Leading North West property services company, The Momentum Group, has announced a series of key hires across the business, including two new directors, as the company focuses on the next stage of its growth following a successful 2024. Jacqui Saunders has been appointed as Director of Momentum Manage, with a
Jason Davenport has been promoted to director of traffic and transportation at East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting. He takes over from one of the founding directors of BSP Consulting, Mark Rayers, who is stepping back to become a part-time consultant to the business. Jason, who was
SITECH® UK & Ireland has appointed a new Head of Business and launched a new internal sales division to meet the increasing demand for digitalisation in the construction industry. Alex Gadd has been appointed the new Head of Business at SITECH. With a comprehensive background in business development in the construction sector,
Renowned Corporate Lawyer and Law Firm Leader will Bring Extensive Transactional Expertise, with Emphasis on the Life Sciences, Health Care and Infrastructure Sectors Hamid Yunis, a standout corporate lawyer known for helping global clients navigate highly complex transactions, will join Pillsbury’s London office as partner. Yunis will join the firm’s
The Hill Group has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Woolmore as its new Head of Planning, a move set to drive the company’s expansion and support its ambitious housing delivery targets. In her new role, Alex will provide expert guidance on planning matters, ensuring the smooth
LEADING external wall insulation and render system manufacturer and supplier Permarock has undertaken a board restructure to cultivate strategic growth – appointing a new managing director to drive it. The change, which coincides with Permarock’s 40 years of trading milestone, will see operations director Nigel Watson step into the managing director
Manchester City Council’s new Chief Executive Tom Stannard starts in the role today, Monday 3 February 2025. Tom becomes only the third Chief Executive in more than 25 years in a city which prides itself on stability and long-term strategic planning. He brings with him considerable experience, having served as
Kevin McFarlane has been appointed as a member of Clowes Developments’ Board of Directors with effect from the 1st February 2025. Kevin started his career at Clowes as a trainee in 2007. After initially leaving to widen his experience elsewhere, Kevin re-joined the Group in 2017. Since 2020, he has
Knight Frank has added to its consultancy services in Scotland with the appointment of experienced project manager David Robertson. David joins the independent commercial property consultancy from Gardiner & Theobald where he was a director, working across several high-profile commercial property projects. A chartered quantity surveyor, previous experience also includes
Façade specialist Alsecco has appointed a new technical design and support specialist to further enhance its support for both offsite and traditional construction projects. Nick Barrett brings extensive experience of offsite construction to the role having previously worked at TopHat Modular. With a background in construction design and offsite manufacturing,
Leading North West property services company, The Momentum Group, has announced a series of key hires across the business, including two new directors, as the company focuses on the next stage of its growth following a successful 2024. Jacqui Saunders has been appointed as Director of Momentum Manage, with a remit to grow the Group’s property management division across the North West and South East. With over 20 years’ experience, Jacqui was previously Associate Director at Network Space, and held positions at The Arch Company and Savills. The second senior hire is Jyssica Murphy, who has joined as Health, Safety, and Quality Director, overseeing The Momentum Group’s strategy across the business. Jyssica brings a wealth of experience, including her previous role as Building Safety Regulatory Lead at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). She has also worked at Redrow Homes, Torus and as a consultant for a wide array of Construction and Refurbishment Projects. In addition to the two new directors, Momentum Advise has strengthened its team with the appointment of Stella Costa as Senior Project Manager, James Blackmore as Project Manager, Lucas Smith as Trainee Project Manager and Claudia Watson as Graduate Project Manager, to support the division’s growing portfolio of retail delivery projects following the team’s recent geographical expansion. Momentum Build has also welcomed Nick Barrett as Construction Project Manager to help facilitate further growth as the team diversifies its client base across retail, leisure, residential, and parking facilities. Whilst Momentum Manage has appointed Jo Miller as Property Manager. Chris Bliss and Chris Renshaw, Co-founders and Directors of The Momentum Group, commented: “The success of The Momentum Group is driven by its people and, as we grow, we remain committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff. Jacqui Saunders and Jyssica Murphy bring not only renowned sector expertise, but the