This week's North West appointments

Noelle Batema and Jacqui Bland, Broadstone

Security recruitment tech startup Broadstone has announced two appointments.

Noelle Batema joined the Manchester-based scaleup in the role of community engagement manager, following her work with startups in Silicon Valley.

Having made the permanent move to Manchester from San Francisco, she will take charge of the full lifecycle of building and supporting Broadstone’s communities.

Her remit will also include developing strategies for audience engagement, gamification and attracting new members.

Noelle said: “This role stood out to me as an amazing opportunity to bring my experience in community engagement and build customer-focused solutions for an innovative startup in Manchester.

“Manchester is a hub of tech talent and I believe Broadstone will disrupt the existing methods of staffing in industries such as recruitment and revolutionise the way both job-seekers and employers view recruitment. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Broadstone has also appointed Jacqui Bland as a senior software engineer in its development team.

Jacqui commented: “I really wanted to be part of a company that provides a valuable service and with the app already successfully filling positions for large UK security companies, it’s a very exciting time to join.

“As a developer, I always look for a technical challenge but at Broadstone I also have the opportunity to bring my experiences from working with some very talented individuals in previous roles to help mentor and mould the team here​.”

Broadstone founder and director Tom Pickersgill said of the appointments: “We have ambitious expansion plans to move our technology into other sectors, aside from security, so Noelle and Jacqui will certainly be key to our success and support us as we enter the next stage in our growth and beyond.”

Four appointments, Lunyalita

The owners of Liverpool-based Spanish restaurant and deli Lunya have appointed an all-female management team to operate their forthcoming eatery at Albert Dock.

Laia Urive, Estefania Quintana, Lucy Moss and Laura Jaime will take up key roles in management, supervision and finance at Lunyalita when it opens next month.

Lunya co-owner Elaine Kinsella said: “Our all-female team picked itself really. They’ve been with Lunya for many years and we’ve witnessed their outstanding personal development as well as dedicated commitment to our business and we’re very proud and pleased to have them on board at this new exciting time for our business.”

Discussing the progress made on Lunyalita, which opens mid-July after a soft launch earlier in the month, Elaine explained: “We’re making good progress on site with space of 3,000 sq ft available to develop Lunyalita in what has to be one of the most fabulous waterside spots in the UK.

“Lunyalita is opposite the Arena and Big Wheel, next to the Beatles Story, the main entrance to the Albert Dock and, we overlook the Dock too.

She continued: “Plus, it has just been announced that Albert Dock is today being renamed The Royal Albert Dock Liverpool after winning recognition from the Queen for its history and role in regenerating the city… perfect timing for the arrival of Lunyalita!”

Lunyalita will create 30 jobs when it opens. It represents an investment of £300k from the Kinsellas.

Four appointments, Falconer Chester Hall

Falconer Chester Hall (FCH), the Liverpool-based architectural practice, has announced a raft of promotions.

Robert Brym (pictured) is now an associate, having joined FCH in early 2015 as a project architect with more than nine years’ experience. At FCH he has been responsible for securing planning approval on a number of large schemes, including Liverpool’s £20m Wolstenholme Square development.

Andy Shave and Mafalda Franco have been promoted to senior architect. Andy joined FCH in 2016 and Mafalda in 2015.

Elsewhere, Kirstine Tillotson was promoted to senior technologist.

FCH managing director Adam Hall said: “Staff reward and retention have been a top priority for us and we’re delighted to be able to make these promotions, recognising the talent we have here in the practice.”

Stephen Taylor and Emma Dickson, Turley

Planning consultancy Turley has added to its senior team.

The Manchester-based company appointed Stephen Taylor as national head of design. He will lead Turley’s urban design team.

It also promoted Emma Dickson (pictured) to a director role in its strategic communications team. She will work to help clients handle the stakeholder communication aspects of planning and development.

Turley MD Dave Trimingham said: “These appointments are an essential component of our strategy for maximising the growth of our key service areas across the UK – and are complemented by a wide range of promotions across the firm.

“The appointment of Stephen Taylor is testament to the strong reputation we have forged in planning design and the UK-wide expertise we provide.”

