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 UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People has appointed Darren Dancey as the Development Managing Director for the South West. With over 30 years of experience within the property sector, Darren will prove instrumental in strengthening the region and delivering on key strategic business objectives. With extensive experience and
Caddick Construction has appointed Steve Ford as Regional Managing Director for Yorkshire and the North East, closely following the business’ most successful year-to-date with Caddick Construction Group reporting a turnover of £318m. In his new role, Steve will be responsible for heading up the regional team in the North East
The Sheffield Property Association, which is the City’s collective voice for property, has announced the appointment of a new director, Rebecca Knight, who has joined the board of the organisation. Rebecca, who is managing director at OVO Spaces has 32 years of experience in the property industry. She joins The
Barnet Council has announced the appointment of Russell Curtis as chair of the borough’s first-ever Quality Review Panel. The Quality Review Panel will test the fundamental design principles of planning proposals, playing a major role in the council’s commitment to exemplary, high-quality developments. Comprising 28 experts drawn from across the
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has strengthened its new client service offering, appointing Amaly Hind as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, expanding its team and capacity. With 15 years of experience working in property management, Amaly will support Rendall & Rittner as it continues to expand its growing
Environment Bank, a leading nature restoration company and biodiversity net gain (BNG) provider which delivers solutions to the built environment industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Spitzer as its new Chief Executive Officer. She joins Environment Bank with a proven track record in scaling businesses and implementing
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
The UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People has appointed Darren Dancey as the Development Managing Director for the South West. With over 30 years of experience within the property sector, Darren will prove instrumental in strengthening the region and delivering on key strategic business objectives. With extensive experience and excellent knowledge of the South West, Darren started his career at Crest Nicholson in an entry level position and progressed up the career ladder to Managing Director of the South West and Midlands regions, with six years working with the Exec Team and on the main board. He then joined Countryside for three years as Managing Director of the South West, where he successfully started and developed a new region. As one of the UK’s leading placemakers, Places for People is committed to investing in places, creating opportunities, and building thriving communities. In order to ensure that the Social Enterprise can continue to deliver new sustainable communities that address the needs of current and future customers, Places for People is committed to increasing the percentage of projects that it self-builds. In the South West, where only 20% of Places for People homes are currently built by the developer, an ambitious five-year plan is underway to transition to a point where around 70% of new homes will be self-built. In order to achieve this new strategic vision, Darren will be instrumental in growing the region. This expansion will see Places for People generate new jobs for local people across the South West, covering both office-based and on-site roles, including technical, commercial, build, sales, and marketing. Jon Cook, CEO Developments for Places for People comments:“As we seek to strengthen our offering for the communities we serve, our regions will be essential in ensuring we can achieve our target of delivering up to 5,000 homes per year within the next five years. Darren’s expertise operating at the highest level in this region will transform the operating of the region. Darren will prove to be a great asset and we are excited to see how the region continues to develop under his leadership.” Throughout 2024, Darren and his team will see work start on site at five new developments in Gillingham, Swindon, Exeter, Poundbury and Havant, providing a combined total of over 900 new homes for the region. The region is also continuing with its ongoing delivery of schemes in Bordon, Hampshire and at Poundbury in Dorset. Darren Dancey comments: “Having seen some of Places for People’s latest work through my network on LinkedIn, I was interested to discover more about the social enterprise. The group’s ethos and value is particularly inspiring and I am excited to help shape the next chapter of the South West region as we look to deliver more high-quality, affordable homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has appointed Steve Ford as Regional Managing Director for Yorkshire and the North East, closely following the business’ most successful year-to-date with Caddick Construction Group reporting a turnover of £318m. In his new role, Steve will be responsible for heading up the regional team in the North East and Yorkshire, building on Caddick’s 40-year legacy across Yorkshire and the North West, and its recent expansion into Midlands. Steve joins the business from Marrico Asset Management where he held the position of Development Director for over eight years. With wider industry experience spanning two decades, Steve’s background offers a unique perspective from both the contractor and development side. His expertise spans the retail, commercial, education, industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as residential and heritage buildings. Notable previous