senior leadership skills that will help to drive our growth. Together with our other heads of the individual businesses and our board advisors, Yvonne Emmett Cannell and Ian O’Doherty, we are in a great position to expand, diversify and, ultimately, thrive.” Jacqui Saunders, Property Management Director, said: “Momentum Manage already plays a part in making great places; places that people, be they shoppers, workers or residents, actively want to spend time in. There is an opportunity, however, to expand our client base, not only in the North West, but across the UK. The company has the ambition and ability to do that, and I am very excited to be leading the team to make it happen.” Jyssica Murphy, Health, Safety and Quality Director at The Momentum Group, added: “The Momentum Group’s values and culture reflect what I believe matter in a business, so to join now, as the company pushes to achieve its next stage of growth, is very exciting. Working with Chris, Chris and the rest of the senior leadership team, I will ensure the Group delivers exemplary health, safety and quality standards, while also supporting its commitment to operating sustainability.” With the seven new hires, The Momentum Group now employs over 60 people, with the growth in the team reflecting a very strong 12 months for the company. 2024 saw the company become a B-Corp Certified business; the delivery of Momentum Build’s second project for leading leisure operator, Gravity MAX, in Westfield Stratford; and the facilitation of the second Building Sustainable Cities Beyond 2023 Conference, held by the Liverpool City Region Sustainable Property Group, which The Momentum Group founded. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Jason Davenport has been promoted to director of traffic and transportation at East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting. He takes over from one of the founding directors of BSP Consulting, Mark Rayers, who is stepping back to become a part-time consultant to the business. Jason, who was previously associate director of transportation at BSP Consulting, joined the company as a transport engineer just a month after it was founded in 1999 and has been a key member of the team ever since. His expertise includes transport planning, travel plans, transport assessment, access strategy, noise assessments and safety audits. Jason’s experience ranges across all sectors, having worked on schemes at airports and universities through to supermarkets and housing developments. BSP MD Carl Hilton said: “We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Davenport to director of traffic and transportation at BSP Consulting. “Our ethos is to promote from within wherever possible, which provides our team with opportunities to progress their careers and also enables smooth succession planning for the business. “Jason has been a loyal, experienced, and valued part of the team at BSP right from the start and his promotion is very well deserved. “As one of the founding directors of BSP Consulting, Mark has played a pivotal role in the success of BSP – helping the company to grow to become one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering businesses in the East Midlands. “We are very pleased that he is staying with us as a part-time consultant and continuing to support the extensive network of clients that we have built up since the business began more than 25 years ago.” Throughout his time at BSP, Jason has held positions as transport engineer, senior transport engineer, associate and associate director. His appointment as director of traffic and transportation began on 1st February 2025. He said: “Under Mark Rayers, the traffic and transportation department at BSP Consulting has earned an excellent reputation as a professional and skilled team that provides outstanding service to clients. “I have worked with Mark for 28 years in total, having met him before he became a founding director at BSP, and I am proud to have been appointed to head up the team going forward and to continue the good work that BSP has become renowned for.” Jason, who lives in Gedling, Nottingham, is based in BSP’s head office in Nottingham but heads up the traffic and transportation team across the group. Mark Rayers is one of the original four founders of BSP Consulting, which was launched in Oxford Street, Nottingham in 1999. The company has since expanded with offices in Pride Park, Derby and De Montfort Street, Leicester, as well as an office in South Yorkshire, on Smithy Wood Crescent, Sheffield. He has stepped down in his role as a director but will remain a part-time consultant to BSP Consulting, working one day a week. BSP is an award-winning firm that operates across the UK, offering civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical, and environmental engineering. BSP works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage. For more information about BSP Consulting visit www.bsp-consulting.