being made by firms will need to consider some forthcoming factors that will be hard to predict and the prospects for adoption of advanced services and outcome based contracts could have a growing role to play in this changing environment.

“As banks, asset managers and insurers focus more on the road to net zero, financial institutions will increasingly play an active part in encouraging manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions from their operations and products and participate in the circular economy. Aston University will be a part of making it happen.”

Professor Tim Baines, co-founder of the Advanced Services Group at Aston Business School, said: “I am delighted someone of Paul’s calibre is joining Aston University.

“For the past 10 years Paul has been at the helm of JCB Finance and has successfully led the business through the financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The company has grown robustly and surpassed £1bn of balances with customers in 2019 – a remarkable feat for a finance company based in leafy Staffordshire and not within the City of London.”

“He will be a great asset, bringing with him his mentoring and advice-sharing capabilities for staff and students alike.”

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A new technical trainee has been appointed at Persimmon Homes Central in Birmingham.

Remy Baker has joined the company’s technical team as a technical trainee and will focus on architecture and engineering.

In 2021, Baker undertook work experience at Persimmon Homes which gave him an insight into the industry and identified a potential career path for him.

He said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Persimmon Homes at a time when they have recently secured their 5 star quality rating. I am joining a great team and I am particularly looking forward to understanding the technical side of the business and putting to good use the skills I learnt in sixth form.”

As part of his formal training, Baker attends Burton College one day a week where he is studying for an HNC in Building Studies.

Nick Wilkins, technical director at Persimmon Homes, said: “When Remy joined me for work experience, he took to it like a duck to water and I could see the potential in him. I was delighted he found the experience to be positive and has now joined the team as a technical trainee where he will be able to develop his skills and build a successful career for himself at Persimmon Homes.”