projects include: Leeds Hyatt Hotel, Central Square Office development, Leeds Trinity Shopping Centre, Heathrow Terminal 2a, HSBC Northern Data Centre, Barnsley BSF Programme, and the refurbishment of Meadowhall Shopping Centre. Steve’s appointment follows a period of sustained growth for Caddick Construction as it sets out to broaden its delivery of projects across its core sectors, including manufacturing, industrial, commercial, health, residential and education. Caddick Construction Group has this month announced a record financial year ending August 2023, with a turnover of £318m, 38% up on the previous year. Profit sits at £7.4m with the company’s forward order book up 12% to £740m. Speaking of his appointment, Steve comments: “Joining such an established company with an excellent reputation and legacy is something I’m very proud of. Caddick is well-known for delivering high-quality projects, and as the business grows so does its expertise. With a varied portfolio of project work in my career to-date, I look forward to steering the business’ continued growth while retaining everything that makes Caddck such a success.” Paul Dodsworth, Group Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group, comments: “Steve has an excellent track record for managing and delivering exceptional developments and I’m very pleased to be welcoming him to the business. We are excited about the future in our Yorkshire and Northeast business. Caddick Construction has had a fantastic year across the board, and we as a collective are determined to continue to grow in a sustainable, controlled and profitable way building on our team’s passion to deliver safely for clients and customers across the regions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Sheffield Property Association, which is the City’s collective voice for property, has announced the appointment of a new director, Rebecca Knight, who has joined the board of the organisation. Rebecca, who is managing director at OVO Spaces has 32 years of experience in the property industry. She joins The Sheffield Property Association’s (S-PA) passionate and committed team of four directors who all share a vision of improving Sheffield’s built environment, driving investment, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders and partners. Having grown up locally and now living within the city region, Rebecca presents a passion for all aspects of property, having worked in residential, commercial, leisure, and industry sectors. Rebecca said: “I am looking forward to bringing something a little bit different to the S-PA. This is a new challenge for me, and I’m excited to add value where I can utilise my industry experience. “Working in Sheffield is so different to other cities. People are the heart of everything we do, and the shared collaborative spirit is what makes us unique. I believe the city is in the early beginnings of something bigger, and I want to be part of this resurgence. “My goal is to help make Sheffield an even better place and to bring a different energy to the role. I am particularly excited to get involved with all of the priority groups and help them work more cohesively within the S-PA.” Rob Darrington, director of the S-PA said: “Since we established the Sheffield Property Association in 2017, it has been extremely rewarding to watch the growth of our board and member network. “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to our team. Her experience will be invaluable as we continue to ensure sustainable development in Sheffield, further driving our plans, member leadership, and city representation.” The Sheffield Property Association (S-PA) is an active group of businesses dedicated to revitalising Sheffield’s built environment. Since 2017, they have been actively investing, generating opportunities, and promoting prosperity in the city. Through research and collaborative efforts, they influence decision-making processes to benefit local communities while fostering strong relationships between land-owning and development businesses, stakeholders, and partners. For more information about the Sheffield Property Association, please visit www.sheffieldpropertyassociation.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barnet Council has announced the appointment of Russell Curtis as chair of the borough’s first-ever Quality Review Panel. The Quality Review Panel will test the fundamental design principles of planning proposals, playing a major role in the council’s commitment to exemplary, high-quality developments. Comprising 28 experts drawn from across the planning and design sectors, the independent panel will ensure design issues can be discussed at the early stages of the planning process. Its formation fulfils a key commitment of the council’s corporate plan. Russell Curtis is a well-known local architect and founding director of London-based firm RCKa, which specialises in innovative residential, community and commercial projects. Vice-chair Selina Mason, another local resident, is director of masterplanning and strategic design at Lendlease, focusing on urban regeneration masterplans. The chair and vice-chair will work with a talented team of independent experts tasked with ensuring new developments in the borough are built to high standards, with sustainable credentials. Cllr Ross Houston, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Regeneration, said: “I’m delighted that Barnet’s first-ever Quality Review Panel has now been formed, fulfilling a key pledge of the council’s plan for Barnet. The team of experts will help to deliver our commitment to high-quality development that complements the existing townscapes of our borough. “At the same time, we’re strengthening our planning policies to focus on building communities, not just homes, to ensure that developments integrate well with surrounding areas, and to align with our ambitious