The Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has appointed Danny Spokes as the divisional managing directorfor IBMG’s South West build division. The appointment heralds the restructure of IBMG’s South West operation to align with the wider structure of the Group. IBMG’s South West division incorporates CRS’s 13 builders merchant branches in Somerset as well as RGB’s
SevenHomes, the regional housebuilder by SevenCapital Group, has appointed Richard Hodson as Planning Director. Richard previously joined the business’ planning team in 2022 and has since played an integral role in developing and delivering SevenHomes’ full planning strategy, from the acquisition of new sites amassing to a pipeline of nearly
Architecture Director, Akshay Khera, has been appointed as head of the Bristol studio of global design practice, BDP. With more than a decade of experience designing buildings and spaces in Bristol, the South West and Wales, Akshay is passionate about improving the built environment in the region. He is committed
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a leading online platform dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within supply chains, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Spencer to its Board of Directors. Andrew Spencer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the School’s mission of advancing sustainability within the built
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking
Hull City Council has appointed Chris Jackson as its new Director of Regeneration. Chris joins the council from NHS England, where he most recently held the role of Director of Capital, with oversight of the NHS’s national capital budget and major capital programmes, such as delivery of new diagnostic centres
Embrace Steel Group (Embrace), a leading UK-based provider of steel frame building solutions, has announced the appointment of Matt Gibson as its new Chief Operating Officer ahead of what is expected to be a significant period of transformational growth for the business. Beginning his career within the banking and wider financial
The new Commercial Director at an ambitious homebuilder is aiming to use his expertise within the industry to develop the skill sets of the company’s commercial team. Brett Lilley will oversee all commercial operations at Genesis Homes in the newly created Director role, using more than 20 years of knowledge
Mark Wild OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed railway and help realise its transformational benefits. As one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, Mark brings almost four decades-worth of experience to the role. This
Leading building services engineering practice, Tate Consulting, has promoted Aaron Stevenson to director of its Belfast office. The promotion is in line with the firm’s ongoing expansion programme and numerous high profile contract wins, which will create more jobs in the coming months. Aaron joined Tate Consulting at the end
The Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has appointed Danny Spokes as the divisional managing directorfor IBMG’s South West build division. The appointment heralds the restructure of IBMG’s South West operation to align with the wider structure of the Group. IBMG’s South West division incorporates CRS’s 13 builders merchant branches in Somerset as well as RGB’s 22-branch network across Devon and Cornwall. Both RGB and CRS were acquired by IBMG in 2022. With Danny taking the helm in the South West, Toby Constable will continue to lead IBMG’s build division in the South East with Mat Miller in the North. Prior to this appointment, Danny was MD of IBMG’s roofing division where he has overseen its development to become the third largest roofing merchant in the country and the largest independent in Southern England. Allun Pittingale, COO of IBMG, said “I am thrilled with this appointment. Danny has extensive experience in this sector and a track record of building great teams and delivering great results. Danny is keenly aware of the heritage and history of his new brands and I am absolutely certain that he will take our South West build division to new heights.” Danny Spokes, a resident of Somerset, expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “Our branch network in the region, in terms of geographical spread and customer base, is significant and I have no doubt that, together with the teams in each branch, we can continue to make a big difference to tradespeople across the South West.” IBMG is the largest owner of independent merchants in the South of England. Operating five core divisions: builders merchants; timber; plumbing & heating; roofing; and electrical, it primarily serves trade customers. IBMG-owned branches extend from Penzance to Margate, East Anglia and north to the Midlands. The Group employs 2,000+ people, and leads the way in personal customer service. independentbm.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SevenHomes, the regional housebuilder by SevenCapital Group, has appointed Richard Hodson as Planning Director. Richard previously joined the business’ planning team in 2022 and has since played an integral role in developing and delivering SevenHomes’ full planning strategy, from the acquisition of new sites amassing to a pipeline of nearly 3,000 homes, through to the achievement of planning permissions and successful disposal of sites across the midlands, including in Bromsgrove, Warwick and Redditch. In his new role as Planning Director, Richard will lead the planning function across all SevenHomes’ operating regions, whilst bolstering the wider team’s work in identifying and securing new opportunities. Richard commented: “I am delighted with the promotion to Planning Director at SevenHomes. The business prides itself on the ability