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SITECH® UK & Ireland has appointed a new Head of Business and launched a new internal sales division to meet the increasing demand for digitalisation in the construction industry. Alex Gadd has been appointed the new Head of Business at SITECH. With a comprehensive background in business development in the construction sector, Gadd brings a wealth of experience in sales, operations, product and aftermarket. In addition to Alex’s sales and operational expertise he brings solid strategic experience which will support the continued growth of the company’s on and off machine technology solutions provision. Along with this new appointment SITECH UK & Ireland, the UK leading connected construction technology specialist and UK authorised dealer for Trimble® machine control systems, has launched a new internal sales division. The division will support the company’s growth as demand increases for digital solutions. The new team also incorporates an internal promotion, with this person responsible for connecting with new customers, developing key relationships and cultivating sales across the UK and Ireland to support increasing demand in the industry. Current projections estimate that the construction industry in the UK and Ireland is on track to grow by 8% in 2025, and by 10% in 2026. However, the shortage of skilled workers combined with this growth means it is vital for the industry to diversify to meet demand, according to Gadd. Gadd said: “My role is to build on the existing success of SITECH and ensure that the company continues to be at the forefront of providing connected technology solutions. Given the projected growth in the industry and shortage of skilled workers, we are seeing our customers looking at new ways to increase on-site efficiencies. “By launching the new internal sales division, we are expanding our capability to ensure customers can bridge the gap between demand and engineer. With support from SITECH it is possible for skilled engineers to focus on more complex tasks. For instance, Trimble® technology can complete surveys reliably and efficiently – a process which would otherwise require multiple on-site engineers. “I am looking forward to collaborating with the rest of the SITECH team to provide an unrivalled customer technology solution to our customers, ensuring they are able to adapt to the changing landscape of the construction industry today.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Renowned Corporate Lawyer and Law Firm Leader will Bring Extensive Transactional Expertise, with Emphasis on the Life Sciences, Health Care and Infrastructure Sectors Hamid Yunis, a standout corporate lawyer known for helping global clients navigate highly complex transactions, will join Pillsbury’s London office as partner. Yunis will join the firm’s Corporate practice from McDermott Will & Emery, where he had previously served as the London Office Managing Partner for five-and-a-half years and head of the London Health Care group, having been a key part of the team responsible for significantly growing the office’s headcount and revenue. “Hamid operates a sizeable, multifaceted practice that spans Life Sciences & Digital Health, Health Care, Infrastructure, and Private Wealth—areas that align with Pillsbury strengths, increasing client needs and global trends,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “He will add new dimensions to our growing London office, expand our substantial cross-border M&A team, and bring valuable connections internationally, especially across the Middle East region.” Yunis operates a diverse transactional practice, advising clients on mergers & acquisitions, private equity investments, projects and corporate finance matters in jurisdictions around the world. He is recognised by Chambers UK for his work on corporate and commercial healthcare matters and has an established track record of bringing innovative joint venture, public-private partnership, and funding structures to market. He also has deep connections in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—where Pillsbury recently announced its intentions to build upon decades of work in the country by opening an office in Riyadh, in partnership with AlArfaj & Partners—the United Arab Emirates, and the wider Middle East region, regularly advising sovereign wealth funds on health, infrastructure and other investments and transactions. “Hamid joining our Firm will present material benefits to Pillsbury’s global clientele,” said Jeffrey Delaney, Pillsbury’s global Co-head of Corporate & Securities. “His proven ability to achieve ‘trusted advisor’ status with those he represents is a testament to his vast legal knowledge, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to clients. We are thrilled that he will soon be on our team.” “Our ability to attract someone of Hamid’s stature onboard is a reflection of Pillsbury’s reputation for excellence, in London and globally,” noted Matthew Oresman, Managing Partner of the Firm’s City office. “Hamid has a wealth of expertise in the dynamic Life Sciences and Health Care sectors and a global profile that fits with the London office’s role as a nexus for international clients. His robust network and successful experience as a London law firm leader position Hamid well to further accelerate Pillsbury already impressive growth in London.” With English and U.S. law capabilities, Pillsbury’s London office helps clients navigate high-stakes and cross-border disputes, transactions