People: 6B; Webmart; Aubergine; and more

Leeds-based technology and engineering consultancy, 6B, has appointed a new healthcare growth director, who will be responsible for driving business growth in the sector.

The appointment follows a significant year of growth in 2022 which saw a number of new client wins, as well as key hires throughout the business, with turnover growing by 32%.

In his role, Pad Burns will be tasked with using his extensive network of contacts to attract new clients and identify new market opportunities, overseeing the overall growth strategy of the agency.

6B commercial director, Rebecca Willis, said: “Pad brings a wealth of experience to the role having helped key accounts in the healthcare sector leverage digital services to improve patient outcomes and generate growth. This experience will be key to 6B’s continued growth in the sector.”

Formerly of CDS, Burns has worked with a variety of health and social care clients across both the public and private sectors, helping to deliver large scale digital delivery projects with NHS England, as well as user experience and content strategy focused work within the private healthcare market.

He said: “It’s incredibly exciting to join a company with a rich history of supporting digital health innovators with one of the most prominent challenges they face in their growth journey: interoperability.

“I will bring my natural intrigue, passion and enthusiasm to help 6B grow from being a relatively small agency with fantastic reputation in digital health, to being the go-to agency in digital health for integration and interoperability challenges.”

He will be responsible for developing a comprehensive growth strategy to help 6B meet its financial objectives, while connecting digital health innovators and public health organisations with digital technology they need to unlock positive change.

:::

Richard Boon

Marketing agency, Webmart, has appointed Richard Boon as its new CEO and strengthened its leadership team with a series of promotions.

Simon Biltcliffe, who founded Webmart in Barnsley in 1996, remains with the agency, moving into the advisory position of executive chairman.

Kelly O’Sullivan, who joined Webmart from Sainsbury’s in 2021 has been promoted to chief operating officer, and Tom Oldershaw has moved up into the role of customer services director.

The firm, which has offices in Yorkshire, Oxfordshire and London employs 44 people providing climate-positive marketing to clients including Interflora, Nintendo, COOK Foods, East of England Co-op, and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH).

Boon said: “A new CEO appointment is historic for us and a first in our 27-year history and it is amazing to get there after starting with Webmart as a trainee.

“The organisational changes, signal a huge shift for the business as we scale our sustainable integrated marketing offering to more sectors and clients both in the UK and internationally.

“I’m thrilled to be leading Webmart into the future that we’re building based on a business model to thrive and give back, not just grow at all costs.”

Boon joined Webmart aged 18 as a management trainee and after rising through the ranks, was appointed managing director in 2020 – one week before the first UK lockdown.

Simon Biltcliffe

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the three years since have seen company turnover increase by 34% under his management.

Biltcliffe said: “Despite the uphill battle throughout the pandemic, Richard’s achieved everything he set out to do, and he’s done it ahead of schedule.

“Our staff engagement and customer satisfaction levels have increased, and his appointment to CEO is a reflection of the success he has delivered to the business.”

:::

Leeds PR agency, Aubergine, has appointed its first full-time employee following a record-breaking hat-trick of new business wins.

Since January, Aubergine has secured £50,000 in new contracts with sustainability-focused clients Round Our Way, Be The Future and Foodsteps, helping the agency further carve a niche in this space.

The business hired University of Sheffield graduate Isobel King on a permanent basis to help the directors with account support, journalist liaison, social media, copywriting and business administration.

She joins a roster of 10 contracted freelancers who support Aubergine with media relations, content, events and social media services.

King, who received distinction in her Masters for International Public and Political Communication, has previous experience of digital PR, working as a digital communications assistant for the campaigns and alumni relations department at the University of Sheffield.

She said: “I’m so excited to join the dynamic team at Aubergine – it’s clear to see the agency is really going places and I’m really thrilled to be a part of their growth journey.”

Aubergine director and co-founder Emma Gardner said: “Our projected turnover is now set to triple in 2023, we couldn’t be more thrilled to add Isobel to our team. She’s clearly passionate about our wheelhouse of sustainability, food, health and tech – and is already flying.

“Despite challenging economic times, it’s crucial brands and businesses use their communications to educate the public on their offering – so there’s never been a more important time to invest in PR.

“I think this is one of the main reasons we’ve seen such a surge in new business recently as trustworthy, authentic comms is the best way to cut-through with consumers.”

Aubergine has been working on a data-driven project for new not-for-profit Round Our Way, highlighting the impact climate change is having on British families and working to get more working class voices into the climate debate.

The agency has also been appointed to deliver a community stunt and press office for Be The Future, which is unleashing the power of families and educators to rewrite our climate story.

:::

Time Finance has appointed Casey Baldwin as business development manager in its Invoice Finance team as it sets out to bolster its support to SMEs in Yorkshire and the North East of England.

She joins Time Finance with 10 year’s experience in the Invoice Finance sector, having spent her career working alongside both national brokers and business owners to package supportive and flexible funding solutions.

She most recently worked at Novuna where she spent three years as a business development manager.

Prior to that, she gained experience in business development and relationship management roles at Bibby Financial Services, Aldermore Bank and RBS Invoice Finance.

In her new position, she will be responsible for building and maintaining strong introducer relations across Yorkshire and the North East, while generating awareness of the Invoice Finance solutions available to business owners and intermediaries through Time Finance.

Baldwin said: “For me, stepping into this role also comes at a crucial time. The challenges that the SME market currently faces leaves many in need of a tailored solution that can help them in overcoming cashflow issues within their business and operations.

“I’m looking forward to building up my network of trusted introducers and working closely with them to spot opportunities and react swiftly to their clients’ funding requirements.

Andy Hume, head of sales, added: “Casey is a great addition to our team, and we are happy to have her on board as we continue to expand our presence across the UK.

“As a national sales team, we are committed to delivering valuable and staple finance solutions to businesses who are looking to release additional working capital for additional headroom and growth.

“We have ambitious growth objectives to continue enabling UK SMEs to gain easy access to Invoice Finance solutions, and considering the wider challenges that the current market is facing Casey’s appointment could not come at a better time to help us to achieve this.”