to identify land with good prospects for the provision of new homes and amenities and add significant value through the planning and subsequent build process. I look forward to further developing our planning capabilities as we push ahead with both current and future projects.” Abdul Ali, Executive Director SevenHomes, said: “Richard’s track record within our planning department at SevenHomes has been exceptional in the two years he’s been with us thus far. In this new role leading the function, I am confident his leadership skills and expertise will be instrumental in achieving the company’s ambitious growth plans over the coming years.” For more information on SevenHomes, please visit: www.sevenhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architecture Director, Akshay Khera, has been appointed as head of the Bristol studio of global design practice, BDP. With more than a decade of experience designing buildings and spaces in Bristol, the South West and Wales, Akshay is passionate about improving the built environment in the region. He is committed to delivering sustainable spaces that create a sense of community and wellbeing designed with end users in mind. Akshay’s appointment supports the continued growth of BDP in the region as a widely respected, socially progressive practice with an embedded multidisciplinary approach across healthcare, housing, education, and workplace sectors. Akshay joined BDP Bristol in 2004 and in 2010 went on to lead the Delhi and Abu Dhabi studios where his international portfolio included notable projects such as the masterplan for the Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Birmingham’s Dubai Incubator campus. He returned to Bristol in 2019 and has brought his proven expertise in collaborative communication and design to lead a number of projects. These include the University of Bristol Dental School, projects for the University of the West of England, and the International HQ for the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. Akshay Khera, head of BDP Bristol says: “Once again, Bristol has been named as one of the best places to live in the UK and it is known to be one of the highest-growth cities across multiple major asset classes. The opportunity for growth in the region in all sectors remains strong and as a multidisciplinary consultancy, we are perfectly placed to help our local clients understand their investment and property portfolio strategies. “By delivering designs that are contextual, sustainable, and people-centred we aim to deliver stimulating spaces in schools and universities, stress-relieving environments in healthcare facilities, a strong sense of community in housing developments and workplaces that foster collaboration and wellbeing. “With the depth of talent in our Bristol studio across sectors and professions, we are in a fantastic position to enhance our role in the region, delivering quality design projects that are inspirational, challenge the norm and are reflective of our progressive and diverse studio.” BDP is currently working on a number of projects across the South West including the innovative Gap House project in Bristol, a series of healthcare projects including the new elective care centre at Southmead Hospital, the design that won the Brighter Places/Housing Festival competition to build a 100% affordable housing development at Midland Road in Bristol and schools for the Department for Education. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a leading online platform dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within supply chains, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Spencer to its Board of Directors. Andrew Spencer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the School’s mission of advancing sustainability within the built environment through collaboration and knowledge sharing. As the Group Supply Chain & Procurement Director at Galliford Try, a prominent UK construction group and key Partner of the School, Spencer operates at the forefront of the industry, overseeing procurement and supply chain professionals across the organisation and shaping strategic approaches to supply chain management. With over 25 years of experience and a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (FCIPS), Spencer has led high-profile projects and collaborations with major UK clients, including HS2, National Highways, Crossrail, and National Grid, among others. His leadership has been recognised through multiple awards for his innovative approach to supply chain management. Reflecting on his appointment, Andrew commented, “I am honoured to join the Board of the Supply Chain Sustainability School. Its dedication to promoting sustainable practices resonates strongly with my professional values and how we operate within Galliford Try. I’m eager to apply my experience and network to further the School’s mission of driving positive change within the industry.” The Supply Chain Sustainability School empowers professionals across the built environment sector with the knowledge and tools necessary to build resilient and environmentally responsible supply chains. Andrew Spencer’s appointment to the Board of Directors underscores the School’s dedication to harnessing industry expertise to advance sustainability practices. “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to our Board of Directors.” said Hilary Hurrey, Head of the Supply Chain Sustainability School “His extensive experience and leadership in procurement and supply chain management will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward our mission of promoting sustainability and collaboration within the built environment.” For more information about the Supply Chain Sustainability School, explore the website