and regulatory issues across Europe and throughout the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over the past year, the London office has welcomed four partners and nearly a dozen lawyers in total, reinforcing its market leading practices in the office and affording additional depth to meet growing client needs. Recent notable arrivals include Laurence Lieberman, a cross-border disputes partner with deep connections to the Indian and Israeli markets; partner Audrey Koh, with a leading Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defence practice; Korea-focused International Trade partner Sungbum Lee, who splits time between Washington, DC, and London; and Gawain Hughes, an investment funds partner with a standout reputation for work on secondary and co-investment deals. Like Yunis, both Lee and Hughes are Chambers-ranked in their respective practice areas. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Hill Group has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Woolmore as its new Head of Planning, a move set to drive the company’s expansion and support its ambitious housing delivery targets. In her new role, Alex will provide expert guidance on planning matters, ensuring the smooth progression of existing projects and the successful promotion of the group’s strategic land portfolio. She will also play a key role in identifying and acquiring new sites, helping Hill continue its growth and deliver much-needed new homes. Bringing over 16 years of experience, Alex joins from Related Argent, where she was instrumental in the planning strategies for major regeneration projects, including King’s Cross and Tottenham Hale. A qualified lawyer and seasoned planning expert, she is passionate about placemaking, with a strong focus on creating vibrant public spaces and essential infrastructure. She is also well-acquainted with Hill’s work through her role as a board member at Poplar HARCA, the East London housing association partnered with Hill on the Teviot Estate regeneration. Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, welcomed the appointment: “Alex’s extensive experience and passion for placemaking make her a fantastic addition to our team. Her leadership will be instrumental as we pursue our strategic land ambitions and unlock new opportunities under the evolving National Planning Policy Framework. Hill is well-positioned to continue delivering award-winning, community-focused developments, and Alex’s expertise will be key to shaping our future growth.” Alex’s arrival comes as The Hill Group prepares to roll out its new five-year business plan (2025-2030), with a focus on expansion in high-demand areas such as Essex, Cambridge, and Oxfordshire. This aligns with the government’s broader vision for sustainable new towns and thriving communities, addressing the UK’s growing need for quality housing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING external wall insulation and render system manufacturer and supplier Permarock has undertaken a board restructure to cultivate strategic growth – appointing a new managing director to drive it. The change, which coincides with Permarock’s 40 years of trading milestone, will see operations director Nigel Watson step into the managing director role after almost 30 years with the business. Joining in 1996, Nigel has held several key positions within the company, broadening his knowledge of the industry and increasing commercial insight – both of which will be instrumental in realising Permarock’s strategic growth and ambitions moving forward. As part of the new senior structure, Richard Tocher will become sales and technical director, further supporting the external wall insulation provider’s ambitions over the coming four years. These are outlined as continuing to set the standard for excellence, delivering long-term value to its clients and the wider industry while at the same time striving for continuous improvement for its products, services, and its dedicated team of colleagues with upskilling opportunities. Sean Waldrum, who has served as managing director for the past 16 years, will remain a part of Permarock’s senior management team. His more than 36 years of experience at Permarock will play a critical role in working with Nigel, and the board of directors, to continue to steer the forward trajectory of the business. Permarock is part of Sustainable Investments Ltd, which is led by Derek Horrocks. He said: “For more than four decades, Permarock has carved out its place within the external wall insulation and render systems sector through providing the highest levels of quality products and service. “Our strength has come from our long-term reliability in leading the field in technical and design expertise, and the consistent provision of a high-quality offering has led to our continued success. More importantly it has contributed significantly to the core mission of our wider group of businesses – to create healthier buildings and environments for all. “Nigel and Richard, alongside logistics director Kieran Loftus, will be key in realising further growth through their new roles. They have both been with the business for a significant amount of time and understand its values, industry, and our vision