environmental goals.” Barnet Council aims to concentrate development in the borough’s town centres and around transport links, to consolidate growth and help build sustainable communities. It is committed to high-quality design that responds to its context and improves the lives of residents. With these aims in mind, the council’s Cabinet has approved a series of changes to its Local Plan – the fundamental planning framework that shapes development in the borough. These modifications include strengthening policies to encourage high-quality design, improve street safety and amenity, and promote active travel. The updated policies aim to ensure that the public realm forms an integral part of the design process, and to enhance the connection between publicly accessible space and the built environment. They also encourage developers to address crime prevention and fire safety in pre-application discussions. Revisions have been also made to environmental policies, in line with the council’s commitments on combating climate change and enhancing green and open spaces. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has strengthened its new client service offering, appointing Amaly Hind as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, expanding its team and capacity. With 15 years of experience working in property management, Amaly will support Rendall & Rittner as it continues to expand its growing portfolio. Having started her career at Rendall & Rittner in 2009, Amaly helped establish Rendall & Rittner’s North division, before expanding her knowledge at other firms across the Greater Manchester area. Working for a high-end residential retirement developer, Amaly was responsible for overseeing the company’s portfolio in the Midlands and North, developing an interest in the mobilisation of new schemes. In 2020, Amaly returned to Rendall & Rittner, where she has been managing significant changes to health and safety processes in line with the evolving Building Safety Act legislation. As New Business and Mobilisation Manager, Amaly is responsible for overseeing the acquisition and onboarding of new clients, before handing them over to Rendall & Rittner’s property teams for ongoing management. Amaly’s previous experience in mobilisations, and more recently in understanding new requirements under the Building Safety Act, will allow her to deliver a smooth experience for new clients and developments. Amaly said: “Through my role as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, I am looking forward to applying my existing knowledge of property management in new ways. Over the past 15 years, I have gained an in-depth knowledge of a range of different elements that affect the ongoing management of developments and am keen to use this to ensure that our onboarding and handover processes are as smooth and comprehensive as possible.” Richard Daver, Group CEO at Rendall & Rittner comments: “Through her previous roles, Amaly has repeatedly proven her ability to deliver exceptional results and her experience across the industry will make her a key asset in expanding the capabilities of our New Business and Mobilisation team. Introducing new clients to everything we can offer at Rendall & Rittner, Amaly will be important in helping us grow our business across the UK, whilst also continuing to deliver an unrivalled residential property management service.” For further information please visit: www.rendallandrittner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environment Bank, a leading nature restoration company and biodiversity net gain (BNG) provider which delivers solutions to the built environment industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Spitzer as its new Chief Executive Officer. She joins Environment Bank with a proven track record in scaling businesses and implementing successful growth strategies. Catherine previously served as Managing Director at property consulting firm Bidwells LLP. In her new role, Catherine will oversee Environment Bank’s strategic direction, working closely with stakeholders to develop innovative BNG solutions for developers in England. She will also develop the company’s voluntary ‘Nature Shares’ proposition, aimed at large organisations with nature-positive ambitions. Commenting on her appointment, Catherine said: “I am delighted to join Environment Bank and to have the opportunity to contribute to such important work. This is a very exciting new phase for the company with the BNG regulations coming into force in February. I am looking forward to working with developers and delivering the highest integrity BNG solutions in the market.” Out-going CEO, James Cross, who has led Environment Bank since 2018, said: “Working alongside Professor David Hill and building such an amazing team has been a career highlight for me. With the BNG regulations passing into law in February 2024, the time is right for me to now pass on the baton to Catherine and I wish her and the whole team the very best of luck for the next phase of their journey.” Founder and Chair of Environment Bank, Professor David Hill, expressed gratitude for James Cross’s contributions. He said: “We extend our thanks to James for his many years of service and leadership. His passion for conservation and his strategic focus and expertise across the land-based sectors has been instrumental in shaping Environment Bank’s success. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.” Professor Hill also warmly welcomed Catherine Spitzer to the role, expressing confidence in her ability to lead Environment Bank into its next phase of growth and impact. “Catherine brings a unique combination of private equity investment, leadership, commercial experience and delivery to Environment Bank and we are excited to have her on board to lead the next stage of growth,” he added. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