He continued: “The promotion of Emma Dickson provides further impetus for the growth of our strategic communications team following the appointment earlier this year of Nick Jones to lead our national offering.

“It is a tremendously exciting time for the business, and expanding our senior team creates further opportunities for growth and diversification of our full-service offer.”

Eight appointments, Gateley

Gateley, the law-led professional services group, has announced eight promotions in Manchester.

Avril England (employment) is now a partner and Joanna Belmonte (banking and finance), Mark Iveson (planning), Aneesh Prasad and Danielle Haston (both restructuring) all legal directors.

Gateley also promoted Emma Butterworth (employment) and Stephen Maynard (pensions) to senior associate level and Tom Hughes (commerce, technology and media) to associate.

Real estate partner Rod Waldie, head of Gateley’s Manchester office, said: “I am delighted to announce that eight lawyers have been promoted in our Manchester office.

“Every individual has contributed to the growth of the business and their promotions are very much deserved.”

L-R: Anita Mason, Tony Stanley, Leslie Malkin, Gearoid Hennessy and Peter Taaffe

Six appointments, BWM

Liverpool accountancy firm BWM, formerly trading as BWMacfarlane, has recruited six new team members.

Four of the newcomers are currently studying for their accountancy exams; Tom Pickering, who joined from Mazars, Ryan Bingham from ERC, Libbie Burns from Mitchell Charlesworth, and Gemma Ellison, who previously worked for Butterworth Barlow and Additions.

Jayne Lancaster joined the BWM payroll team from Liverpool accountants John Kerr. Also joining the department is Anna Cummings, an admin and marketing apprentice.

Alongside the appointments, BWM has made three promotions; Anita Mason to director of audit, and Tony Stanley and Gearoid Hennessy to audit manager level.

BWM managing partner Peter Taaffe said: “Accountancy has been seen as a staid profession but we believe it is vital that we keep changing and evolving – getting ahead of the many industry and technology changes allows us to put business advisory at core of what we do.

“To implement that strategy successfully we need to have the right people in our team. That means investing in the development of our current team and continually looking to bring new people into the firm.”

Four appointments, Kuits

Law firm Kuits has announced senior and junior hires at its offices in Manchester.

Sandra Crichton and Caroline Brennan joined the company as senior associates in the corporate and commercial team.

Sandra specialises in corporate mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations and joint ventures. She has more than 20 years of experience gained with Eaton Smith, Glaisyers Solicitors and Beyond Corporate.

Caroline previously specialised in commercial and IP work at Shoosmiths.

Kuits has also taken on senior associate Steve Jackson (from Southerns Solicitors in Lancashire) and solicitor Lauren Cunningham (from Macclesfield-based Blunts Solicitors), both in its commercial property department.

Steve Eccleston, Kuits managing partner, commented: “Life for an SME in the UK is becoming increasingly complex and it is therefore essential we continue to strengthen our team in order to help our clients drive growth.

“Our strategy has always been to attract the best calibre of commercial advisers.”

He continued: “These appointments bring a variety of experience and reinforce our commitment to providing excellent commercial advice alongside trusted client service. It’s a pleasure to welcome them to the firm.”

Nine promotions, Deloitte

Professional services giant Deloitte has made nine senior promotions in its North West practice.

Lyndsey Fallon, who is responsible for the firm’s conduct risk and regulatory team in the regional financial services practice, has been elevated to partner level.

She has worked at Deloitte for 11 years and built experience in risk management, governance, conduct risk and internal audit for the retail banking, insurance and consumer credit sectors.

The following have become directors: Mark Westbrook (risk advisory), Matthew Smith (international audit practice), Tim Bridge (sports business group), Daniel Mowbray (risk advisory), Peter Braddock (audit and assurance), Rosina Murdoch (consulting), Katie Minton (human capital consulting) and Nic Hartley (Deloitte real estate consulting).

Deloitte’s North West practice senior partner, Richard Bell, said: “These promotions recognise the hard work and dedication that each of them has put in over a sustained period.

“Each individual has demonstrated their ability to provide valuable support to our clients, helping them to make a real impact in the region.”