inside and out. For several years now, Nigel especially has been working closely with Sean so that when he stepped into the managing director role it would be a smooth transition. With the continuity of Sean’s involvement in the business, the senior team behind him, and the wider business group, I’m looking forward to seeing our strategy for the coming years put into action.” On his new position and responsibilities, Nigel said: “Most of my career has been spent with Permarock and it’s been brilliant to have had the experience of seeing it grow and develop with its people over the past couple of decades. As we move into the future, our ambitions are to grow further still while remaining committed to providing sustainable, controlled and targeted growth in the key market sectors in which we operate, whilst staying true to our values—innovation, expertise, and customer focus.” Richard Tocher said: “This is the start of a really exciting chapter for Permarock as a company, with intentions to continue delivering the technical expertise and quality service we’re well known for. We won’t be resting on our laurels though; the management team will be working closely with the wider team to develop our new aims and ideas for the betterment of the business and industry.” Equally suited for new build and refurbished properties within many commercial and residential markets including housing (social and private), education, healthcare, and commercial, Permarock’s products bring performance and experience together with quality and innovation. Additionally, as part of Sustainable Investments, Permarock along with its sister company’s Sustainable Building Services, Sustainable Energy Services, and Sustainable Smart Technologies, also provides a complete and comprehensive solution to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and help tackle the energy, health, housing, climate and cost-of-living crises. To find out more about Permarock, visit: www.permarock.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester City Council’s new Chief Executive Tom Stannard starts in the role today, Monday 3 February 2025. Tom becomes only the third Chief Executive in more than 25 years in a city which prides itself on stability and long-term strategic planning. He brings with him considerable experience, having served as Chief Executive in neighbouring Salford City Council for the past four years – overseeing achievements including the transformative regeneration of Salford, an ambitious council housebuilding programme and high-performing children’s services – and held a number of senior posts in a long local government career. Tom is nationally recognised as a leading voice in local government, public service reform and delivering inclusive growth and currently holds the lead chef executive brief for Greater Manchester in the economy, business and international portfolio. He joins the Council at a pivotal moment as it gears up to bring forward the 2025-2030 Our Manchester Strategy which will guide the city in the decade ahead. The new vision will aim to build on the achievements of the 2015-2025 plan, delivering economic growth that benefits everyone – including by addressing inequalities through the Making Manchester Fairer action plan and pursuing ambitious housebuilding and zero carbon programmes. As well as driving forward this long-term strategy, Tom will ensure the Council stays focused on providing high quality day-to-day services and supporting clean, green and vibrant neighbourhoods across the city. Tom will also be the place-based lead for Manchester and its locality health arrangements within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care system. Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Tom brings experience, energy and ideas to this important role for the city and will oversee the delivery of our vision for Manchester’s next decade. “The city is on a positive trajectory, making an impact on the world stage while continuing to improve its neighbourhoods and create opportunities for its residents, and I’m looking forward to working with Tom in the years ahead to take these achievements to the next level.” Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: “I’m highly ambitious for Manchester and the people who call it home. “I’ve lived and worked in Greater Manchester for much of my career so I know the area well and have a deep personal commitment to it. But at the same time, there’s always more insight to gain and I’m looking forward to getting to know more of those who make up Team Manchester – from the elected members and council staff to partner organisations, businesses and residents who all have a part to play in the city’s success. “This is an incredible job in a remarkable city and I’m delighted to be here to get working on behalf of Manchester and its people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kevin McFarlane has been appointed as a member of Clowes Developments’ Board of Directors with effect from the 1st February 2025. Kevin started his career at Clowes as a trainee in 2007. After initially leaving to widen his experience elsewhere, Kevin re-joined the Group in 2017. Since 2020, he has led the company’s Asset Management department based at Ednaston