Akela Ground Engineering has appointed piling specialist, Will Payne, as their general manager. Will joins from Roger Bullivant where he managed piling works in Gibraltar, the Midlands and East Anglia and has been appointed to help Akela expand and grow their reputation in England. Will is an expert in driven
A new Chair has been appointed for RIBA Gloucestershire: Josh Maddison, Architect at GSSArchitecture, was elected earlier this year and started his term on 1st July. Speaking of his recent appointment, Josh said, “It’s a great privilege to have been voted as Chair of the RIBA Gloucestershire. Having grown up
Wyatt Homes, a property developer based in Pool, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Beggs as the new Assistant Site Manager at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne. David, 51, from Romsey, boasts over 30 years of experience in the finishing trade, including 25 years as a
Mr Shinsuke Kubo, Hochiki Europe’s Commercial Director steps into the role of Managing Director from 3rd July, with Graham Lowe, the outgoing MD, remaining in the business part time to support Mr Kubo during his first year in the role. Shinsuke Kubo has been part of the Hochiki global operation
Highbourne Group has appointed Robbie Bell, who spent almost 10 years in a similar role at Screwfix earlier in his career, as its new CFO. Robbie replaces Interim CFO Harvey Ainley and begins work immediately for the UK leader in the plumbing, heating and renewable energy market. Highbourne’s brand portfolio
Neil Yeomans, Head of Property Safety and Technology for Orbit has been appointed as the new chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) building safety group. The NHF set up the group to help shape the sector’s response to the new system of building regulations proposed by the government, and
A Technical Standards team manager with a passion for sustainability and new ways of working has joined UK warranty provider Premier Guarantee as Head of Innovations. Andrew Fox worked with Countryside Properties (now part of Vistry) for 18 years as Associate Director of Technical Standards, focusing on improving homes’ energy
Darren Freed has joined Prologis UK as a Director within the Real Estate and Customer Service team in a newly created role for the company. He joins the UK’s leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property with 20 years of experience in asset and fund management. Previously employed by
The Torbay-based Cavanna Group of companies has announced the appointment of Keith Miller as Group Chairman, replacing Jeremy Cavanna who becomes a non-executive director. The move marks the final part of a succession plan for the family business which was founded in 1923 by Jeremy Cavanna’s grandfather, PD Cavanna and
LEADING house developer, has recruited an industry-leading light to head up its sales and marketing team, continuing its impressive trajectory of growth in the North East as it expands its current portfolio of developments. Tracy Iles joins the team bringing more than 20 years’ new homes and construction experience to
Akela Ground Engineering has appointed piling specialist, Will Payne, as their general manager. Will joins from Roger Bullivant where he managed piling works in Gibraltar, the Midlands and East Anglia and has been appointed to help Akela expand and grow their reputation in England. Will is an expert in driven piling techniques and has over two decades of experience in the specialist foundation industry, having also worked for Van Elle and Aarsleff. Akela Ground Engineering operates in Scotland and the North of England and was founded in 2019. It is part of the Akela Group which is headquartered in Thornliebank, near Glasgow, and has an office in Leeds. Will Payne, General Manager of Akela Ground Engineering, said: “Akela is a family oriented business that is looking to grow and expand their works across England and that is what attracted me to this role. “They have also been investing heavily in new technology and innovation over the past year. “I’ve worked in the UK and abroad within the specialist foundation industry and am very proud of my record in working with clients to find solutions at the most difficult of sites. “It is important to build and establish relationships with clients and I am looking forward to working with existing Akela clients and also expanding Akela right across England.” Mark Markey, Managing Director of Akela Group, said: “We are really proud to have Will Payne join the business at the crucial time of expanding our work in England. He is well known as a specialist in piling and will be a key part of growing our ground engineering arm. “Importantly, he is experienced at managing complex works and ensuring quality work is carried out in a safe manner. “He has decades of experience in the construction industry and his appointments will bolster Akela Ground Engineering and allow us to continue to go from strength to strength.