United Trust Bank (UTB) has appointed Ben Jenkinson as Head of Product & Strategy in its Property Development division. Ben has over 20 years’ experience in real estate finance holding senior positions across both public and private sectors and with lenders and agencies including Nationwide, RBS and Homes England. Ben’s
City & Country has further strengthened its expert technical team with the appointment of Adam Towers as Technical Director. Adam joins with more than 17 years’ experience, having started as a trainee technical co-ordinator at Telford Homes, before moving to CALA Homes, based out of its Northern Homes Counties. Adam
LOVELL Partnerships has announced the appointment of a new refurbishment partnerships director, helping to progress social housing and retrofit projects across the West Midlands. With more than 20 years of experience in the housing and construction industry, Matt Hickman has worked in a number of senior management roles and brings
UAP Limited, a leading British door hardware supplier, has made two key management appointments to its growing team. Martin Cope joins as National Account Manager, and Adam Dixon as Senior Technical Manager. Martin Cope has vast experience in sales management across 45 years and will be contributing to UAP’s continued
Geberit, a leading manufacturer of sanitary products and piping systems, has appointed Danielle Lillis as its new Product and Marketing Director for the UK. Lillis brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at major bathroom distributors and manufacturers. Most recently, she served
Fife College has this week welcomed a record intake of 350 first-year Modern Apprentices through its doors. Apprentices from Engineering, Construction, Automotive, Plumbing, Gas Engineering and Life Sciences have all started their apprentice journey across the College’s Rosyth, Dunfermline and Glenrothes campuses. This year’s record intake also includes, for the
Celebrations are underway at the GSSArchitecture Newcastle Studio, as Dan Jones has been promoted to Associate. Dan joined GSS in 2022 as a Senior Architect and has since overseen the delivery of numerous projects, including the retrofit and upgrade of the Grade II listed King George VI Building for Newcastle
Ashleigh Corbett joins the Scotland team to drive ambitious growth plans Global real estate advisor CBRE has strengthened its Scotland advisory team with the appointment of Ashleigh Corbett as Head of Flex, a unique role in the Scottish property market. Ashleigh brings a wealth of experience, having spent the last
Clowes Developments have further strengthened their team through the appointment of Jenny McCrea, a graduate from Nottingham Trent University. Jenny applied for the Graduate Surveyor position at Clowes in line with finishing her degree in Property Development and Planning where she obtained a 2:1. Jenny will be working with the
Two Principal Planners become Associate Directors and one team member is promoted from Assistant Planner to Planner DPP, one of the UK’s leading independent planning consultancies, has made key promotions at its offices in Cardiff, Leeds and Newcastle. Tom Molyneux Wright, Principal Planner at DPP’s Cardiff office, has been promoted
United Trust Bank (UTB) has appointed Ben Jenkinson as Head of Product & Strategy in its Property Development division. Ben has over 20 years’ experience in real estate finance holding senior positions across both public and private sectors and with lenders and agencies including Nationwide, RBS and Homes England. Ben’s expertise extends to product creation, origination, credit, transacting and restructuring. In his new role with UTB, Ben will be working with Head of Property Development Adam Bovingdon and Head of Originations – Property Development, Paul DeCroos. The role will see Ben supporting the Bank as it aims to maintain its strong growth by assisting even more housebuilders and developers across England & Wales in their endeavours to build the many thousands of new homes the UK needs. Continuing its investment in people, and in response to greater demand for development funding seen since the start of the year, the Bank also announced the appointment of Kayleigh Simpson as Manager – Property Development. Kayleigh has worked in real estate and commercial banking for 11 years with lenders including Cynergy Bank and RBS. In her new role she is assisting housebuilders operating across the North West of England with a range of development finance and developer exit solutions. Adam Bovingdon, Head of Property Development – United Trust Bank, commented: “With the economy continuing to improve and demand for development finance growing stronger, we’re keen to provide housebuilders and developers with the products and service they need to seize opportunities and build their businesses. “We have never been busier supporting projects in the North of England and Kayleigh will ensure we maintain our high levels of service to customers whilst continuing to build awareness of UTB amongst housebuilders operating in the North West. “Ben’s extensive experience in creating innovative finance solutions will help us to create a suite of new products as we continue to evolve our proposition and service to meet the changing needs of housebuilders. The future is looking increasingly bright and UTB aims to be at the forefront of specialist development finance lenders as we encourage our customers to look ahead with renewed confidence and ambition.