Poole-based Wyatt Homes has appointed Matthew Bennett as its Financial Director. Matthew, who is 48 years old and based in the South West, joined Wyatt Homes this month (January) as it enters a new phase of growth. Before joining Wyatt Homes, Matthew served as a Chartered Accountant for over 25 years,
Ian rejoins Currie & Brown’s growing Healthcare group Currie & Brown, provider of cost management, project management and advisory services has recruited Ian Mitchell to head up cost management for the Healthcare sector in London and South East England. Ian’s appointment will add to Currie & Brown’s expertise in healthcare
Warringtonfire has appointed Rob Axe as the General Manager of its fire testing laboratory in High Wycombe. Rob, who began his career as a Technical Officer at the High Wycombe laboratory, most recently held the role of Technical Manager for Warringtonfire – a global leader in Fire Testing, Inspection and
Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, has today announced the appointment of Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE as its President-elect. Dr Thompson will commence in the role in July, taking over from outgoing APM President, Sue Kershaw, who has served in the role since
GMI Construction Group has appointed Darryl Brown to the newly created role of Regional Commercial Director for the North East. Working alongside Regional Director Gary Oates, he is tasked with further growing the independent company’s presence in the region. Having moved into larger offices on Teesside earlier this year, GMI
Bowater Doors, part of Birtley Group, has strengthened the business with the appointment of Pete White in a new role as Head of Sales. An experienced sales professional, Pete has joined the leading composite and fire door manufacturer as the business looks to ramp up its supply to national house
Caddick Construction Group has appointed Dave Saville as Regional Managing Director for the North West, representing new leadership for the region following its most successful year to-date with turnover in excess of £150m in 2023. Dave joins Caddick Construction from Wates Construction where he has been Managing Director for the
Polypipe Building Services has appointed Sean Norris as Advantage Services Manager to drive the company’s focus on offsite prefabrication. Sean’s move across from his role as Product Manager within the Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation business follows a series of other senior appointments within Polypipe Building Services, as it increases
Dandara Living is pleased to welcome Sam Smith back to its senior leadership team, as Operations Director, with responsibility for the company’s current portfolio of almost 3,000 units under management. Sam joins following an extremely busy last 12 months for the business. This included the completion and launch of Dandara
Top 10 UK homebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Neil Smith as Land and Partnerships Director for the West Midlands branch of the business. Neil’s appointment will see him work alongside the existing land team and oversee the delivery of a regional land pipeline, lead on development requirements with
Poole-based Wyatt Homes has appointed Matthew Bennett as its Financial Director. Matthew, who is 48 years old and based in the South West, joined Wyatt Homes this month (January) as it enters a new phase of growth. Before joining Wyatt Homes, Matthew served as a Chartered Accountant for over 25 years, gaining extensive financial and operational expertise at several large companies. Additionally, he held senior board roles for a range of well-known housebuilders in the South West of England. Matthew said, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Wyatt Homes and to be part of such an ambitious business that builds wonderful developments and homes. “It is refreshing to find a housebuilder whose focus is the production of a truly well-finished product in developments that look exceptional. “I have already seen that Wyatt Homes has a great values-driven culture with an experienced and passionate team, and I can’t wait to assist the business on the next stage of its journey.” Shaun Pettitt, Managing Director, added, “We are delighted to welcome Matthew to Wyatt Homes. His wealth of experience and insight will undoubtedly enhance our bid to deliver further growth for the Company whilst maintaining our commitment to crafting exceptional homes.” Having been in senior roles in the construction industry, Matthew’s diverse background brings a fresh perspective to Wyatt Homes. His wide-ranging industry experience uniquely positions him to lead its operations into the next chapter. Wyatt Homes currently has new homes developments in Wimborne, Puddletown and Charminster in Dorset, Yeovil in Somerset and North Baddesley in Hampshire. It also has plans to expand its operational area further across the south coast. For more information visit www.wyatthomes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ian rejoins Currie & Brown’s growing Healthcare group Currie & Brown, provider of cost management, project management and advisory services has recruited Ian Mitchell to head up cost management for the Healthcare sector in London and South East England. Ian’s appointment will add to Currie & Brown’s expertise in healthcare cost management, and experience ensuring