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new Chair has been appointed for RIBA Gloucestershire: Josh Maddison, Architect at GSSArchitecture, was elected earlier this year and started his term on 1st July. Speaking of his recent appointment, Josh said, “It’s a great privilege to have been voted as Chair of the RIBA Gloucestershire. Having grown up in the county, I hope to use to use the platform to continue the development and engagement of the local RIBA community, to create stronger links with the emerging student body and promote Gloucestershire based architecture.” Based at the GSSArchitecture Gloucester Quays office with over five years’ experience, Josh is in good stead to collaborate with local clients and stakeholders to support the members of RIBA Gloucestershire. His recent projects include the multi-million-pound St Thomas Street student accommodation in Bristol, as well as the refurbishment of the Endoscopy Department at Cheltenham General Hospital. Tom Lyons, Senior Partner at GSSArchitecture, commented, “A huge congratulations to Josh for his new appointment as RIBA Gloucestershire Chair. We are extremely fortunate to have Josh at GSS and we are looking forward to seeing how he uses his new position to bring about positive change in the area.” Elsewhere, Josh is a keen cyclist and completes tough challenges such as Hills for Hope: a 270-mile bike ride in 24 hours to help raise money for multiple charities including Cancer Research UK, Samaritans, and SARA. To find out more about GSSArchitecture, and to view their extensive range of projects in a variety of sectors, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wyatt Homes, a property developer based in Pool, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Beggs as the new Assistant Site Manager at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne. David, 51, from Romsey, boasts over 30 years of experience in the finishing trade, including 25 years as a skilled dry liner and plasterer. David brings a wealth of knowledge to his role, further enhancing Wyatt Homes’ commitment to delivering exceptional craftsmanship. David’s career in the housebuilding industry has been a natural progression, and his previous experience has prepared him well for his role at Wyatt Homes. When asked about his decision to join Wyatt Homes, David expressed his admiration for the housebuilder’s strong industry reputation and the opportunity to build unique homes. David said “What sets Wyatt Homes apart is their impressive combination of quality and standards exhibited in their homes. He continued, “This drove me to become part of the Wyatt team and contribute to their ongoing success, producing homes that not only our homebuyers are proud of, but we are too.” Richard Coles, Construction Director at Wyatt Homes said, “We are delighted to welcome David to the team at Rivers Edge. We look forward to David’s many accomplishments as we continue to deliver exceptional homes to our esteemed customers.” Wyatt Homes is now selling homes at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne from the marketing suite on Julians Road, Wimborne, BH21 1EF, and those interested are encouraged to book an appointment with a Sales Adviser to register their interest. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mr Shinsuke Kubo, Hochiki Europe’s Commercial Director steps into the role of Managing Director from 3rd July, with Graham Lowe, the outgoing MD, remaining in the business part time to support Mr Kubo during his first year in the role. Shinsuke Kubo has been part of the Hochiki global operation for close to three decades, moving from Japan to the US and Middle East before joining the UK team a year ago. He takes over from Graham Lowe who has stood at the helm of the European operation for the last 6 years and has taken the organisation to the very front of Hochiki’s global offering, overseeing sustained growth across the European territories during his tenure. Mr Kubo will call upon his passion for customer experience, along with his extensive knowledge of both the Hochiki product and the fire industry to continue this trajectory and build on the strong legacy he inherits. Of his new role Shinsuke says: “I have enjoyed a fantastic career with Hochiki for the last 29 years (in Japan for 17 years, US for 7 years, Dubai 4 years and UK for the past year) and have gained experience of the industry and our customers across the globe. I’ve learnt a great deal about UK and European markets during the last year and have grown to understand how this region differs from the US, Middle East, and India markets. I think it’s time to bring all this knowledge together in my new role to continue to grow the business here.” Hochiki Europe continue to commit to ensuring the best people are in place in order to deliver the best life safety technology and customer experience. Kubo’s breadth of experience and the firm foundations he has to build from will undoubtedly stand him in firm stead. To find out more about Hochiki Europe and its range of market leading life safety products visit hochikieurope.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Highbourne Group has appointed Robbie Bell, who spent almost 10 years in a similar role at Screwfix earlier in his career, as its new CFO. Robbie replaces Interim CFO Harvey Ainley and begins work immediately for the UK leader in the plumbing, heating and renewable energy market. Highbourne’s brand portfolio includes some of the biggest names in the sector, including City Plumbing, The Bathroom Showroom, PTS, DHS, The Underfloor Heating Store, Plumbworld and PlumbNation. CEO Dave Evans said: “We are delighted to welcome Robbie Bell to our Senior Leadership Team. We believe he is the perfect appointment as we look to lead industry change and continue to grow our business. Those are things that require an experienced CFO capable of making a big impact, and Robbie brings this.” Robbie joins from Holland & Barrett, where he was also CFO, having held similar roles at Welcome Break and a number of large retailers. During his time at Screwfix, he saw trade counters grow from 50 to 600, overseeing sales growth of over £1bn. He said: “It’s an exciting time to be re-joining the sector and I’m looking forward to supporting Highbourne in their strategic ambitions. “I have already been impressed by Highbourne’s business plans and by CEO Dave Evans, HIG Capital and the Senior Leadership Team.”
