People: Wavensmere Homes; Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub; Jasper Equity
Wavensmere Homes has appointed Sean O’Sullivan as a technical manager, to be a part of the team delivering the urban regeneration specialist’s £150m Wolverhampton Canalside South development.
O’Sullivan joins from Lovell Partnerships, where he worked as a development coordinator since 2021.
Before that, he was a senior architectural designer for Birmingham-based Ophir Architecture and an urban designer for Coventry-based IDP Architects.
Between 2008 – 2018, O’Sullivan accrued architectural qualifications at Waterford Institute of Technology, Coventry University, and Birmingham City University.
O’Sullivan said: “I am excited to join a company with such a strong reputation for urban regeneration. There are so many technical challenges involved in redeveloping complex brownfield sites, requiring the coordination of multidisciplinary consultant teams and specialist building contractors.
“My qualifications and career to date has been a blend of architecture and residential construction projects, so this role is an amazing opportunity to progress my career with Wavensmere. I’m thrilled to be tasked with managing the design and technical delivery stages of each phase of Wolverhampton Canalside South, which will provide over 530 homes, commercial amenities and landscaped open space. With canal frontage along two sides and an active railway line lying above the arches that dissect the site into two halves, this is a transformational example of city centre urban regeneration.”
James Dickens, managing director of Wavensmere Homes said: “Sean’s expertise and passion for residential-led regeneration makes him the perfect fit for our growing team. In addition to the 2,700 houses and apartments we are delivering across our seven live construction sites, we’re in the process of securing new development opportunities for a further 1,500 plots.
“Every brownfield site has different complexities and as we expand our area of development beyond the Midlands, we will continue to take a distinct approach to delivering mixed-tenure communities.”
Pam Cain
A business support organisation in Coventry and Warwickshire has boosted the skills within its board of directors by appointing three new members.
Pam Cain, co-founder and director at innovative Coventry-based engineering firm MarchantCain, David Buckland, chief executive of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, and Rob Back, head of planning at Coventry City Council, have joined the 10-strong board of Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub.
Since the Government decided to close Local Enterprise Partnerships in England, Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub has been a stand-alone organisation for the last two years and continues to provide independent business-led support.
The Growth Hub is supported by funders including Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s District and Borough Councils.
Cain said, having been part of the area’s business community for the last 18 years, she wanted to pass on her knowledge to up-and-coming as well as established businesses.
David Buckland
She said: “CEOs are under a lot of pressure at the moment, and it is not always apparent how much knowledge they have to have to run a business and that being a CEO can be quite lonely at times. The Growth Hub has the ability to give support and help negotiate the hazards and pitfalls that inevitably come along.
“Our Growth Hub is really important because it has all the information that businesses are looking for in one place. This means businesses don’t have to do all the research themselves which is invaluable, as most business owners don’t have the time since they are busy with day-to-day operations.”
Buckland said: “Stratford-on-Avon District has more small businesses than any other part of Warwickshire which means it is vital that we support the sector. It is important we help both smaller and larger businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin to encourage companies to expand or move to the District.
“By joining the board, I hope to add to the success of the Growth Hub and to ensure it is sustainable moving forward.”
Rob Back
Back has been Head of Planning at Coventry City Council for the last four years, having previously been involved in planning services at Rugby Borough Council, the former East Northamptonshire District Council and Blaby District Council.
He said: “There is nothing else like the Growth Hub in terms of providing support and giving practical help to growing businesses. We need organisations like the Growth Hub and their service will become increasingly important given the national focus on growth and improving the economy. The services and support that the Growth Hub provides are highly valued by local businesses of all sizes and their account management approach and individual expertise mean they provide really well-tailored support to businesses. I am looking forward to playing my part in the continued success of the team.”
Craig Humphrey, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said the appointments of Pam, David and Rob to its board of directors underlined its determination to continue to provide the best possible free service to the area’s business community.
“The demand for our services remains unwavering, which underlines the need to ensure we have the
best possible people on our board to provide the right mix of skills. There have been many political changes nationally, regionally and locally since we started in 2014, but our commitment to Coventry and Warwickshire’s business community has not altered.
“We are often referred by the Government as an exemplar in the way Growth Hubs are run, but we mustn’t stand still. That is why the appointments of Pam, David and Rob will help to steer us forward to the benefit of all businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire, whatever sector and whatever their size, because these companies are the bedrock of our economy.”
Jasper Equity has announced the appointment of Adrian Lamasz to its investment committee.
In this role, Lamasz will leverage his extensive experience to identify and evaluate market opportunities, further strengthening Jasper’s commitment to fostering sustainable business growth.
He brings a wealth of expertise in working with business owners to provide tailored solutions. His proven track record in guiding businesses through complex financial landscapes aligns seamlessly with Jasper’s philosophy of supporting management teams to achieve their growth potential.
David Tucker, partner at Jasper said: “We are thrilled to have Adrian join our Investment Committee. His insights and experience will be invaluable as we continue to partner with businesses to develop aligned interests, shared purposes, and meaningful goals.”
Jasper specialises in collaborative business partnerships, focusing on sectors such as industrial services, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, live events and B2B.
The firm targets businesses with an enterprise value between £0.5 million and £5 million, providing not only financial strategy but also specialist support and an extensive relationship network to drive shareholder value.
Lamasz said: “I am excited to work with a team that prioritises a people-first philosophy and is dedicated to creating real value through responsible and sustainable practices. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s mission of empowering businesses to thrive.”
