People: Savills; Virgin Money; Core Facility Services; and more

Savills has appointed planning director Rebecca Housam as head of its Leeds-based planning team.  

She will work alongside Jonathan Ainley in the Savills planning team in Manchester to lead the wider Savills Planning North team, made up of Leeds and Manchester.

Since joining Savills Leeds in 2012 as a graduate, Housam has progressed through the business, forging relationships with developers and Local Planning Authorities along the way.

She will continue to do this at the helm of the 14-strong Planning North team.

Housam, who is a chartered town planner, sits on the York & North Yorkshire Property Forum Steering Group and the Leeds Property Forum Steering Group.

One of the notable projects she will be leading on is the strategy and planning for RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, after Savills was appointed by the Ministry of Defence as Strategic Property Advisor to help deliver projects within the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio at the end of 2024.

Adam Key, who led the Leeds planning team for the previous 12 years, will continue on the management board with an ongoing focus on strategic residential and employment development opportunities.

Housam said: “To be given the opportunity to lead such a high performing and experienced team is a huge privilege.

“Under Adam’s leadership, we have been instructed on some excellent projects and developed strong relationships across the region, and this is something we want to continue to build upon.” 

Jonathan Steele, director and head of regional planning at Savills, added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Adam for his outstanding contribution as head of the Leeds planning team for more than a decade, while congratulating Rebecca on her new role, which is thoroughly deserved.

“The opportunities to collaborate across a number of sectors and initiatives across the north of the country are significant.

“I am sure Rebecca will build on the strong reputations that she and the teams have established over the years to ensure that the service we provide our clients remains the best in class.”

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Virgin Money has promoted Duncan Brock, Yorkshire agri-business manager, to agricultural director for the same area.

His elevation is part of a broader strategy to enhance the bank’s support for the UK’s farming sector.

Virgin Money says Brock will have the opportunity to give his clients in the north the assurance of personal, director-level attention at a time of “unprecedented challenges” for the industry.

Oliver Maxey, head of agriculture for England, said: “Duncan has been an outstanding asset to our clients for over a decade, and his promotion reflects the trust both Virgin Money and farming customers have in his expertise.

“As agricultural director, he will continue to provide dedicated, personal support while also shaping and expanding our services to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients.”

Brock is based in East Yorkshire and covers both East and North Yorkshire, bringing nearly four decades of banking experience to his role.

Having joined the bank from school, he has dedicated his career to the financial sector. His expertise in agricultural finance has been a key focus since 1999 when the Agri Team was first established, and he has worked exclusively within the sector for the last 26 years.

Throughout his career, he has built relationships with farming businesses across Yorkshire, providing tailored financial support to help them navigate the evolving challenges of the industry.

Brock said: “I am extremely proud to take on this role and continue supporting the agricultural sector, which has been at the heart of my career for over two decades.

“Virgin Money has a strong commitment to farming and rural businesses, and I am eager to build on that foundation by strengthening relationships with existing customers while also expanding our support to new clients across East and North Yorkshire.

“The industry is constantly evolving, and I look forward to helping farmers navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.”

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Yorkshire facilities management and sustainability specialist, Core Facility Services, has expanded its senior leadership team and strengthened its focus on sustainability as it prepares for significant growth.

Current head of operations, Becky Hextall, will move into the newly created role of associate director, client services.

She will focus on ensuring growth is led by client relationships and that the firm’s strong customer retention rate is maintained.

Director Justin Holley, who joined the firm in 2010 to lead the environmental and waste management side of the business, will oversee expansion of Core’s sustainability services as sustainability and compliance director.

This position recognises increased demand from organisations for expert advice on sustainability and regulatory compliance.

The firm, which has its head office in Elland and a second site in Lindley, Huddersfield, has been operating in the area for more than 20 years and is the official facilities partner for Huddersfield Town Football Club.

It helps businesses manage costs, compliance and risk related to energy, waste, IT, estates and sustainability.

Managing director Colette Watts said Core was currently experiencing two key drivers for growth.

She said: “Firstly, we are seeing heightened demand for cost management and budget certainty, as financial pressures mean businesses have become laser focused on their bottom line.

“We are also witnessing a strong desire from organisations for a clear vision for sustainability and advice on the most appropriate low carbon solutions for them.

“These new appointments draw on the significant talent within our business and position us for further growth as we meet the demand head on.

“Becky and Justin have been part of the Core team for many years and understand exactly how our business can support clients in terms of satisfying today’s complex compliance requirements and bringing cost and supply certainty in volatile times.”

Hextall said: “I am pleased to be stepping into this new senior role which puts our clients right at the heart of our growth plans.

“Our business is built on the strength of our relationships and I will be responsible for ensuring this continues as we expand.”

Holley added: “Core’s experience in carbon reduction strategies, waste management, renewable energy and responsible sourcing all feed into a business’s sustainability journey.

“I am looking forward to using my experience in these areas, together with my deep understanding of the field of business compliance, to provide expert guidance to clients on developing and implementing sustainability strategies that align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.”

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Property business, Muse, has appointed Stephanie Smith as head of residential to support the delivery of the company’s expanding residential pipeline and continued strategic growth. 

She will join the leadership team in a role which is focussed on amplifying the impact, and accelerating the delivery, of new homes across the country. 

Supporting each of Muse’s regional offices – in Yorkshire and North East, the North West, Midlands, and South – Smith will work with local teams and public sector partners.

She brings over two decades of experience across the residential and mixed-use sector, having built her career across UK, European, and US markets.

Smith joins from her post as head of group strategy at APO Group, where she provided strategic advice for residential assets, including guidance on investments and acquisitions.

Before her tenure at APO Group, she served as director of residential operations for Invesco EMEA, concentrating on the strategic expansion of its European living sector markets.

Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, said: “Stephanie joins our business with global experience of the residential market. She will be a dynamic addition to our team.

“As we align with national priorities and expand our residential pipeline, including Build-To-Rent and affordable, Stephanie will be instrumental in guiding our approach. 

“By combining a national and international outlook with local experience, we will be able to work closely with our partners to deliver the best possible regeneration and placemaking solutions and accelerate delivery.”

Smith added: “Muse is amongst the best in the industry at identifying bespoke solutions which deliver beautiful and sustainable places.

“With the severe housing shortage and call to action from Government, the need for well-designed communities with quality homes of all tenures has never been more acute. 

“I look forward to working with Muse’s established partners and local teams to support the delivery of the thoughtful neighbourhoods that the group has built their reputation upon.”