Concept strengthens team with new arrivals

FOLLOWING its most successful year to-date, Birmingham-based Concept Sign and Display has strengthened its team with four new appointments.

The business behind the design, manufacture and installation of the iconic ‘media eyes’ at New Street station, has reported a surge in sales across its business which includes turnkey large format LED display solutions and signage. 

As part of an on-going recruitment drive, it has appointed project managers, Sam Cooper and Ryan Hobbs, estimator Annie Price and sales and projects administrator Paul Howard.

Cooper joins the team with a wealth of relevant experience – including eight years working in outdoor media – along with extensive contractual and commercial knowledge of multi-disciplinary projects. 

Hobbs can draw on his background in the construction industry and his specialist health and safety knowledge to ensure Concept complies with stringent CDM regulations. 

Sean Morrough, the firm’s managing director, said: “Following an unprecedented year of growth for Concept, we have prioritised an investment in recruitment in 2016 to ensure we have the right team in place to respond to a huge increase in sales and to deliver on our ambitions for future growth.” 

Marches LEP welcomes new council leader to the board

THE Marches LEP has announced that Councillor Malcolm Pate, the newly appointed leader of Shropshire Council, has officially joined its business-led board

He will sit alongside the leaders of both Herefordshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council as well as those representing the private sector.
 
Councillor Pate, who has a long history within local government, has held the Albrighton seat in the east of the county since 2009.  Prior to this he was leader, for four years, of the former Shropshire County Council before its transformation to a unitary authority.
 
He has also held a number of senior managerial positions in regionally based manufacturing businesses, as well as establishing his own internet-based businesses specialising in nautical memorabilia.
 
He said: “The local enterprise partnership model whereby businesses take the lead in driving economic vitality and sustainable employment, as well as managing £80m worth of government funding for regional growth, has proved itself to be an incredibly successful one over the last five years and I am honoured to now have a seat at the table.
 
“I am joining a diverse team of people, all of whom share a common desire to see the Marches region flourish and I hope that my experience of both local political leadership and senior private sector management will prove to be a beneficial addition to the LEP’s work.”

Experienced chef brought in to develop Wrights’ food range

WRIGHTS Food Group – which has sites in North Staffordshire – has appointed a new business development manager, bringing its team of food innovators to four.

Ian Jennings will work alongside alongside three other development chefs at the company’s headquarters, cooking up new dishes and recipe ideas.

“We’re innovators, not followers,” he said, “and always looking for inspiration for new and exciting dishes.”

Jennings will be focusing on growing Wrights’ recently revitalised ready meal range, which is aimed primarily at the foodservice sector, and in turn restaurants, pubs and cafés.

Following college in Bolton, he worked at London’s famous Savoy hotel, then at country house hotels.

A spell in contract catering was followed by two years in the US as personal chef to an Englishman who owned a California vineyard.

Wrights’ head of new food development Sue Gwilliam said: “We’re delighted with Ian’s appointment, Ian will help develop our food offer, and he’ll play an important role in the expansion of our product range across ready meals, savouries, cakes and desserts.” 

FLYdocs appoints strategic technology advisor

TAMWORTH-based aircraft and data management software provider FLYdocs has strengthened its team with the appointment of Trevor Didcock as strategic technology advisor. 

Named as the number one CIO in the UK in the “CIO 100” by CIO UK in February 2012, Didcock was CIO of easyJet between 2010 and 2015.  Prior to that he held the position at HomeServe, The AA and the RAC.

He will assist FLYdocs with overall business strategy and advancing customer propositions, as well as advising on technology delivery.

Adrian Ryan, CEO of FLYdocs, said “Trevor will bring us further insight into the aviation market that our customers will ultimately benefit from. His experience in major technology and transformation programmes will also prove invaluable during this rapid period of growth for FLYdocs.”

Didcock said: “FLYdocs is an excellent product and they have a truly unique approach to working with customers.  I’m excited to be part of the team.”