PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Sunderland engineering and architecture firm Building Design Northern (BDN) has hired John Herring as civil engineer.
Mr Herring has spent the last 15 years living in the US, working for international engineering firms in New York and Ohio on high-profile projects, including the creation of a transportation facility for the Bronx Zoo. Following his relocation to the North East he has joined the civil engineering department at BDN.
He said: “I am delighted to join the BDN team and be part of an ambitious company in my home town. It is an exciting period for the company, and I am looking forward to working with new clients on a range of projects. I hope that my varied experience will help BDN continue its impressive growth.”
Andrew Webb, director of engineering, who redeveloped the division when he joined the practice in 2020, said: “It is a pleasure to witness the continued growth of the civil engineering department. We are delighted to welcome John to the team. John’s experience and extensive skillset will positively compliment the department, allowing us to continue providing our clients with the quality and technical expertise they’ve come to expect from BDN.”
■ Square One Law has announced the promotion of Bal Manak to construction partner.
Having held the position of senior associate in the law firm’s property team for two and a half years, she will lead the development of its construction service across West Yorkshire, Tees Valley and the North East.
With a specialism in non-contentious construction and over 16 years’ experience of advising clients on a wide range of commercial developments, Ms Manak has been involved in a variety of high-profile schemes operating out of Square One Law’s offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Darlington.
She said: “The North of England is experiencing some strong levels of regeneration and construction activity in both residential and commercial sectors, which is generating a variety of projects for our clients. I am proud to become a partner as part of Square One Law’s dynamic and proactive property team, which has established a positive reputation in Leeds, Tees Valley and Newcastle, which are all key to the economic success of the government’s levelling up policies.”
■ Irwin Mitchell has announced two new senior associates and two new associates within its Newcastle office as part of this year’s promotion round.
The newly promoted senior associates are personal injury specialist Emma Bell and Helen Smith, who works in the court of protection department, along with new associate Rachael Smurthwaite. The other new associate is personal injury lawyer Helen Jones.
Andrew Tucker, group chief executive at Irwin Mitchell, said: “To announce these new partners, senior associates and associates makes me extremely proud and it is another clear sign of the continued emphasis we place on investing and developing in our people.
“These latest promotions show our strength and breadth across the group whilst also recognising the significant contribution our colleagues make to our business in terms of supporting our clients and creating the right culture for future success.”
■ Affordable housebuilder Gleeson Homes has appointed Jennifer Tupman as regional managing director to oversee its operations in Tyne and Wear.
She will be looking to drive activity across several key areas, including expansion of the current land portfolio, investment in people and an unwavering commitment to build quality. She will look to continue the important work currently under way in the region, alongside investing energy in new projects.
She said: “I am excited to start work with Gleeson and continue the brilliant and essential work they are doing in this part of the country. I have been inspired by the passion for customer satisfaction, build quality and investment in people that Gleeson is known for and am looking forward to carrying on this work, as well as providing some fresh perspective on the tasks ahead.
“In particular, I am keen to continue our engagement with local communities, making sure to connect with and invest in them wherever possible, to make sure each of our projects is mutually beneficial. Through the rejuvenation of primarily brownfield sites, I want to extend the opportunity to build a Gleeson Home to as many local low-income families, key workers and first-time buyers as possible.”
■ County Durham renewable energy heat pump firm Go Geothermal has appointed Alan Brooke as its new technical manager for the North.
Go Geothermal has 18 people at its head office on the Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe and Mr Brooke will provide support to installers who purchase products from the company’s CTC brand. Mr Brooke joins Go Geothermal with over 35 years’ experience in the heating and renewable energy industry and has worked solely with renewables since 2009 as an installer and in sales.
He said: “I am delighted to have joined Go Geothermal and am looking forward to being part of the further growth of the company and growing the CTC brand in the UK. In Scandinavia, CTC is the market leader, selling 48% of all heat pumps in the region, and this is down to the extremely high quality of the products they supply.
“They are the Rolls Royce of heat pumps and one of my roles is to introduce the brand to more installers in the UK and make sure the installation process runs as smoothly as possible.”
■ Haines Watts has appointed three new partners alongside eight internal promotions in the North East.
Sara Andrews, Nicola Scarr and Chris Hird have all been promoted to partner from their former positions as associate partners, having gone through the firm’s talent development programme.
Managing partner Donna Bulmer said: “I’m really proud that we’re welcoming three new members to the partner team, all with different professional backgrounds and experience. I’m particularly proud that a third of our leadership team are female leaders.
“The appointments come at a time of evolution and growth of the firm, and it’s a crucial next step in our exciting plans for the years ahead.”