here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking the overall team headcount to more than 30. Rekha has over 20 years’ experience in consultancy project management, contract administration and design and architecture. Her specific focus is on leading large scale, complex commercial occupier fit-out projects, having worked with clients such as the Government Property Unit and Transport for London. Rekha joins from Seven Projects where she was head of project management, having previously worked at both T&T and BNP Paribas. She is also a qualified architect and has recently been a Mixology Awards judge and mentor for the Wilmott Dixon Women in Leadership Programme. John has over 11 years’ experience in construction project management, delivering high-end complex Cat-A and CAT-B projects. He specialises in the office sector, primarily delivering refurbishment and alteration schemes for clients including Oval Real Estate, Pontegadea and Savills Investment Management. John joins from his previous role as Operations Manager at Neilcott Construction and prior to this he was a project manager at Overbury. At Savills, Rekha will complement the firm’s capability in the occupier fit-out market, a key growth area for the business. Whilst John’s construction background will bring a wealth of expertise to complex building projects in the expanding refurbishment market. Rekha Mistry comments: “I am very excited to have joined Savills market leading team. Occupiers are continuing on their flight to quality, along with a focus on both attracting and retaining staff. As a result we are seeing a significant increase in the number of businesses seeking to provide the best possible space for their employees. With this in mind, I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business on a wide variety of projects.” Benjamin Cottle, co-head of London office project management, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome both Rekha and John to Savills. This continues our strategic growth in project management with further plans to expand our life science team and develop opportunities in the living market in central London over the course of 2024.” Richard Eyley, co-head of London office project management, says: “The appointments of Rekha and John underscore our ongoing commitment to expanding our team with a diverse range of expertise. Our recruitment targets are robust, positioning our team of project managers strongly within the London market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hull City Council has appointed Chris Jackson as its new Director of Regeneration. Chris joins the council from NHS England, where he most recently held the role of Director of Capital, with oversight of the NHS’s national capital budget and major capital programmes, such as delivery of new diagnostic centres and surgical hubs. Before joining the NHS, Chris worked as a senior civil servant in central Government where he held a number of roles, including as Deputy Director in HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, advising Government ministers on issues such as local government spending and devolution, adult social care, housing policy and private infrastructure financing. Chris, who was born in Hull, said: “Hull’s regeneration story has made national headlines and I’m looking forward to leading the fantastic team that has been instrumental in the transformation of the city. “While much has been achieved in recent years, the city also has massive potential. I am eager to get going and to play a key role in the next exciting phase of Hull’s journey.” Matt Jukes, the council’s chief executive, said: “Chris has a wealth of experience and expertise from an impressive career in the public sector and we’re delighted to welcome him to the council. “The Director of Regeneration role at the council is a hugely important one as the council continues to revitalise and build on our vibrant and burgeoning city, however, it’s one which we’re confident Chris will step into.” Cllr Mike Ross, leader of the council, added: “I look forward to working with Chris as we continue to build on recent successes in our city. “As an administration, we are proud of what we have achieved so far and have no doubt that Chris will help us to continue with that.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Embrace Steel Group (Embrace), a leading UK-based provider of steel frame building solutions, has announced the appointment of Matt Gibson as its new Chief Operating Officer ahead of what is expected to be a significant period of transformational growth for the business. Beginning his career within the banking and wider financial services industry which included partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs and prominent business leaders at Coutts & Co, Matt joined Hambleton Steel, a steel designer and fabricator headquartered in North Yorkshire, in 2017 as its Financial Director. After the business was acquired by Embrace in 2022, Matt was subsequently promoted to Managing Director where he most recently helped to double the business’ revenue to £26.5m (FY23), representing a record annual turnover in the entire business’ history. The news of Matt’s appointment comes hot on the heels of Embrace announcing the milestone acquisition of Shufflebottom last month, a steel fabrication company based in South Wales renowned for its innovative solutions and commitment to quality. This is the second acquisition completed since Embrace acquired Hambleton Steel in 2022 which now contributes to the Group’s current combined revenue of c.