Member Article

This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Michael Lavizam, QHotels

QHotels has appointed Michael Lavizani as General Manager at Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort, its venue on the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire border.

Michael brings over 30 years’ experience working in the hospitality industry, beginning his career at Principal Hotels and Paramount Hotels before going on to gain management experience as Managing Director of MSL Hotels and Cosmopolitan Hotels, and General Manager at Shrigley Hall Golf & Country Club.

Michael commented: “QHotels has invested substantially in Forest Pines’ facilities and accommodation, so it’s a great time to be joining the hotel with all it has to offer both leisure and business guests.

“We’ll be continuing to invest in areas of the hotel in 2017, including upgrading a number of our facilities and making further improvements to the 27-hole golf course. I look forward to seeing these developments progress.”

Managing Director, Michael Purtill added: “At QHotels, we continue to attract and retain like-minded people, and Michael is perfect example of this. We have worked together for many years, and I’ve seen him get to know and understand customers at each of the hotels he has managed prior to QHotels, to ensure the very best service.

“I know his experience at golf resorts will be invaluable to Forest Pines, as a top championship golf course in the UK.”

Nicole Ballantine, Jumpstart

Research and development tax credit firm Jumpstart have appointed qualified engineer, Nicole Ballantyne, as its new Client Engagement Manager for Yorkshire.

Her appointment follows stints at Crown Packaging, C02Sense and Pera Consulting.

Nicole commented: “It feels like I have come full circle at Jumpstart and I am now back in a position where I can help businesses, including manufacturing, creative and technology maximise their investment in innovation by utilising the generous UK tax incentives available,” she said.

“Many business people are still unaware of them yet they can help them continue to innovate and grow. Others think the process is more trouble than it is worth.

“Jumpstart has a very simple, transparent process for identifying eligible business and projects and then processing their claim expeditiously,” she said.

“With my large network in the Yorkshire & Humber region I am confident I can personally help businesses or signpost them to someone who can.”

Jen Hamilton and Andy King, Sweco

Engineering, environment and design consultancy Sweco has appointed two new members to its UK leadership team to head up its environment and energy business units.

Jen Hamilton, who will head up the firm’s environmental unit, and Andy King, who will head up Sweco’s energy unit, have been promoted following five and ten years at the business.

Sweco’s UK managing director, Max Joy, said: “Our integration continues to progress at an excellent rate and we are very well placed to become even more successful.

“These additional leadership team appointments ensure our core businesses are aligned with market sectors in a way that creates many advantages for both our company and our clients. Importantly, the structure also enables pan-business representation on the leadership team giving further impetus to our collaborative multi-disciplinary approach.

“We’re very pleased to introduce Jen and Andy onto the leadership team. They are both highly capable individuals and great leaders, who have proven themselves to be assets to our business. We look forward to them helping deliver our controlled strategic growth plan.”