Neil Yeomans, Head of Property Safety and Technology for Orbit has been appointed as the new chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) building safety group. The NHF set up the group to help shape the sector’s response to the new system of building regulations proposed by the government, and to support housing associations towards a smooth transition into a new regulatory environment. Key focusses for the group now include sharing experiences and lessons throughout the sector on implementing new safety regulations and providing housing associations with opportunities to hear from the new Building Safety Regulator. Neil has been a member of the group since 2022 and has worked for Orbit for 8 years, heading up an award-winning property safety team who have received national recognition for their work piloting the use of a digital Building Information Modelling (BIM) to create a golden thread of building information for high-rise residential blocks. This year, Orbit has also been awarded a Merit for the second consecutive year for its commitment to customer and property safety by the British Safety Council in its globally recognised International Safety Awards and has received a gold health and safety award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the fifth consecutive year. Neil takes over the role of Chair following the sad passing of previous Chair, Paul Dockerill, who was Director of Energy and Programme Management at whg housing association. Neil commented: “This group has a really important part to play in shaping the change that will be required across our sector to respond to a new regulatory regime. Paul was passionate about improving building safety, and as I take up this new role, I’m committed to progressing the excellent work he did to ensure that our shared focus on making sure residents are safe, remains the top priority.” Victoria Moffett, Head of Building and Fire Safety Programmes at the NHF added: “We’re delighted that Neil will be chairing our building safety national group. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm will be a real asset to us in our work to support housing associations to keep ensuring their residents’ safety. “ For more information about the work of the NHF building safety national group visit: https://www.housing.org.uk/events/national-groups/building-safety-national-group/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Technical Standards team manager with a passion for sustainability and new ways of working has joined UK warranty provider Premier Guarantee as Head of Innovations. Andrew Fox worked with Countryside Properties (now part of Vistry) for 18 years as Associate Director of Technical Standards, focusing on improving homes’ energy efficiency and educating staff and customers on modern methods of construction. Describing the move to the latent defects insurance sector, he said: “I am really looking forward to supporting the structural insurance sector further embrace modern methods of construction and more innovative ways of building.” His career in housebuilding began with Barratt as a joiner and within five years he had been promoted to Site Manager. With Countryside, Andrew drove a programme to improve the energy fabric of new homes through incremental testing of products, systems and design details and refined the improvements to achieve a significant cost efficiency for the business. Premier Guarantee Technical Director Sarah Sheppard added: “We are really pleased to welcome Andrew to the innovations team and we are sure his experience and his passion on the subject of innovative and sustainable construction will be a huge asset for us.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Darren Freed has joined Prologis UK as a Director within the Real Estate and Customer Service team in a newly created role for the company. He joins the UK’s leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property with 20 years of experience in asset and fund management. Previously employed by Aviva Investors as a Director of Real Assets, Darren successfully repositioned assets totalling £2bn assets under management across Aviva Investors’ real estate business. Specialising in commercial real estate development and JV stakeholder management, he was previously responsible for managing a range of asset classes in UK real estate and running a team of asset managers across a variety of funds. His new role will create and execute strategies to maximise income and capital returns and his experience will grow Prologis UK’s Asset Management team, with a focus on deployment of strategic business planning, placemaking, and value-add opportunities. Darren will also deploy these skills to ensure assets earmarked for redevelopment are capable of being converted to sites ready for capital