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City & Country has further strengthened its expert technical team with the appointment of Adam Towers as Technical Director. Adam joins with more than 17 years’ experience, having started as a trainee technical co-ordinator at Telford Homes, before moving to CALA Homes, based out of its Northern Homes Counties. Adam has since worked for Berkeley, working on its Clarendon Road scheme in Alexandra Palace, and Durkan as head of the Technical Department. At City & Country, Adam will be responsible for heading up the technical team within the business, working on flagship schemes, including The 1840 St Georges Gardens in London. He will ensure its new development schemes are viable and technically possible, including delivery of planning permissions and development programme, and managing any obstacles along the way. His role also includes support for adjacent departments, including Land and Design, enabling them to operate smoothly and efficiently. Adam Towers, Technical Director at City & Country, comments: “It’s a great time to join the business, with several new schemes and an ambitious five-year growth plan, it feels like the perfect time to work with a highly motivated team. Not only this, but the product they build is superior quality. The level of detail and design that goes into each development is beyond anything I have seen before, and it excites me how passionate City & Country are about their product.” Wayne Douglas, Managing Director at City & Country, added: “Adam’s appointment is a further investment into our plans to deliver more high-quality homes. Adam brings a wealth of technical experience to the business, as our project pipeline continues to expand across the UK.” City & Country specialises in the restoration and conversion of historic and listed buildings as well as new build, with sites across Essex, West Sussex, Wiltshire, London, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Dorset. The company is on track to deliver its five-year plan doubling turnover to £200m and tripling the number of properties complete each year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LOVELL Partnerships has announced the appointment of a new refurbishment partnerships director, helping to progress social housing and retrofit projects across the West Midlands. With more than 20 years of experience in the housing and construction industry, Matt Hickman has worked in a number of senior management roles and brings a wealth of knowledge to Lovell. Committed to boosting social value in communities, Matt is keen to not only help provide safe, warm and energy-efficienct homes, but to also offer training, development and job opportunities for young people or those in long-term unemployment. Matt said: “Joining Lovell is a very exciting career move for me, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into building relationships with key housing providers and delivering retrofit projects at scale, as well as helping to raise the profile of the fantastic refurbishment side of the business. With more funding coming through from the government this is an opportune time to deliver social housing decarbonisation fund (SHDF) projects throughout the region. “The company culture at Lovell is strong and is something that stood out to me. Inclusion, respect and treating people well are just as important as doing a good job, and providing a positive environment for the team to work in is essential. If our people feel supported then they will deliver the very best for our partners and clients, and that is something Lovell does very well so it’s a pleasure to be part of the team.” Carl Yale, regional refurbishment director at Lovell, said: “Matt is a fantastic addition to our team and has a thorough understanding of and excellent experience in the industry. “Continuing to push forward with our refurbishment and retrofit goals in order to meet the government’s net zero target is extremely important, and we know Matt’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us do this.” Matt’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the team, as Lovell continues to invest in local communities. Working in partnership with Citizen Housing, Coventry College and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Lovell recently delivered the first Multi-Skills Bootcamp, designed to educate adult learners in the Coventry area on a range of employable construction disciplines. The scheme supports the housebuilder’s aim to refurbish over 10,000 homes over a 10-year period, having recently secured a large contract with Citizen Housing to deliver replacement kitchens and bathrooms across Coventry and the wider Midlands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