£55m. Embrace aims to harness the agility of smaller, innovative operators with the financial and capacity advantages of a larger group, and Matt will play an important role in cementing Embrace’s position as one of the major players in the British steel and wider construction industry with plans to achieve a Group revenue of over £100m within the next two years. On his new appointment as Embrace’s COO, Matt Gibson, commented: “Becoming the COO of the Embrace Steel Group is a great honour for me and I look forward to building the Group to its true potential. We have an incredible hardworking and talented team behind us and our culture of partnership, something I’m deeply passionate about, will enable us to drive significant growth for the business in the years to come.” Dominic Curnock, Co-Founder and Director at Embrace, added: “We have seen first-hand Matt’s dedication to pursue excellence across all aspects of Hambleton Steel which was clearly evident in not only the stellar financial results he produced but the culture he created throughout the business. We’re now looking forward to seeing Matt share his unique expertise across the Group and, in the process, enabling Embrace to become one of the UK’s leading structural steelwork businesses.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The new Commercial Director at an ambitious homebuilder is aiming to use his expertise within the industry to develop the skill sets of the company’s commercial team. Brett Lilley will oversee all commercial operations at Genesis Homes in the newly created Director role, using more than 20 years of knowledge of the industry gained while working at some large housing developers across the North West. Joining from Story Homes where he was Associate Commercial Director for the North West, Brett is looking forward to using his expertise within the construction industry to develop the skills of people learning their trade in Cumbria. Brett said: “I’m very excited to be joining Genesis Homes, which is a homebuilder really going places and making its mark in construction across the North West. “There are certain geographical challenges that working in rural Cumbria brings but Genesis has already proved that there is a great amount of talent on the doorstep, which the company has developed through a programme of support and investment. “Through my role as Commercial Director, I want to build on the great work already ongoing at Genesis Homes to make sure our staff are the best they can be, and putting into place more specialist coaching and mentoring programmes will help us achieve this and bring on the next generation of commercial staff. “I am joining Genesis Homes at a really exciting period of its ambitious growth journey, and by appointing myself and Construction Director David Graziano, the business is investing in experience and expertise to reach these targets.” Brett’s career started as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor at Fairclough Homes, with spells following at Chelford Homes, Countryside Properties and Rowland Homes. It was while working as a Surveyor at Rowland when an opportunity to move into a more senior role presented itself, following a company restructure during the recession of 2008. After working with the company for 12 years, Brett moved to Russell Homes as Head of Commercial before heading on to Story Homes. While looking for a new opportunity, Brett was blown away by the ambitions and proactivity of Genesis Homes. He said: “I had a few interviews with other developers but when I met with Genesis’ Managing Director Nicky Gordon I could immediately see his passion, and it struck me how modern his approach to housebuilding was. “Nicky has a clear mindset of what he wants the business to achieve and how he wants to achieve it, and it was his refreshing honesty and openness to try new procedures which aligned to my values. “The first task is to review the commercial department from top to bottom and identify areas for improvement, but we’re really excited to be working together and pulling in the same direction to keep developing Genesis Homes’ excellent brand and reputation.” Genesis Homes was founded in the Cumbrian town of Penrith in 2017 and builds high specification new homes across Cumbria and Lancashire. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mark Wild OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed railway and help realise its transformational benefits. As one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, Mark brings almost four decades-worth of experience to the role. This includes an outstanding record in the successful delivery of complex railway systems – the alignment of tracks, train, power, signalling and communications – most notably as the CEO of Crossrail. Mark will join HS2 Ltd at a pivotal moment in the programme’s delivery, with civil engineering works along the route from London to the West Midlands reaching their peak and focus shifting to building the infrastructure to operate the railway. This new appointment forms part of a series of reforms across the project aimed at bearing down on costs and safely delivering the scheme on time, in line with recent scope changes announced by the Government. Mark was selected following a rigorous recruitment process overseen by the HS2 Ltd board and led by Sir Jon Thompson, Executive Chair, with backing from Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport. Mark Harper said: “HS2 between Euston and the West Midlands will provide faster connections for millions of passengers, grow the economy, regenerate communities and create tens of thousands of high skilled jobs across the country. “Mark Wild brings a wealth of experience with him, including leading the successful delivery of Crossrail, and I have every confidence he will grip costs and robustly oversee this project to transform rail travel for generations.” Sir Jon Thompson said: “Mark joins HS2 Ltd with unrivalled experience and a track record of successful delivery, giving confidence that he will