that complex healthcare projects are delivered within budget. The firm has provided cost management services on a number of New Hospital Programme (NHP) schemes, and for NHS clients including Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, University College London Hospitals, Barts Health, James Paget and Lewisham & Greenwich. Ian rejoins Currie & Brown following a seven-year period. He brings with him extensive experience in whole life costing, business case development and benchmarking, along with a deep knowledge of technical standards. Alongside adding value to Currie & Brown’ clients, he will also play an important role in implementing the firm’s growth strategy, drawing on his experience in senior leadership teams at top-tier construction consultancies. David Keith, Senior Director, London, comments: “We’re entering a pivotal period for NHS estates. The Government is investing heavily in our healthcare infrastructure to future-proof facilities and deliver high standards of care. Ian’s specialist experience in healthcare cost management means he is ideally placed to support our clients through this period and ensure their investments deliver on expectations.” Ian Mitchell, Director, comments: “I’m hugely excited to be rejoining Currie & Brown. The firm has maintained its excellent reputation for cost management and long-standing client relationships within the NHS and public sector. I look forward to working with team members old and new, and applying my 25 years plus experience to add even greater value to our clients in the sector.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Warringtonfire has appointed Rob Axe as the General Manager of its fire testing laboratory in High Wycombe. Rob, who began his career as a Technical Officer at the High Wycombe laboratory, most recently held the role of Technical Manager for Warringtonfire – a global leader in Fire Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC). With over 15 years’ experience in the field of fire resistance testing and passive fire protection systems, Rob is one of the industry’s leading authorities on testing timber fire doors, penetration seals, cavity barriers, load bearing and non-load bearing wall systems and glazed screens. In his new role, Rob will assume responsibility for Warringtonfire’s testing team in High Wycombe, including recruitment, training and management; as well as developing the laboratory’s on-site testing capabilities. Since his appointment, Rob has already recruited several new team members into varied roles and is currently scoping out the expansion of the laboratory’s mid-scale furnace to accommodate penetration seal testing and increase overall testing capacity at the site. Rob commented: “Having spent the majority of my career working at the High Wycombe laboratory, it is a real privilege to be appointed General Manager for testing at the High Wycombe site. It is an incredibly dynamic time for the industry, as building product manufacturers adapt to the ever-evolving legislative landscape. I am looking forward to working closely with our customers to deliver best-in-class fire resistance testing, while also collaborating with our management team to evolve our own testing capabilities and capacity here in High Wycombe.” Leigh Hill, Director – Built Environment at Element Materials Technology, added: “Rob brings with him a wealth of technical expertise alongside a deep understanding of our testing facilities here in High Wycombe. Our fire testing laboratory is set to play a pivotal role in our wider strategy for the built environment throughout 2024 and beyond, and we are delighted to have an individual of Rob’s calibre at the helm.” Warringtonfire is part of the Element Materials Technology group. Both UKAS and ISO/IEC 17025-accredited, it undertakes testing for fire resistance, smoke leakage, structural integrity and performance, as well as acoustic and mechanical testing for construction products. For more information Warringtonfire’s fire resistance testing offering, please visit: https://www.warringtonfire.com/testing-services/fire-resistance-testing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, has today announced the appointment of Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE as its President-elect. Dr Thompson will commence in the role in July, taking over from outgoing APM President, Sue Kershaw, who has served in the role since 2019. As President, Dr Thompson will advocate for the project profession, host APM’s high-profile events and facilitate discussions that will drive forwards project, programme and portfolio work around the world. Her professional background includes roles as Music Editor of Root magazine, Managing Director of marketing and PR company ASAP Communications, and President of the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners. In addition, she is a founding member of radio station Choice FM. She has four Fellowships including from Kings College London, along with honorary doctorates from London Metropolitan University and the University of Plymouth. She is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London and a successful author, speaker and influencer. Commenting on the appointment, Milla Mazilu, Chair of APM’s Board of Trustees, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Yvonne Thompson as APM’s incoming President. She is