Sat 2 Feb 2008
February
After gaining a degree in accounting, financial management and business studies from Sheffield University in 2006, Emma Taylor (21) joined Persimmon Homes Midlands' management development programme.Spending a year working in all aspects of the business, Taylor has now settled in the sales department in her new role as sales administrator.
"Graduates are the future of the industry," said John White, Persimmon's group chairman, "so it's important their hard work is recognised and rewarded. The competition for this award was fierce, and my congratulations go to Emma, who I'm sure will enjoy much more success with Persimmon."
"Persimmon offers great opportunities for those wanting to move up the ladder quickly," added Taylor. "If you show commitment and work hard, the sky's the limit."
Taylor wins £1,000 and a commemorative glass trophy in the firm's second graduate awards scheme. The company employs 15 graduates per year as well as numerous trainees and apprentices to work across its 36 regional offices, which stretch from Edinburgh to Exeter.
Former Scotland head of Hamptons Stephen Simpson has joined CALA Finance as business development manager.
Simpson, who has worked in the Scottish property market for 20 years, is set to implement the firm's £120 million fund across west Scotland.
Starting his career with a commercial agent, Simpson later went onto manage offices for Slater Hogg and Howison in west Scotland before moving over to Hamptons International's Edinburgh and Glasgow office, where he was responsible for 25 staff members.
"By adding Stephen to our team, we're further demonstrating our commitment to the Scottish residential property sector," said Jim Ross, managing director of CALA Finance (Scotland). "Stephen brings with him a wealth of experience and local knowledge that will be a valuable resource to existing and new clients. Over the past 21 years, we've helped fund £750 million of residential developments across the UK. We look forward to continued success."
"This is an exciting team to join CALA Finance," added Simpson. "I'm looking forward to meeting the challenges of the current market, and to working with developers to help them expand their businesses."
CALA Finance, the first company to offer 100 per cent finance funding to residential development, has recently expanded the flexibility of its 100 per cent funding packages, which cover all the costs of residential development in return for a profit share. "Our market research with our customers shows that the funding needs of housebuilders change as they grow," added Ross. "So we've developed an extra two options for housebuilders - they can either invest a percentage of their own equity at the time of purchase of a site or alternatively simply agree a fixed fee with us for a specific development. We can provide a decision in principle on whether we will be prepared to fund a project within 48 hours."
Northampton-based firm Redrow Homes has promoted Tonia Tyler to the role of area sales manager.
Tyler, who has recently married fellow Redrow employee Stewart Tyler, formerly worked as a sales consultant at Redrow's Love Farm development in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Tyler joined the firm three years ago as a sales coordinator after moving over from a similar role with Wilcon Homes, which subsequently became Taylor Woodrow before a merge with George Wimpey resulted in the formation of Taylor Wimpey.
"It's been a really exciting year," said Tyler. "I'm really enjoying my new role in overseeing sales in Rugby, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley and Milton Keynes. I love the diversity of the role, in particular the fact that I'm doing something different every day, and being out in the field supporting the people who sell our homes."
Sarah Hampton has moved over from planning consultancy Rapleys LLP Commercial Property and Planning Consultants to take up the role of senior planner at Inland.
Recruited to help the firm to get more brownfield projects through planning permission, Hampton (31) is set to evaluate land potential for development, and to liaise with local planning authorities and local stakeholders on residential and mixed-use schemes in London and the south-east for the firm. An initial project for Hampton to tackle is a planning application in South Ockenden, Essex, to redevelop a former industrial site into new homes.
"I'm excited about this opportunity," Hampton told the press. "Demand for housing in the south-east is very high, but Inland can offer a quick turnaround of sites through early consultation, coupled with extensive knowledge and experience of the planning system. We concentrate on brownfield land, which is very much in our favour as we're steering clear of greenbelt plots. It's also very rewarding to work on projects that improve the local area and benefit the wider community."
Hampton, who lives in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, enjoys netball and travelling in her spare time.
Linden Homes has made a number of key appointments to its team.
Andy Banks has joined the firm as maintenance operative, and Lisa Smith has taken on the role of customer service assistant in her first role in the new homes industry.
"Customer service has always been an important part of my career," said Banks. "I've worked for many developers, yet the quality of their homes and services don't compare to Linden's. The company sets it standards exceptionally high, and the developments it creates truly reflect its values and commitment to producing homes of the finest quality."
"I'm thrilled with my new position," added Smith. "Linden has a great reputation for customer service, which is why I was keen to join the team to ensure that customer satisfaction remains high."
Over at Linden Homes Western, Nigel Palmer will take on the role of director and general manager. Palmer, who began his career in 1984 with McInerney Homes, where he became a regional quantity surveyor, has also worked with Maxim Homes and Crest Nicholson before moving to Linden five years ago as commercial director.