UAP Limited, a leading British door hardware supplier, has made two key management appointments to its growing team. Martin Cope joins as National Account Manager, and Adam Dixon as Senior Technical Manager. Martin Cope has vast experience in sales management across 45 years and will be contributing to UAP’s continued development by establishing relationships with builders’ merchants and helping the business forge established routes into the industry. Dixon brings a decade of experience in the fire safety industry, with expertise in compliance and product development. His work has taken him across the country – servicing iconic landmarks including the Elizabeth Tower clock face as well as major projects including Transport for London’s Elizabeth line. On his new role, Martin Cope, National Account Manager at UAP said: “UAP is a fantastic business: from the warehouse to the head office, the people are the best at what they do. Innovation has always been my passion, and UAP are at the bleeding edge of hardware security. Its products, especially the Armasmart range, has incredible potential for the future, and it’s exciting to be a part of a business that has such vast impact.” Adam Dixon, Senior Technical Manager at UAP said: “The fire industry is always developing, and UAP’s pace and energy is one of the driving forces behind this. This move is a new chapter in my career, and I’m looking forward to pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve, working with a talented team, and continuing to innovate and evolve in an industry that never stands still.” David Jennings, Chief Executive Officer at UAP said: “Martin and Adam are joining us at a particularly dynamic time for UAP. Their extensive experience and expertise align perfectly with our commitment to quality, durability, and continuous innovation, and we are eager to continue driving progress, through enhanced product offerings and innovation. With Martin and Adam’s extensive knowledge of their fields, we’ll be even better equipped to carry on this mission.” Established in 1996, UAP Limited has become a leading UK door hardware supplier with products ranging from fire-rated hardware to locking systems and door and window security. The business designs door hardware solutions around customer needs, equipping them to navigate the ever-changing fire and security landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Geberit, a leading manufacturer of sanitary products and piping systems, has appointed Danielle Lillis as its new Product and Marketing Director for the UK. Lillis brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at major bathroom distributors and manufacturers. Most recently, she served as Sales and Commercial Director at Ideal Bathrooms, where she was responsible for its extensive supplier portfolio, and both the sales and marketing teams. In her new position, Lillis will lead Geberit’s product management and marketing departments, focusing on driving growth in key segments like wall-hung sanitaryware and shower toilets. She aims to leverage Geberit’s reputation for innovation and quality to further strengthen its market position. “I’ve always admired Geberit as a best-in-class manufacturer,” said Lillis. “I’m excited to join such an innovative company and look forward to enhancing our product offerings and marketing strategies to deliver even more value to our customers.” Lillis’s background as both a supplier and customer in the bathroom industry gives her unique insights that will benefit Geberit’s relationships with distributors, installers, and end users. Her commercial acumen and results-driven approach align well with Geberit’s focus on growth and market leadership. “We’re thrilled to welcome Danielle to the Geberit team,” said Mark Larden, Managing Director of Geberit UK. “Her extensive experience and customer-centric perspective will be invaluable as we continue to develop premium products and services for the UK market.” Lillis took up her new role in August 2024. She will be based at Geberit’s UK headquarters in Warwick. For more information visit: www.geberit.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fife College has this week welcomed a record intake of 350 first-year Modern Apprentices through its doors. Apprentices from Engineering, Construction, Automotive, Plumbing, Gas Engineering and Life Sciences have all started their apprentice journey across the College’s Rosyth, Dunfermline and Glenrothes campuses. This year’s record intake also includes, for the second year running, a record number of Engineering Modern Apprentices. 