People: Savills; E3P; Volumech

Savills has appointed Oliver Forster as a director and head of Birmingham investment, based at the firm’s Colmore Row office.

Forster will focus on the Midlands investment market and brings a wealth of experience, having spent several years at CBRE, where he advised on numerous notable transactions, including IM Properties’ 3m sq ft Mercia Park development, Redditch Gateway and most recently, British Gas’ Midlands HQ.

Over his 20-year career, he has represented and advised UK institutions, private equity firms, property companies and occupiers across sales, acquisitions and sale and leasebacks.

He has also held positions at JLL and BNP Paribas Real Estate.

Richard Merryweather, Chair of UK Investment at Savills said: “Oliver’s arrival marks a key milestone for our business, highlighting Birmingham’s vital role in our investment strategy. With extensive experience, Oliver brings a strong track record of success, particularly in challenging market conditions. This appointment coincides with a strong start to the year. We are seeing increasing conviction from buyers as robust rental growth projections are evidenced and stock levels are starting to increase, driven by greater proactivity from sellers.”

Forster said: “The Midlands investment market is thriving, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive growth and success for clients. Joining the Savills team presents a great opportunity to contribute to the firm’s continued excellence in the region.”

E3P, a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy supporting the built environment, has strengthened its Midlands presence with the appointment of Sammy Pritchard as principal ecologist.

Pritchard brings more than a decade of experience in the conservation sector, having managed and assisted many restoration projects and developments for private, charity and public organisations.

Sammy Pritchard

Her expertise spans the full planning and strategic side of ecology, from feasibility and design stages through to planning submission, delivery and discharge of conditions.

E3P opened its second UK office in Birmingham last September, with the city chosen for its buoyant property market, which shows a strong development and regeneration pipeline.

Stephanie Cox, director and head of Midlands at E3P said: “With Sammy’s expertise in ecology, she is a fantastic asset to our growing Midlands team. Her in-depth knowledge of environmental legislation will ensure our clients are well-informed and able to deliver high-quality, sustainable projects.

“The Midlands is an exciting region for us, with an already thriving property market and significant regeneration and development opportunities on the horizon. Our talented team has already begun to make its mark here and we’re looking forward to growing our presence further so we can continue to deliver high-quality projects for our clients across the country.”

Volumech has recruited Jon Horsley and Kishan Jagatia as regional sales managers, with Horsley covering the North region and Ireland and Jagatia covering the Central and South regions of the UK.

Jon Horsley

Horsley has extensive experience working in heavy equipment and construction machinery sales, specialising in piling equipment.

Kishan Jagatia

Before moving into the construction sector, he worked in high-end consumer goods sales where he developed a strong ability to understand customer needs, build lasting relationships, and deliver tailored solutions.

He said: “I’m excited to be part of Volumech at a time when we are expanding our reach and strengthening our market presence. What drives me is the ability to provide customers with the best volumetric solutions and support, backed by our expert team, commitment to quality, state-of-the-art HQ, and a huge inventory of spare parts to keep customers running. With our in-house concrete lab for testing and technical services, we can offer a complete solution that truly sets us apart.”

Jagatia brings more than 10 years of experience in the volumetric sector with operational and sales experience to help win new clients and develop existing relationships.

He said: “Having worked in the volumetric sector on improving the customer journey and developing supply chains, I’m delighted to now be working with a forward-thinking Original Equipment Manufacturer who focuses on looking after its customers, which aligns with my ethos.”