deployment. This will target lifecycle asset management through repositioning older assets and working with the variety of stakeholders to drive occupancy, value, and NOI improvements. Prior to Aviva, Darren was formerly at Hammerson and JLL. Darren is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Torbay-based Cavanna Group of companies has announced the appointment of Keith Miller as Group Chairman, replacing Jeremy Cavanna who becomes a non-executive director. The move marks the final part of a succession plan for the family business which was founded in 1923 by Jeremy Cavanna’s grandfather, PD Cavanna and PD’s brother Ray. Whilst the business continues to be family owned and supported by a family council, all land and property operations are now managed by a professional team with Group Managing Director Grayham Tucker at the helm. Keith, 53, who joined the company in 2017 as Group Managing Director of Cavanna Homes, transferred to the role of Deputy Chairman on the appointment of Grayham Tucker in January this year. Keith said: “My appointment is the final piece of the jigsaw in a succession plan that began over 10 years ago. “Over three generations and 100 years, the Cavanna family has grown a successful and respected business. They are now placing their trust in me to continue the strategic growth of the business as it enters its second century.” Keith and three non-executive directors including Stephen Trusler, John Lougher and Jeremy Cavanna, will ensure the ongoing engagement between the business and the family – something they have placed a great focus on establishing during the role out of the succession plan. Keith said: “It’s important that the family ethos, which has held the company in such good stead for so many decades, remains at the heart of how we conduct our operations to grow the business.” Jeremy Cavanna said: “Keith has shown himself to be an outstanding leader over the past six years and has embraced the Cavanna family ethos which my grandparents established and grew alongside the business.” Group MD Grayham Tucker is already pressing ahead with the implementation of even higher standards of housebuilding across all of the company’s West Country development sites. He said: “We are already exceeding the sustainability standards set in the new building regulations and intend to go greener sooner by focusing our attention on the very best methods of modern construction, optimising energy-efficiency in our new homes and delivering biodiversity net gain. This is important for our customers and our shareholders, and vital for the planet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING house developer, has recruited an industry-leading light to head up its sales and marketing team, continuing its impressive trajectory of growth in the North East as it expands its current portfolio of developments. Tracy Iles joins the team bringing more than 20 years’ new homes and construction experience to the role. Before Lovell, she previously worked for four national housebuilders, working her way up from field sales manager to senior sales manager, before becoming sales director. She joins Lovell as its new sales and marketing manager, where she’ll be responsible for directing marketing initiatives to promote new developments and enhance sales. Tracy said: “I’ve worked in the property world for so many years now, but Lovell’s reputation for excellence has always preceded it. Following the North East region’s launch in 2021, the team has gone from strength to strength, and it’s exciting to get the opportunity to be a part of that.” “The North East region has an ambitious growth plan with a number of new sites coming to fruition across North Yorkshire, Durham and Tyne & Wear, and I’m looking forward to supporting the team during what is set to be an exciting time.” Tracy’s new role will also see her managing and recruiting sales staff and assessing land opportunities. Tracy said: “I’ve joined an incredible team committed to delivering homes of outstanding quality. I’ve been inspired by their enthusiasm, and I look forward to engaging with existing and new clients in the coming months”. Paul Devaney, regional managing director of Lovell Partnerships in the North East region, said: “At Lovell, we always aim to achieve and exceed the expectations of internal and external stakeholders, as well as our customers, by striving for a five-star house builder status. “This is because it’s really important to us to ensure that our house buyers are in a happy environment, and having the right staff members in place is a key part of that. “Tracy has a wealth of experience in the construction industry and is a great asset to our team. With her help, I’m looking forward to building on our success to date.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