Park, overseeing the day to day and strategic management of the Group’s diverse land and property portfolio, with responsibility for identifying and maximising opportunities, whilst minimising exposure to risk. Commenting on his promotion, Kevin McFarlane commented, “I feel honoured to join the Board of Directors. Having worked for the company for nearly a decade, I realise that opportunities such as this don’t come around too often, and I am extremely grateful for the trust that David, Tom and the other Board Directors have placed in me. I am excited about what the future holds, and I will endeavour to make a positive contribution as the business continues to evolve and move forward” Managing Director of Clowes Developments, Thomas Clowes added, “This is my first appointment to the Board in my role as Managing Director and I couldn’t think of anyone better. Brass tacks, Kevin has been responsible for effectively half the groups value and without him and his team the business simply couldn’t function the way it does. I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin push on in his new role and enhancing this critical element of the business.” Clowes Developments is one of the UK’s largest privately owned property groups. Clowes holds over 3,000 acres of land and 15,000 residential plots in 130 development sites across the country, including more than 50 office and business parks. In a return to ‘business as usual’ after a record-breaking couple of years, the group has presented their recent financial statement with turnover of £154.7m and operating profit of £23m for the financial year 2023-24. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Knight Frank has added to its consultancy services in Scotland with the appointment of experienced project manager David Robertson. David joins the independent commercial property consultancy from Gardiner & Theobald where he was a director, working across several high-profile commercial property projects. A chartered quantity surveyor, previous experience also includes roles at Axiom Project Services and Thomson Bethune. In recent years David managed the development of Edinburgh’s award-winning New Eidyn, the residential offering at St James Quarter, the construction of the purpose-built 7,800-capacity Hive Stadium for Edinburgh Rugby, and refurbishment works across 180,000 sq. ft. at Atlantic Quay Glasgow on behalf of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and Department for Work and Pensions. One of David’s first responsibilities at Knight Frank will be managing the £200 million transformation project at Port Hamilton, Edinburgh, which will become Lloyds Banking Group’s main Scottish base. Work includes a full redesign with energy-efficient upgrades, a new café, fitness centre and creative spaces. Alasdair Steele, head of Scotland commercial at Knight Frank, said: “David is a welcome addition to the team with a wealth of experience managing best-in-class projects. His expertise adds another layer to our existing building consultancy offering, meaning we can now support current and future clients with project management services across all sectors.” David Roberston added: “Joining Knight Frank marks the start of an exciting chapter in my career. The firm has a great reputation in Scotland and I’m looking forward to leading the growth and development of its project management arm, starting with the refurbishment at Port Hamilton.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Façade specialist Alsecco has appointed a new technical design and support specialist to further enhance its support for both offsite and traditional construction projects. Nick Barrett brings extensive experience of offsite construction to the role having previously worked at TopHat Modular. With a background in construction design and offsite manufacturing, he brings an in-depth understanding of innovation and efficiency to offsite construction. Alsecco, a leading manufacturer of external wall insulation and brick slip systems, has appointed Nick to work within its technical team to develop new façade offerings and provide bespoke support for developing projects. Nick will take a key role in overseeing and delivering CPD events to support technical understanding of external wall insulation and façade systems for architects, design managers and contractors. Ben Robinson, Technical Manager at Alsecco, said: “Nick brings not only a wealth of knowledge around all construction aspects to the business, but a forward-looking view on integrated technologies for construction products and a high degree of problem-solving skills. “Nick will assist in developing new façade offerings within the range and offer enhanced bespoke support for clients’ projects. “Having the right technical support for facades projects is essential to accurate specification and installation and we are delighted to have someone with Nick’s skillset on board that will both complement and expand our commitment to developing systems that directly meet the design, vision and needs of developers and architects.” Alsecco is a leading manufacturer of external wall insulation systems, specialising in render, brick and ceramic finishes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