"Working for Linden has been a breath of fresh air," Palmer told the press. "Everyone here has a passion for creating homes people are proud to live in, and I'm delighted to have been appointed to oversee the whole team at Linden Homes Western. As part of the Galliford Try group, the company plays an important strategic role in this vibrant region of the country - Bristol continues to see major investment, and with the expertise of our team and financial backing of the group, Linden is well placed to move to the next level of our expansion."
Thames Gateway-based housing association Moat has taken on two new regional development directors.
Sally Rice has joined the firm as regional development director for Moat's southern region, while William Cornall will act in the same role for the company's London and south-east projects. These new appointments follow the recruitment in July of John Baker from Durkan New Homes as land director, and decisions made by the company to set aside substantial funds for buying land on the open market last summer.
"New, higher targets for 200 market sales a year have also been agreed upon," said Paul Hackett, Moat's executive director of development and new business. "Our aim is for continued significant growth over the coming years. We've put in a large National Affordable Housing Programme bid, and we're seeking further suitable merger and acquisition opportunities.
This is not about increasing size for size's sake, but concerns about meeting the vast levels of housing needs that exist in our areas of operations. We shouldn't forget that over half a million households are now languishing on housing waiting lists in our regions, while many are trapped in a no man's land between an unaffordable housing market and having little or no priority for affordable rented housing. These are the people we aim to help. Sally and William will bring valuable expertise and experience to their roles, which will improve our ability to establish and maintain excellent development partnerships with local authorities, developers and others. I'm delighted with their appointments."
Leicestershire-based developer Hazelton Homes has made two new appointments, as Rob McLane joins as assistant manager, while Toni Roberts has taken on the role of sales consultant.
McLane moves over from a career working for regional Yorkshire housebuilder Kirkdale Developments, while Roberts has sold a wide range of homes for a series of national housebuilders. Both new staff members are now working at Mill Court, the firm's new scheme in Anstey which comprises 24 new flats.
Formed in 1993, Hazelton Homes runs its offices from a converted stable block in Hallaton Hall, Hallaton in Leicestershire, and employs 20 people.
'Planning guru' Stuart Binks has joined north-west developer Rowland Homes as senior planning manager.
Throughout a career spanning 21 years, Binks (42) has amassed a wealth of experience in both the public and private sector. Working his way up from a starting role at Chorley Council as assistant planning officer to become principal planning officer at Warrington Council, Binks went on to become principal planner at regeneration agency Merseyside Development Corporation before joining Redrow as senior planning manager, a role he has held for the last ten years. The main responsibilities of his new role will involve ensuring new sites are processed quickly through planning applications to ensure the firm's new growth targets are achieved, while identifying new sites for the future.
"As part of Rowland's continuing growth strategy, it's vital to have a solid team of multi-skilled individuals in place," said David Gray, the firm's land director. "Stuart's experience bolsters the capabilities of the land department in enabling us to tackle the broad range of challenges land buying now presents."
"Rowland is a young, dynamic and enterprising company that is prepared to take calculated risks to achieve ambitious targets," added Binks. "To have this attitude at a time when many are retreating into their shells takes guts. Rowland is not prepared to stand still, and will reap the rewards of this aggressive stance in the future."
Established in 1993, Rowland has made the transition from small local business to regional player over the last few years, in completing more than 65 developments across the north-west. Boasting a land bank of 500 plots and £40 million of available funds with which to buy new sites, Rowland will be launching new developments this year in Southport, Liverpool, Wirral, Rochdale and Widnes. The firm is on track to reach its target this year of completing 300 units per annum, with a £60 million turnover in comparison with the £28 million turnover and 176 unit completions the firm achieved in 2005.
Inspace Homes has recruited Charlie Stevens to oversee the firm's £150 million Dee Park regeneration project in Reading.
Stevens, who formerly worked at Spiral Developments, will be responsible as project director for managing the residential and commercial aspects of the 81-acre development.
"We're thrilled Charlie has joined us to strengthen the team at Dee Park," said Fraser Wells, Inspace Homes' managing director. "He brings with him superior knowledge and understanding of both the commercial and residential markets. I'm certain Charlie will become an invaluable member of the Dee Park Team."
"The Dee Park scheme combines residential and commercial aspects," Stevens added. "Working in line with joint-venture partner Catalyst Housing Group, this scheme presents new challenges and opportunities for me. Inspace Homes is the ideal next step as I identify with its ethos of providing value-for-money, but quality homes."
Dee Park is the firm's biggest project to date, and will create 763 new homes and a school, community and sports facilities and retail centre. Work is set to begin on this nine-year project by the end of this year.
First published in Show House Magazine February 2008.
The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but some information contained within this article may have changed since it was first published.
Posted by Show House
in Andy Banks, Cala Homes, Charlie Stevens, Emma Taylor, Hamptons International, Linden Homes, Lisa Smith, Moat, Movers and Shakers, Nigel Palmer, Redrow, Rob McLane, Rowland Homes, Sally Rice, Sarah Hampton, Stephen Simpson, Stuart Binks, Toni Roberts, Tonia Tyler, William Cornall on Sat 2 Feb 2008
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