drive this hugely complex programme to completion – providing more reliable and faster services for rail users, while boosting the economies of the West Midlands and London. It is a mark of the scale and ambition of HS2 that we can attract a leader of his calibre.” Mark’s precise start date is yet to be confirmed. His arrival follows the departure of Mark Thurston who led HS2 Ltd for six-and-a-half years up to the end of September, 2023. Sir Jon will continue in his current position as Executive Chair until Mark’s arrival, when he resumes his previous role as HS2 Ltd Chair. Mark’s extensive experience includes key roles in the transport and utilities industries, most recently as CEO of SGN, the gas distribution network covering Scotland and the south east of England. He was previously CEO of Crossrail for almost four years, leading the project from a crucial juncture in its construction through to successful opening. The scale of Crossrail is eclipsed only by HS2 as the largest wholly new railway in the UK. Now known as the Elizabeth Line, Crossrail has been a staggering success since its launch, clocking up more than 300 million passenger journeys since opening in May 2022. Prior to Crossrail, Mark was Managing Director of the London Underground and was previously Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria, the integrated transport authority based in Melbourne, Australia. Mark Wild OBE said: “I look forward to leading HS2 as it progresses from major construction works to its rail systems phase and beyond to the first passenger services. The scale and ambition of HS2 is phenomenal and will deliver wide-reaching benefits for the UK through more jobs, economic growth and better journeys.” Once complete, HS2 will provide significantly faster and more reliable journeys between London and the West Midlands, with trains running to destinations further north via existing lines. It will double rail capacity between Britain’s two biggest cities and provide relief to the most congested southern section of the West Coast Main Line – creating more space for local and freight services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading building services engineering practice, Tate Consulting, has promoted Aaron Stevenson to director of its Belfast office. The promotion is in line with the firm’s ongoing expansion programme and numerous high profile contract wins, which will create more jobs in the coming months. Aaron joined Tate Consulting at the end of 2021, which coincided with the Yorkshire headquartered company’s expansion into Belfast. Since then, Aaron has worked alongside fellow Tate Consulting director, Jim Lee, to grow the office organically and it now employs a 10-strong team close to Belfast City Airport in the Belmont Office Park on Belmont Road. Prior to joining Tate Consulting, Aaron spent 25 years working for several other well-known engineering firms in Northern Ireland. In his new role, as well as overseeing the delivery of projects and leading the team, Aaron is responsible for managing the office’s finances, policies and recruitment, with plans already in place to appoint several new people, including associates and senior associates. Tate Consulting provides a full range of commercial engineering solutions from mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) concept design to project handover and post-occupancy evaluation, as well as building physics, fire engineering services, sustainability and building performance assessments and master planning. In recent months, the company has won several major projects including large-scale residential schemes in central London, Brentford, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds and York, which combined will consist of more than 3000 homes. Aaron said: “Our growth to date in Belfast has outstripped all our expectations and we’ve already completed a wide range of significant projects throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as building a solid and professional team. In recent months we’ve been appointed on another tranche of projects, particularly in the residential market, where developers want our expertise of working on high-rise and very energy efficient schemes with high quality amenities. “As a result of these latest wins, we’re now ready to expand our team further with ambitious and experienced people who aspire to work on career defining projects. All this makes it a very exciting time to step up to director level and I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” Shane Tate, managing director at Tate Consulting added: “Aaron has been instrumental in us quickly establishing a strong foothold in Belfast and he thoroughly deserves this promotion. In the past two and half years, the Belfast team have completed projects across the residential, retail, industrial and leisure sectors, and further enhanced Tate Consulting’s reputation for adding significant value to projects and we’re now ready to embark on our next phase of growth.” Projects that Tate Consulting’s Belfast team have recently completed work on several new stores for high street giant, The Range, and several projects in and around the Dublin area, including a substantial 450,000 sq ft. state of the art distribution centre for Primark. In London the Belfast team have worked on a stunning new 30-storey apartment development at West India Dock Road at Canary Wharf, known as Vetro, and provided full mechanical and electrical services in new fitness suites created at The Clubhouse, which is an exclusive gym within Royal Wharf. The company has also worked on the sensitive renovation of a Grade II-listed neo-classical United Reformed Church, which sits at the heart of Leamington Spa’s Creative Quarter masterplan. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
