Here is the latest in our regular round-up of employment changes across the East Midlands from businesses including Sapori, Nottingham Building Society, EMBS Engineering, Coolbrook and Boyer.
Sapori
Andrea Scarpati, chef-patron of Sapori in Anstey, has been to Rome to receive his appointment as an Ambasciatore del Gusto – Ambassador of Taste – from the prestigious DOC Italy.
This organisation protects Italy's regional culinary heritage and Mr Scarpati (pictured above) was honoured in recognition of his years of tireless work to promote authentic Italian cuisine.
He is now part of a very select group, with ambassadors chosen because of their mastery of the cuisine of their region and their dedication to sharing authentic Italian recipes. Only a very small number of recipients live and work outside of Italy.
It is the latest honour to be conferred on him and the team at Sapori. In 2019 they found their place in the Michelin Guide for the first time, while in 2021 they were awarded two AA Rosettes, confirming their status as one of the finest and most authentic Italian restaurants in the country.
Nottingham Building Society
Nottingham Building Society has appointed Matt Kingston as national sales manager for its intermediaries business.
Matt will run the business development manager team, helping brokers source mortgages for clients.
He joins from LiveMore Capital, where he was regional sales manager, and before that worked at Clifton Mortgages, Legal & General, Bank of Ireland, Marsh Commercial, Aviva plc and RSA.
He said: “I am proud to be joining a modern organisation which a rich heritage of helping people purchase their own homes. I look forward to advancing The Nottingham’s portfolio and continuing to cultivate meaningful relationships with intermediary partners.”
Coolbrook
Finland based technology and engineering company Coolbrook has made Robert Savidge its engineering director.
It is the second senior management appointment for Coolbrook in the company’s Leicester office.
He will lead the design process and development of Coolbrook's revolutionary Rotodynamic Technology and support the company's aim to play its part in a clean industrial revolution.
Boyer
Planning consultancy Boyer has promoted land & planning director David Hutchinson to head up its Midlands office at Normanton-on-Soar, near Loughborough.
Managing director Andy Williams said: “David joined the office shortly after it opened in 2018 and has been instrumental in establishing our presence in the region.
“He has brought significant land, planning and new homes instructions into both Boyer and the Leaders Romans Group for high profile clients on a number of strategic land sites.
“David will lead and develop both the land and planning teams in the region as part of our business plan for the growth of Boyer and LRG.”
Actons
Independent Nottingham law firm Actons has promoted its second non-lawyer manager to director – with accounts manager Marc Pegg taking on the role of finance director.
Marc has more than 25 years’ experience in the legal sector, having joined the firm back in 1998. He became accounts manager in 2006 and completed his ILFM studies in 2000.
Actons chairman Simon Dakin said: “I am delighted to welcome Marc as a director of the firm. Marc has been with us for many years and already plays a critical role in our accounting function.
“I am confident that he will continue his development and make a success of this opportunity, and his new role as our finance director.
“In just the last six months, we’ve welcomed six new colleagues to the business and promoted two others as we continue to grow.
“The next months are lining up to be an exciting period for the firm, as we continue to look for more great people to join our team, and take forward some other key projects.”
Fluid Ideas
Creative agency Fluid Ideas has strengthened its team with seven new arrivals, including its first apprentice.
Olivia Beighton has joined Fluid’s search and social team as an apprentice digital marketing executive while undertaking a digital marketing degree with Aston University.
Another addition to the search and social team is search engine optimisation specialist Zukais Mohammed.
The agency’s image and motion team has been strengthened by the arrival of Ed O’Murphy as a CGI artist and Jaime Tozer, who is on a placement after gaining a master’s degree in photography at Nottingham Trent University.
Rafael Cardoso and Pasha Mardiiants have joined Fluid’s websites and systems team as front-end developers.
Meanwhile the brand and creative team has been bolstered by the arrival of graduate Ben Bayes, a graphic designer who gained his degree at the University of Lincoln.
Fluid, which employs over 50 staff and is based at Darley Abbey Mills, near Derby, is a full-service agency whose operations cover branding and campaigns, graphic and website design, computer-generated imagery, 3D animation and video, photography, copywriting, digital marketing, content management, search and social media.
WBR Group
WBR Group, the UK’s largest independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has made two appointments to its leadership team.
David Downie joins as managing director of SSAS & actuarial and Peter Collier as director of marketing and distribution. The group has offices in Leicester, Bolton and Salisbury.
David has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector, with most of those years spent working within the pension and SSAS industry.
He is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, chairman of the ACA Individual and Pension Savings Committee and was most recently chief actuary at Rowanmoor where he has worked for more than 29 years.
Peter Collier has more than 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry, having held senior roles across marketing, business development and strategy functions within the pensions and wealth management industry.
Bellway
Harvey Barnes has been named Belway Apprentice of the Year.
The 21-year-old architectural apprentice from Leicester, applied for an apprenticeship with Bellway East Midlands, based at the Meridian Business Park in Leicester, following Covid
He said: “Bellway took a huge chance on me, but they looked at the work I had done on my course, and they gave me a chance. It’s the best thing that’s happened in my life.”
