Casino gambles on new appointment to boost Stoke’s fortunes 

THE new general manager of a Stoke-on-Trent casino has pledged to widen its appeal as a one-stop entertainment venue and open up opportunities for businesses across the city and beyond.

Nicky Clements has been parachuted in to lead the 100-strong team at the Genting club in Etruria Road from her previous role as general manager of the company’s casino in Margate.

She said: “I have worked in the casino industry for more than 20 years, including six years in Birmingham. It is great to be back in the Midlands and I’m really looking forward to the fresh challenge.”

She said any opportunity to develop Stoke’s night time economy should be explored because of the benefits this would bring to so many businesses.

Opportunities to grow the casino’s strong charity fundraising reputation would also be occupying her time, she added.

“The night-time economy is important. In addition to the full range of casino games, we have a restaurant and offer live entertainment each weekend. We want to become more widely known as a one-stop entertainment venue where people can come to socialise in different ways,” she said.

Stewart & Harris strengthens senior team

BIRMINGHAM consulting engineering firm Stewart & Harris has bolstered its senior team following the company’s acquisition by fellow engineers Patrick Parsons.

Experienced engineers Peter Wilkins and Gavin Vickers have been brought in to aid the firm’s expansion plans. 

Wilkins returns to the firm as director of structures, having first worked at Stewart & Harris as a senior engineer and then associate more than 20 years ago.

He then moved on to a number of well-known national and international engineering companies, based primarily in the West Midlands but also working on international projects in Eastern Europe, Dubai, Qatar and Iran.

He will head up a structures team of 13, and has plans to increase its size in the near future.

Vickers has been appointed as associate director and will lead the firm’s civil engineering team.

He brings nearly 20 years’ experience to his new role, having worked on a variety of construction, engineering and land development projects, including high-profile schemes such as the Goodyear redevelopment in Wolverhampton.

C&W Chamber adds commercial firepower

THE Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed Louise Wall as group commercial director. She will work alongside chief executive Louise Bennett, deputy chief executive Howard Anderson and Sally Lucas, executive director of the Chamber’s training division CWT.

Louise Wall has been working within the Chamber as the West Midlands co-ordinator of the growth vouchers scheme and while that remains one of her key responsibilities, she will also oversee the Chamber’s work in events, networks, conferencing, policy, patrons, marketing and social media.

She said: “My focus is very much on driving membership and commercial growth at the Chamber.

“It’s an exciting role. I’ve worked with or for the Chamber over many years and I know the wonderful work it does in supporting member businesses, acting as the voice for industry in the region and generally helping to improve our economy.”