160 aspiring engineers from across the region have started Engineering Modern Apprenticeships, up from 133 last year (2023/24). As the third-largest engineering Modern Apprenticeship provider in the country, the College has worked with 43 employers to provide more opportunities than ever before for local engineers to earn while they learn. Skills Development Scotland announced Modern Apprenticeship numbers for the 2024/25 earlier this year with 438 places awarded to Fife College, the third highest number of all colleges in Scotland. The College runs one of the most substantial MA programmes in Scotland with a funding contribution of just under £2 million from this year’s contract set to support more local employers in developing their workforces. Miles Lagan, Head of Business Development at Fife College, said: “We would like to thank all of our employers for supporting our successful modern apprenticeship programme and wish all our new apprentices the best for the future as they begin their new career journey at Fife College.” “By partnering with over 189 employers, we’re not just increasing numbers but enhancing the quality and relevance of the training our apprentices receive. This ensures that local people are well-prepared to enter the workforce with skills that are in demand, contributing to the growth of our regional economy. “As technology continues to evolve rapidly, the need for innovative engineering solutions across industries has never been greater. Fife College is fully aware of this growing demand and is dedicated to shaping the next generation of engineering talent, ensuring they are equipped to meet these challenges head-on. “We are therefore also thrilled to provide more Modern Apprenticeship opportunities than ever for aspiring local engineers to gain the skills and experience they need for a successful career in the engineering sector.” Babcock, a key employer partner of the College, will take on 400 apprentices over the next four years, with Fife College supporting 48 Babcock apprentices as part of this year’s intake. Paul Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of Babcock – Marine, said: “We’re delighted to work alongside Fife College and other partners as we welcome new apprentices to our advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding facility in Rosyth. Our new cohort will support the delivery of world-class programmes and underlines our commitment to investing in the skills required to support our customers both now and in the future.” News of Fife College welcoming a record number of Engineering Modern Apprenticeship new starts follows recent success at the Scottish Engineering Modern Apprentice Awards where Fife College trained six out of fourteen nominated apprentices. Notably, one of these apprentices achieved first place and another secured second place, an accomplishment which highlights the exceptional quality of the engineering programmes on offer at the College and the commitment of students and staff. Fife College Roofing Apprentice Leah Stewart was also recently named by BMI Redland Apprentice of the Year, becoming the first female from Scotland to win the UK-wide honour. Leah’s success followed Advanced Craft apprentice Jemma Greig who became the first Fife College student to win first place at The Scottish Association of Painting Craft Teachers (SAPCT) Annual Craft and Advanced Craft competition. Jemma won the top prize in the Advanced Craft section, becoming both the first Fife College student and the first female to receive this honour since the competition began. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Celebrations are underway at the GSSArchitecture Newcastle Studio, as Dan Jones has been promoted to Associate. Dan joined GSS in 2022 as a Senior Architect and has since overseen the delivery of numerous projects, including the retrofit and upgrade of the Grade II listed King George VI Building for Newcastle University, and several refurbishment projects for the Inn Collection Group up and down the country. Over the past two years, Dan has built upon his considerable experience and portfolio within the region and beyond, contributing significantly to heritage assets within the Durham peninsula for Durham University and offering conservation support to the wider team. With over 11 years of experience in the construction industry, Dan leads on complex and interesting projects across the North East and is starting to cover a more national heritage and conservation role within the practice. He takes a special interest in this sector and has recently submitted his portfolio to become an AABC accredited Conservation Architect, aiming to lead more actively on GSS’s heritage and conservation offerings to support our clients. As Associate, Dan will continue to take the lead on projects across the region, contribute to business development to drive continuous improvement, and mentor other team members. Dan comments, “I am thrilled to step into this new role, especially as it allows me to further expand our heritage and conservation portfolio on a national scale. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our talented team to deliver exceptional projects and to contribute to the ongoing success of GSSArchitecture.” Simon Rennison-Rae, Partner at GSS and Newcastle Studio lead, said, “It’s fantastic to recognise Dan’s growth within the team, his depth of knowledge, the way he collaborates with clients and his role within our Newcastle studio has gone from strength to strength also allowing those around him to develop with his support. Dan will continue to assist our national practice as well as strengthening the opportunities and client focus in the North East as we continue to grow in the region – well done Dan!” GSS have an impressive history within the UK and have always invested in their team members. As an Investors in People Gold Accredited practice, GSS have a track-record of ensuring they have great designers and professionals in the construction industry to allow them to provide a fantastic service to their clients in the North East and across the country. To find out more about GSSArchitecture, their extensive range of projects in the North East and across the country, or to find out about career opportunities, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ashleigh Corbett joins the Scotland team to drive ambitious growth plans Global real estate advisor CBRE has strengthened its Scotland advisory team with the appointment of Ashleigh Corbett as Head of Flex, a unique role in the Scottish property market. Ashleigh brings a wealth of experience, having spent the last decade working in sales and operations roles for flex space operators across Scotland including Flexspace, IWG, and more recently Orega. At Orega, Ashleigh spent six years as Regional Sales Manager where she gained unparalleled insights from an operator’s perspective that will complement CBRE’s existing office advisory services. Ashleigh’s appointment underlines CBRE’s commitment to the sector, bolstering the existing team led by CBRE’s UK Head of Flexible Office Solutions, Michael Glynn, Jordan Saleh, Head of Flex, North, and Daniel White, Head of Flex, Midlands and South. The strategic appointment responds to the growing demand for flexible office space from occupiers, landlords and operators who seek to grow their footprint in Scotland. The current provision of flexible office space in Scotland is behind availability in competitor cities, despite strong levels of demand. In Aberdeen, 1.7% of available office space is flex, with Glasgow offering 1.1% and Edinburgh 2.54%. This is low compared to Birmingham (4.5%), Manchester (6%) and London (12.5%). Ashleigh will be responsible for securing space for new occupiers, advising operators on growth opportunities, supporting landlords on the diversification of existing office space and managing turnkey solutions, which is a bespoke service now offered by CBRE. Ashleigh said: “Joining CBRE at an exciting period of growth, I’m really looking forward to expanding our flex advisory services in Scotland. The demand for flex space has undoubtedly surged over the past five years, and the Scottish market presents an exceptional opportunity to broaden and enhance its offerings. “Having spent the last 10 years working with operators, I bring a unique insight that will diversify our approach in the flex market and position us as the best-placed advisory team in Scotland. Since joining, I’ve been out meeting clients as well as people within my existing network and there is a genuine excitement about the flex opportunity in Scotland.” Matt Willcock, Executive Director at CBRE, said: “We’re excited to welcome Ashleigh who brings a depth of insight and knowledge around flex, importantly from an operator’s perspective. As Head of Flex, Ashleigh will play an integral role in the future of flex space in Scotland, which is undoubtedly going to accelerate. “We have created an exclusive proposition in the market that will benefit our clients, whether that’s landlords, occupiers or operators. We already offer such services in Manchester, Birmingham and London and we’re proud to be the first advisor to do so in Scotland. “Around 50% of occupiers seeking new space in key Scottish cities are considering flex opportunities. Traditionally, smaller businesses sought flex space, however we are now seeing larger firms, including a significant number of our own corporate clients, also consider flexible office space.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clowes Developments have further strengthened their team through the appointment of Jenny McCrea, a graduate from Nottingham Trent University. Jenny applied for the Graduate Surveyor position at Clowes in line with finishing her degree in Property Development and Planning where she obtained a 2:1. Jenny will be working with the Land and Planning and Development team in a hybrid role giving her a unique insight into both departments. Tom Morley, Surveyor in the Land and Planning team, commented on Jenny’s appointment, “We are delighted to welcome Jenny to the team. Jenny will be supporting two departments which are closely linked in the lifecycle of a typical Clowes project. Namely, she will be assisting on the delivery of a brand-new site, Pleasley Hill in Mansfield, Nottingham along with progressing existing sites through planning and onwards. Jenny added, “As