In the nearly two years since he began his apprenticeship as a trainee architectural technician, Harvey has repaid Bellway’s faith in him, throwing himself into his work, learning from his colleagues and pitching in when others need help.
Architectural Manager, Chris Weston, put him forward for Bellway’s Apprentice of the Year Award because of his positive attitude, sense of initiative and proactive approach.
He said: “Harvey has shown great character and confidence in his work. He isn’t afraid to push himself outside his comfort zone and he has a fantastic work ethic.”
Optima UK
Leicester recruitment, training and business consultancy Optima UK has made two new senior hires to its technology and IT division, and promoted its head of operations to director.
Sam Naseer has been recruited as global director, technology and IT recruitment services, while Gladia Antony has joined the team as senior manager, global talent acquisition, technology and IT recruitment services.
Julie Booth, Optima’s highly-experienced head of operations, has been promoted to director of recruitment operations, a role that sees her taking a strategic lead in Optima’s day-to-day activities.
Chief executive Larraine Boorman said: “Our successful talent acquisition skills and experience has been in demand like no time before, and we have seen exponential growth in many areas, including technology and IT but also in manufacturing and engineering industries, legal, finance, sales, marketing, and HR.”
Readings
Leicester-based Readings property group has announced the retirement of managing director Peter Woodthorpe, who headed up its survey and professional services department.
Meanwhile it has brought in two new board directors – Sean Sexton BSc MRICS and James Beardsworth Hons, Dip Surv & Val, Assoc RICS.
Sean started his career in 2005 working for both independent and corporate companies, gaining his qualifications along the way and joined Readings in 2016.
He now heads up our survey department and is involved in not only survey and valuation work but also in dispute resolution acting as an expert witness and single joint expert in court proceedings.
James started his career in business sales in 2010 and in 2014 joined an independent estate agent in Loughborough.
He joined the team at Readings in 2019, and now has a steady stream of referred business from fellow professionals and past client recommendations.
Avant Homes
Chesterfield-based Avant Homes Central has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of a technical director to further enable its regional expansion.
Mark Bray, who joins from residential developer Countryside Partnerships, has more than 40 years’ experience in local government and the construction and housebuilding sectors.
In his new role, he is responsible for Avant Homes Central’s technical delivery, including house type and development design and supporting the region’s land, commercial, construction and site management teams during various stages of construction.
Avant Homes Central has nine live developments ranging from Chesterfield to Derby with more due to start as the business continues its expansion plans.
The company has six other regional businesses operating within Scotland, north east England, Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Midlands and the West Midlands.
Timms Solicitors
Family lawyer and resolution-trained family mediator Adrian Rose has become a partner at Timms Solicitors which has offices in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, Burton-upon-Trent, Swadlincote and Ashby.
Adrian joins the leadership team of Fiona Moffat, Dee Khunkhuna and Jo Robinson.
Managing partner Fiona Moffat said: “We are delighted that Adrian has become a partner with the firm and this promotion is well-deserved.
“His expertise and his excellent reputation on family law matters and mediation services has greatly enhanced the fast-growing team and this timely and cost-effective resolution has had a hugely positive impact on clients during difficult times in their lives.”
Adrian has worked exclusively in family law for almost thirty years and specialises in all areas of family law, including divorce and cohabitation, financial matters and disputes relating to children.
EMBS Engineering
A young entrepreneur has been made managing director of a fast growing engineering recruitment company.
James Hall became a recruitment consultant aged just 17 and, following three successive promotions, he was given the chance to mentor others aged just 23.
Now 32, and a dad-of-two, James is celebrating his promotion to MD of EMBS Engineering – a talent and recruitment services business co-founded by Simon Bucknell and Ian Stevens that provides permanent and contract engineering resources for the Midlands’s fastest-growing advanced manufacturing companies.
Based in Vernon Gate, Derby, James – who joined EMBS as a senior consultant leading the engineering desk eight years ago - has plans to grow the business over the next five years to meet the demand for skilled engineers.
The business works with candidates and businesses within the aerospace, automotive and motorsport, power, nuclear and defence industries.
He said: “The post-Brexit, post-Covid employment market is creating major challenges for employers, and we believe that we have the expertise and solutions to make a huge difference.
“Derby is well-known for being at the heart of engineering in the UK and it’s an exciting time to be involved in the industry.
“But if we’re going to meet the demand for skills, we need to encourage women into engineering, increase apprenticeship adoption and ensure that we keep the over-50s in the workforce for as long as possible."
Next
Jeremy Stakol joins the board of Leicestershire-based Next on April 3 as an executive director, covering group investments, acquisitions and third party brands.
Jeremy holds a masters in professional accounting and spent his early career in the finance department of a large media company.
In 2004 Jeremy joined Lipsy as managing director, and joined the Next group in that role 14 years ago when it acquired the business.
He has led many of the recent new investment deals and related Total Platform opportunities at Next – such as Joules, Victoria's Secret, Gap and others.