a hugely respected leader, role model and campaigner. These qualities make her the ideal choice to represent APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession. “Yvonne joins APM at an exciting time for the project community, but also at a time when many face challenges in their work to deliver projects and programmes that will benefit society. Yvonne’s experience in spearheading innovative and groundbreaking projects will be invaluable in this role. I speak for everyone associated with APM when I say I am greatly looking forward to working with her. “I would also like to thank our outgoing President, Sue Kershaw, who has served APM, our members and the wider project profession with tireless dedication since 2019. With Sue’s support, APM has successfully navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduced new innovations and offerings for our members. Her work has helped cement APM’s reputation as an outstanding professional body.” Dr Thompson said: “I am honoured to have been appointed into the prestigious role of APM’s President. I now look forward to getting started in the coming months, and to help promote APM’s vision, mission and strategy. I’m also keen to help shape the future of the sector and drive professionalism. “I look forward to working with APM’s Board of Trustees in helping to shape the project profession’s direction, along with Chief Executive Adam Boddison, and all those associated with APM and its work.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has appointed Darryl Brown to the newly created role of Regional Commercial Director for the North East. Working alongside Regional Director Gary Oates, he is tasked with further growing the independent company’s presence in the region. Having moved into larger offices on Teesside earlier this year, GMI further strengthened its position after joining the framework of the North East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO), allowing it to tender for public sector contracts involving the region’s 12 local authorities. GMI, one of the largest independent construction firms in the North of England and Midlands, recently completed several high profile projects including 362,600 sq. ft of commercial units at Hillthorn Business Park, Washington, and the 650,000 sq. ft Connect warehouse and logistics scheme at the Integra 61 development near Bowburn, Durham. Chris Weathers, Group Commercial Director said: “The North East is a key area for the business as it delivers the necessary infrastructure that will attract investment and jobs to the area” “As a result, we have expanded our team to reflect our growing pipeline of work and having Darryl in the Regional Commercial Director role is pivotal in delivering significant new projects.” Gary Oates, Regional Director of the North-East said: “Darryl brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record of landing new contracts and taking overall commercial control of major projects. “We look forward to the positive impact Darryl’s appointment will have on the region and its future growth.” With more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, Darryl joins GMI from Leeds-based Priestley Construction, where he was Head of Commercial. Having graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a Bsc in Project Management, he started out as an assistant site manager, later progressing through a series of Quantity Surveyor roles. Darryl, from North Yorkshire, said: “I’m delighted to join GMI and look forward to working with its team in the North East and growing its portfolio of public and private clients across multiple sectors.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bowater Doors, part of Birtley Group, has strengthened the business with the appointment of Pete White in a new role as Head of Sales. An experienced sales professional, Pete has joined the leading composite and fire door manufacturer as the business looks to ramp up its supply to national house builders and for social housing refurbishment and social rebuild. Previously, Pete headed up a team of five as Northern Sales Director for Vent-Axia. The business manufactured and supplied ventilation, heating and air conditioning equipment for social housing and local authority housing. Within his role at Bowater, Pete will appoint and lead a national sales team for the business, which is headquartered in Birtley, Gateshead. Pete aims to increase revenues as the firm meets the requirements of house building groups as well as local authorities and housing associations responsible for tenancy new builds and retrofit projects. Pete said: “Having worked in the UK manufacturing sector, I know Bowater Doors is an established business that is well-regarded within the sectors that it serves. “It is great to be joining a North East employer and am looking forward to being an intrinsic part of an entrepreneurial company. I plan to raise Bowater’s provision of fire doors and composite doors for residential new builds and renovation projects for social housing houses, flats and tower blocks. “A robust supply chain of composite doors and BM Trada performance certified fire doors and frames are fundamental for house building and retrofitting. I am excited about meeting Bowater’s current and new clients and being involved with their projects.” Jason Anderson, Managing Director for Birtley Group, added: “We’re delighted that a person of Pete’s calibre and experience is now a part of the business, as we support Bowater customers across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction Group has appointed Dave Saville as Regional Managing Director for the North West, representing new leadership for the region following its most successful year to-date with turnover in excess of £150m in 2023. Dave joins Caddick Construction from Wates Construction where he has been Managing Director for the North and Midlands since 2022 following three years as Business Unit Director for the North West. With 30 years of industry experience, Dave brings a wealth of expertise to his new role at Caddick Construction, having led a number of major private and public sector projects before leading John Sisk & Son and Wates’ North West regional businesses. As Regional MD at Caddick Construction, Dave will lead a team of 130 in delivering a diverse portfolio of projects across the North West, including high profile residential, commercial, manufacturing and industrial developments. Dave’s appointment closely follows news that current Regional MD, Ian Threadgold, is set to retire following a nine-year tenure at Caddick Construction. With a career spanning three decades, Dave has held a number of leadership roles, including 20 years with Laing O’Rourke, with projects including a number of PFI, healthcare and education projects delivered using modern methods of construction. In Dave’s previous role he oversaw projects across the North and Midlands in the leisure, low-rise residential, blue light, education and manufacturing sectors. The latter included Astrazeneca’s new Sterile Production Plant in Macclesfield. Of his appointment, Dave commented: “Caddick is a strong brand in the North West, and its position in the market is down to the Caddick business and its balance sheet. I’m honoured to be taking the reins of a business with such an excellent reputation, and I’m excited to be continuing to deliver the high standards Caddick is known for. “As I take on this role I want to recognise the many talented people that make up the North West Caddick team, and they will be my focus, along with our clients, projects and supply chain. Looking to the future, I’m determined to preserve and build on Caddick’s success as an approachable and sustainable business that works with integrity. In-line with Caddick Construction Group’s wider strategy, we will also look to grow our presence on regional frameworks to balance our portfolio of public and private sector projects.” Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director of Caddick Construction Group, comments: “Ian Threadgold built an incredible team, a stable business and a strong reputation for Caddick Construction in the North West, all of which we’re committed to nurture and grow. Having worked with Dave previously, I’m confident that he has the right attributes, passion, knowledge and determination to achieve this. We’re very excited to welcome Dave to the Caddick team and look forward to what the future holds for Caddick in the North West and Cumbria.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Polypipe Building Services has appointed Sean Norris as Advantage Services Manager to drive the company’s focus on offsite prefabrication. Sean’s move across from his role as Product Manager within the Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation business follows a series of other senior appointments within Polypipe Building Services, as it increases its focus on providing sustainable solutions for customers. Having joined Polypipe in 2010 as a Business Development Representative, Sean brings with him extensive knowledge of the building services sector and strategic projects. In his new role he will oversee an ambitious growth plan for the company’s Advantage Service, which provides a bespoke fully fabricated drainage and supply systems solution for specifiers and contractors. Sean said: “Everyone is talking about the importance of offsite and modular construction which is our biggest challenge and the largest opportunity for us. “As a business we want to work more closely with developers and contractors to consider the challenges they face and how we can support – for example by implementing product development such as pre-insulating pipework to make installation easier. “Because we can offer bespoke fabrication in-house at Polypipe Building Services the opportunities are endless, with offsite fabrication frequently being chosen as a preferred construction method by hotel chains and pub groups. The challenge for us is to understand how we need to evolve our products and processes to meet their needs. “We’re aiming to expand the Advantage Service into next year and beyond, growing our 30-strong technical and fabrication teams. Additionally, I’ll be looking to simplify our processes to align with our customer’s needs.” Ian Crickmore, Technical Director of Polypipe Building Services, commented: “Sean is a very welcome addition to the Advantage team and will play a key role in shaping the direction of our prefabricated service. “Offsite construction will play a vital part within the construction sector as specifiers are being challenged to do more with less, while still delivering on quality and sustainability standards. “It’s also a more environmentally friendly option because it minimises waste, which ties into our commitment as part of the Genuit Group to become a sustainable, low-carbon business, and to deliver sustainable solutions.” For more information about all the latest products at Polypipe Building Services go to www.polypipe.com/commercial-building-services Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dandara Living is pleased to welcome Sam Smith back to its senior leadership team, as Operations Director, with responsibility for the company’s current portfolio of almost 3,000 units under management. Sam joins following an extremely busy last 12 months for the business. This included the completion and launch of Dandara Living’s second Build to Rent development in Birmingham, and the forward sale and funding of the 391-unit Renshaw’s Yard development in Staines, to Greystar Real Estate Partners. The company, which has a growing portfolio of almost 8,000 home and student beds across the UK, also recently secured a five-year renewal instruction from ECE Real Estate Partners to continue to manage their BtR portfolio in the UK. Speaking about his appointment, Sam Smith said: “In spite of the challenging economic and regulatory environment, Dandara Living has ambitious plans for the future. “Having successfully launched a further development in Birmingham and secured the forward sale of Renshaw’s Yard to Greystar at a time when year-on-year transaction volumes were significantly lower, is further recognition of Dandara Living’s ability to attract major industry players and the confidence in our brand, quality and offering. This a very exciting time to be part of the team.” In addition to heading up Dandara Living Management, Sam will also work with Dandara Living’s business development unit to explore opportunities to expand the management arm of the company through offering services to other development partners. Jim Davies, CEO of Dandara Living, comments: “This is a pivotal time for the business as we continue to develop our pipeline and opportunities to further evolve our operational management platform and offering. Sam has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sector, and I am very pleased to have him on board.” Dandara Living currently operates six BTR developments in the UK and has a further 17 sites in the pipeline. Its next development of 342 BTR units plus 5,597sqft of resident amenity at Granary Quay on the Clyde waterfront in Glasgow is now nearing completion. In addition, Stafford Yard, the company’s first development in Bristol comprising 295 apartments and 5,164sqft resident amenity, is set to complete later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK homebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Neil Smith as Land and Partnerships Director for the West Midlands branch of the business. Neil’s appointment will see him work alongside the existing land team and oversee the delivery of a regional land pipeline, lead on development requirements with a focus on partnerships, progress local opportunities, and support the team to achieve further organic growth across the Midlands. Neil brings 17 years of experience in all aspects of land acquisition to the homebuilder, including previous roles across affordable housing, development management, funding and consortium management – most recently working for developer Vistry Partnerships. In addition, Neil was previously a Head of New Business across all regions at Orbit Homes, a role which saw him supporting regional teams with land, large bulk deals, and external third party service contracts. Commenting on his appointment, Neil said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed by such a well-established, national homebuilder and I’m looking forward to working with the West Midlands team to continue building on the region’s track record and growing our land pipeline. “I am proud to be part of Keepmoat and I align with the overall values of the business. I’m really looking forward to getting involved and growing the division, whilst delivering good quality housing and utilising the best skills and resources from the public and private sectors.’’ Amanda Bishop, Regional Managing Director for Keepmoat’s West Midlands region, added: “I’m really pleased that Neil has joined the West Midlands team and I look forward to working with him to further strengthen our land pipeline and support the planned growth of our business. “Our West Midlands team is currently delivering 10 operational sites and has created 594 new homes in the last year. We specialise in developing brownfield land, most recently with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Homes England, and other partners, where we committed to building 4,000 future homes with net carbon zero emissions. I’m excited to see Neil push forward our goal to regenerate areas through our partnership model and drive relationships with landowners to create thriving, sustainable communities.” Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership homebuilder with a track record of delivering quality homes in regions across the UK. To date, Keepmoat has built over 35,000 homes, transforming brownfield sites into thriving new communities. Keepmoat has achieved five-star builder status in the National Home Builders Federation Award, receiving a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