a local graduate, I wanted to find a company where I would fit in and feel part of a team. I took a look at the website and noticed Clowes have a healthy mix of employees and a culture which would allow someone like me to thrive and grow as a young surveyor. The head office at Ednaston Park is beautiful, who wouldn’t want to work in that environment? Additionally, I noticed some great opportunities which most graduates could only dream of being involved in. Fairham is an exciting project, 606-acres of mixed-use development opportunities and a desire by Clowes and Homes England to nurture a brand-new neighbourhood from scratch. It’s a relatively small team at Clowes, so it’s all hands-on deck, that really appealed to me.” Jenny has aspirations to complete her Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) in Planning and Development whilst working at Clowes. With a whole host of opportunities ahead of her, this will surely be a realistic goal for the new graduate. Clowes Developments are celebrating 60 years in business, they are one of the UK’s largest and strongest privately-owned property investment and development organisations, dedicated to a simple aim: to build a lasting legacy of strong, sustainable places that will enable future generations to prosper. The Derbyshire-based property group presented their strongest numbers in its history with turnover of £253.2m and operating profit of £43.4m for the financial year 2022-23. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two Principal Planners become Associate Directors and one team member is promoted from Assistant Planner to Planner DPP, one of the UK’s leading independent planning consultancies, has made key promotions at its offices in Cardiff, Leeds and Newcastle. Tom Molyneux Wright, Principal Planner at DPP’s Cardiff office, has been promoted to Associate Director, as has Oliver Corbett, who will be stepping up as Associate Director at its Leeds office. Assistant Planner Joe Kirtley, who is a member of DPP’s Newcastle team, has been promoted to Planner. Tom is a graduate of the University of West of England and relocated from a planning consultancy in Bristol in 2018 to join DPP as a planner. He worked his way up the ladder and has now been recognised by his peers within the consultancy and has been promoted to Associate Director. Tom is as a Corporate Member of the RTPI Cymru Executive Committee, helping inform and shape planning policy in Wales. Tom works on a range of sectors on projects across Wales and Southern England, recently securing consent at appeal for a 419-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Beeston, as well as the zero carbon in operation West Coventry Academy. Oliver Corbett is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University where he studied Town Planning. He worked at Kirklees Council as a graduate planner before joining DPP as a planner in 2018. Several promotions later, Oliver has now been named as one of DPP’s new Associate Directors. He also sits on the committee of Forum for Tomorrow (fft)Leeds, the young professional’s branch of the Forum for the Built Environment (fbe) Leeds construction industry networking group, where he organises various networking and CPD events throughout the year. Oliver works across many sectors at DPP and is currently working on major education redevelopment projects across the country. He is also leading on the regeneration of the Rheola Estate in the Neath Valley, South Wales, which includes three Grade II listed buildings and a Registered Park and Garden designed by renowned architects John Nash and George Stanley Repton. Joe Kirtley studied Urban Studies and Planning at The University of Sheffield and after graduating in 2021 went on to join firm of chartered surveyors as a graduate planner, before joining DPP as an Assistant Planner in August 2022. He is also a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute North East Young Planners Committee. Based out of DPP’s Newcastle office, Joe works across many sectors including education, residential, retail, leisure and health. He has worked on projects such as Culture House in Sunderland, Greenfield Academy in Newton Aycliffe and a major residential development in Easington Lane, Sunderland Gareth Hooper, CEO of DPP Planning, said of the promotions: “There is nothing I like better than seeing colleagues thrive at DPP and that’s just what we have witnessed with Tom, Oliver and Joe. “Being able to nurture talent is part of our DNA at DPP and seeing our younger staff members progress and contribute so much to not only us as a business, but also to our client’s work is so rewarding.” Gareth added: “At DPP we recognise that we need the best in the business on our team to win and work on the best projects. We are fiercely independent and so we are committed to succession planning and creating a culture of excellence in a supportive and fulfilling working environment.” More information about DPP can be found at https://dppukltd.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals