All posts by Ellyn Wright

Appointments, Business News, Construction, Recruitment News, Wales News

Sphere Solutions Gearing up for Growth with New Appointments

Construction recruitment experts, Sphere Solutions have strengthened its Cardiff head office team to support ambitious growth plans, with several appointments.

The resilience of the construction industry throughout the pandemic has meant that the need for skilled candidates has increased. After a successful start to the year, the investment in the head office team is one of the many exciting plans in the pipeline for Sphere.

Sphere’s investment in their growth not only includes the expansion of the team but also an exciting redevelopment plan for their Cardiff head office, which will create a ‘workforce hub’ environment that will include a café and a gym.

The team’s growth includes the appointment of Charlotte Bugg and promotion of Jakir Hussain. Jakir, who joined Sphere in 2014, has been promoted to Company Management Accountant having gained his ACCA qualification.

Managing Director, James Hughes said “Since he joined the business 7 years ago, Jakir has been a key part of our finance team and is a huge asset to the business. We are really proud of his achievement in completing his ACCA and we are excited to see him continue his professional development following his hugely deserved promotion”.

Jakir’s promotion is one of the many examples of Sphere’s commitment to grow the team organically and highlights good practice for recruitment and development.

Boosting the strength of the payroll team, Charlotte will be instrumental in launching Sphere’s new online portal, which will help to clients to control costs on-site.

Bryn Jones, Finance Director added “Charlotte joins us at a really exciting time for the business. After a hugely challenging Covid-19 affected 2020, we see a huge opportunity for growth over 2021 and beyond. Charlotte will lead the delivery of the weekly freelance payroll and will be a key point of contact for our stakeholders, in particular our candidates”.

More exciting growth is expected for Sphere Solutions in the next 12 months, with the construction industry set for double-digit growth in 2021. Mr Hughes concluded: “We are starting to see markets return and the year ahead is an exciting one with several announcements to come”.

Celebrating 16 years of success in 2021, Sphere provides recruitment services across the whole of the UK, with offices in Wales and the south west of England, as well as international operations in Calgary and Toronto.

Business, Business & Property News, News

GS Verde Group Expands into Ireland

Fast-growth multi-discipline GS Verde Group has announced further expansion, with the opening of its first office outside of the UK, with the launch of GS Verde (Ireland) in Dublin.

The new office is located in Dublin 2, Dublin’s premier business district, and follows client led demand with both new and existing client agreements in the Country across industries including Aviation, SaaS and Technology.

Nigel Greenaway, CEO of the GS Verde Group said:

“We are very excited to be expanding into Ireland. Some of the world’s biggest brands including Google, Facebook and Microsoft, have a presence here and we are delighted to join them as we continue to grow our own disruptive, fast-growth business.”

The Ireland venture will be overseen by newly appointed Director, Peter Franklin, who will also join the newly formed board of GS Verde (Ireland).

Mr Franklin has over 12 years of experience in the medical devices industry, managing business compliance and mergers and acquisitions and will be supporting the GS Verde Group with its plans to continue its buy and build strategy, to grow GS Verde (Ireland).

Speaking of his appointment Mr Franklin said:

“I am delighted and honoured to join the board of GS Verde (Ireland). Being entrenched in successful corporate merger and acquisition deals for many years, the timing is right to bring a firm of this stature to Ireland. Despite the effects of the current pandemic, the Irish economy remains resolute and determined to not only survive, but to continue in a healthy upward growth trajectory, now exceeding the EU average”.

The GS Verde Group has become renowned for its corporate finance led deal-making services, advising on corporate transactions across the UK, the group consists of award-winning corporate law firm Greenaway Scott and M&A specialists Verde Corporate Finance, among others.

Mr Franklin added:

“Ireland’s corporate environment is now ready for a key player, one that will effectively facilitate, advise and deliver on better corporate activity, such as mergers, acquisitions, growth strategies, finance and legal advisory services. A specialist area very often underserved in the Country, companies interested in exploring these horizons now have the option of engaging with a dedicated and accomplished firm.”

In the last year, the GS Verde Group has seen tremendous growth, including the acquisition of Bristol-based Astrum Accountants, the addition of marketing and communications agency, Dragonfly Marketing and the launch of fintech investment platform, Elevate. With this growth has also come a number of high-level appointments across the group.

Mr Greenaway concluded:

“It has been a tremendous start to 2021 for our Group and there is much to come, with announcements to follow in due course. We are delighted to welcome Peter to GS Verde (Ireland), having known each other for several years, I am delighted the opportunity has arisen to welcome Peter to our Group, he will play a key role developing our business in Ireland in the coming years.”

Appointments, Business News, News, Wales News

Verde Corporate Finance Elevates Team with New Senior Appointment

Experienced private banking expert Louise Santaana joins the deal-making GS Verde Group as Director of the Elevate investment network, as part of Verde Corporate Finance.

Mergers, acquisitions & investment specialists Verde Corporate Finance (part of the GS Verde Group), has announced the appointment of Louise Santaana to its growing team, to support the growth of the business following a record year of growth.

Verde welcomes Louise as Director of the Group’s fintech investment platform, the Elevate investment network.  The appointment supports growing client demand for the services provided by Verde as part of the integrated corporate finance led deal-making team at GS Verde Group.

The Elevate investment network is a fintech platform launched by the GS Verde Group, to digitise the scale-up investment process.  It has been used by businesses across the UK who are seeking to raise investment.

Louise had spent over 20 years working for Lloyds Banking Group in London, most recently as the Head of Private Banking and Lending, a role that saw her lead a UK-wide team of 100 private client managers.

Speaking on her appointment, Louise said:

“I am looking forward to joining the team at Verde and developing such an innovative venture as Elevate. As someone who is passionate about supporting businesses and individuals to reach their full potential, I am excited to be joining Verde and the wider GS Verde Group at this point in time when activity continues to accelerate”.

The experience and analytical skills that Louise will bring, will not only strengthen the expertise of Verde’s team but will provide valuable experience to lead the continued development of the private market/angel network provided through Elevate.

Craig Blackmore, Managing Director of Verde Corporate Finance said:

“It is great to be able to attract someone of Louise’s caliber to the role, and I am sure she will bring a lot of drive and experience to enable the continued development of our corporate finance team. Attracting Louise out of London to lead one of our key teams at Verde is a huge coup for our business and a verification of the quality of the client base we work with across the UK, but particularly in Wales and the South West of England.”

Verde and the wider GS Verde Group have seen active levels rise in the mergers and acquisitions market dramatically in 2021 so far and is expecting its strong pipeline to result in a further buoyant period heading into the second half of the year.

Business & Property News, Business News, News, Wales News

Employee ownership structure adopted at Paramount Interiors

Paramount Interiors has announced the successful completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme, which will see its staff own a majority shareholding of the business. The deal was structured and advised on by the GS Verde Group.

The deal marks a major milestone for Paramount Interiors after exceptional growth over the past 12 months, which has included the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Fusion Point One in central Cardiff and winning Workplace Design of the Year for Grade II listed building, Hodge House.

The substantial growth across South Wales and the South West has been incredible for the commercial interiors specialist and for entrepreneur Richard Jones, having only completed the purchase of Paramount Interiors in 2018 in a management buy-out.

Richard was appointed as Managing Director of the business in 2017, and since completing the MBO, Paramount Interiors has seen a significant year on year increase to being on target for a £30m turnover in 2021, with a string of high-profile contract wins, an acquisition and several senior appointments.

Richard Jones said:

“Paramount Interiors have many long-standing staff members, and the people here are at the heart of all that we do. I am absolutely delighted with the opportunity to reward our talented team with a stake in the business for the outstanding contribution and commitment they have shown over the many years, particularly through the most challenging of times.”

“Despite the onslaught of the gruelling pandemic on offices nationwide, there is still plenty of movement in the design and build market, as our record-breaking year shows. Our focus for the future is to keep setting the standard in transforming working environments into places where people want to be.”

As per the requirements for an EOT scheme, Paramount Interiors staff will become majority shareholders, collectively owning 51% of the business. The benefits of an EOT include the creation of a more employee-centric business structure which will empower staff and in turn benefit the business as a whole.

The company has also appointed a separate trust board to ensure the EOT acts in the best interests of employees and will be joined by an external EOT expert.

Helen Bartlett, Design Director of Paramount Interiors and EOT Board member, commented:

“These are truly exciting times for Paramount Interiors. Richard’s decision to sell his majority shareholding reflects not only how much he values our staff but also the respect they have for him in terms of how committed they all are.”

“And whilst the past year during the pandemic has undoubtedly been challenging for all, everyone continues to go above and beyond to ensure our clients have the experience and more that they deserve. The EOT therefore gives staff further recognition that you get out what you put in.”

The deal was led by the GS Verde Group, with Craig Blackmore, Managing Director of Verde Corporate Finance being the lead advisor, and Matthew Sutton, Director of Greenaway Scott, providing legal advice. Craig Blackmore said:

“What Richard and his team have achieved in this short space of time has been absolutely incredible. The business has always had a strong team ethic, and an EOT was the perfect opportunity to reward the team. Paramount Interiors are a pleasure to work with and we were delighted to assist them in this deal.”

Matthew Sutton added:

“We are delighted to have worked with Paramount Interiors on this deal and to witness the business go from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.”

After a strong start to the year, having won contracts worth £15m in the first 3 months of 2021, including the £5M phase two refurbishment works at Hodge House in Cardiff, Paramount Interiors continues to grow rapidly across South Wales and the South West.

For more information on Employee Ownership Trusts, a free guide can be found here.

Education News, Training News, Wales News

Educ8 Named Best mid-sized Company to Work for in UK

Wales based training provider Educ8 have been named as the Best Mid-Sized Company to work for in the whole of the UK, recognised for their exemplary staff satisfaction and consequent workforce engagement.

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said:

“Cultivating a working environment that prioritises happy, motivated and inspired employees is incredibly smart business practice.

“We have a raft of brilliant companies operating in this way across Wales, but Educ8 has consistently shown itself to be a leader in championing staff wellbeing year after year.

“Their success is a great advertisement for employee satisfaction to all businesses, big and small, across the UK. I congratulate them on another fantastic achievement.”

This is the 7th , and pinnacle year, that the training provider has been accredited for its outstanding employee engagement and leadership. Educ8 was founded in 2004 by Group Chairman Colin Tucker in response to skills shortages in the South Wales area and is run with an ethos driven by the values of honesty, integrity, respect and positivity and a passion for ensuring staff reach their full potential.

Mr Tucker said:

“It is a privilege to have been part of a journey that began 16 years ago, an organisation employing 14 people has evolved into one of the “go to” providers of Apprenticeships. To win this award during a pandemic is particularly satisfying, given the challenges we have all faced. This year’s Best Companies awards refer to “World Class” organisations, and I’d like to recognise the contributions of what I think is a world class Board of Directors. A huge thank you to all our staff, at all levels within Educ8. Thank you for the trust you have shown in us, and for your hard work. Thanks also to all our customers and learners, both past and present, without whom, we wouldn’t have a business.”

Best Companies works with employers across Wales and the wider UK measuring, improving and recognising workforce engagement and satisfaction. With 72% of UK-wide employees stating they would work harder if they were appreciated, and companies with high employee engagement being 21% more profitable, the importance of the Best Companies results cannot be understated.

The board at Educ8 have long identified employee engagement as fundamental to success and key to this has been the exemplary leadership and communication of CEO, Grant Santos.

Mr Santos said:

“It is just fantastic to have been voted as the Best Mid-sized Company to Work For in the UK. At Educ8 we are always striving to be the best and I am ecstatic that we have been accredited been awarded both on a Welsh and a UK-wide level. There is no doubt that the community spirit we have grown within Educ8 has had an invaluable effect on our accomplishments as a whole, from employee motivation to the high-quality service we deliver to our employers, learners and communities.”

Throughout what has been a challenging year for many, Educ8 has not only supported employees with an increased benefits package but with an extensive programme of wellbeing initiatives and activities, including the Educ8 choir group and ‘Happy to Chat’ virtual bench which offers 24/7 support for employees.

In October, Educ8 launched one of their most successful wellbeing initiatives, Rejuven8 time, which implements a dedicated slot of time in every employee’s diary to take some time for themselves, away from their screen, each day.

Matthew, an Educ8 employee, shares his experience:

“I will always be forever grateful to Educ8. I have never worked for an organisation that cares so much for their staff. I’m not ashamed to say that I found myself in a bad place, struggling with anxiety and I probably was depressed.

“I count myself very fortunate to be an employee of such a values-driven organisation, and I can say from my experiences that Educ8 will support any individual who may find themselves going through a difficult time, we do really have a Gr8 team and I thank all who have helped me over the last 18/24 months.”

A driving force behind the wellbeing programme has been Tracey O’Neill, Educ8’s Head of Human Resources. Tracey said:

“At Educ8 we have always made sure to champion our employees and their wellbeing. This past year we have taken this engagement to the next level and we are thrilled to have received this recognition as the best mid-sized company in the UK.”

As well as being pioneers in wellbeing, Educ8 is passionate about the sense of community that their workplace culture offers.

Tracey added:

“As we continually look to improve our working practices and employee engagement, we are proud to see our values extend beyond our workplace, to our learners and into our local community.”

The news of the Best Companies top ranking comes at a time that Educ8 have made several announcements, including the recent partnership with the Institute of Directors and the launch of the first Welsh Healthcare Science Apprenticeship Programme in partnership with the NHS.

Education, Health Tech, Healthcare, Healthcare News, Wales News

Educ8 launches first Welsh Healthcare Science Apprenticeship Programme

Wales based training provider Educ8, are the first in Wales to launch the new Level 4 Health Care Science Associate Apprenticeship qualification, working in partnership with NHS Wales Health Boards.

Leading private training provider Educ8 are supporting the National Health Service (NHS) to address skill shortages and develop key skills within the health sector, where capacity is directly related to the number of skilled staff.

A year that has seen unprecedented demand on the NHS, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has also seen rising levels of appreciation for health care workers and front-line services. In January this year, the Health Foundation reported that there had been a substantial increase in the number of people wanting to work for the NHS.

In recent months it has been highlighted that apprentices working for the NHS have been of significant help during the most challenging times of the Coronavirus pandemic, with Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, acknowledging that there is a need to ensure the next generation of NHS workers are skilled, adaptable and work-ready in order to support our economic recovery.

Liz Hargest, Education Development Manager with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) said: “This Framework is an exciting development that will be part of a suite of resources available to support the development of staff and build on the high-quality services already delivered. Offering transferable knowledge and skills in over 50 disciplines, the accredited scheme will not only upskill individuals but will provide a sustainable solution that will benefit everyone.”

The apprenticeship programme is a hybrid process enabling NHS staff to learn while they work, with much of the course being processed online.  A significant advantage of the programme being delivered in this format is the benefit of being able to ‘earn while you learn’ while also being able to remain in the areas that they live, through working with their local health boards.

Sarah Kent, a RTT Co-Ordinator in the ECG Department for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, shared her experience of the qualification: “I have worked in the Cardio-Respiratory department for a long time and always found my interests and heart belong here. Having this qualification will mean that I can achieve my dream and develop my skills and knowledge in the cardiac diagnostic testing and be able to assist my colleagues in a more competent manner. This means the department will benefit from more experienced members of staff relieving them of a very heavy workload thus using my transferrable to the best of my ability.”

The Level 4 qualification will support learners into assistant audiology, blood science and clinical engineering roles to name but a few, with learners being able to enrol from NHS organisations right across Wales.   While the programme is running across the whole of Wales, the project has been led by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB).

Rhian Lewis, Assistant Learning & Development Manager at CTM UHB said: “It is great to see recognition for the staff who are already working hard and developing their skills.  The qualification will create further development opportunities and make them available to staff where they live, in their local area and through their local Health Board. This is a hugely exciting development. ”

Educ8 are the first training provider in Wales to deliver the innovative Level 4 Apprenticeship Framework, combining the vocational learning expertise at Educ8 with subject experts in the health service.

Speaking on the launch of the qualification, Ann Nicholas, Customer Account Director at Educ8 added: “We are delighted to be the first provider to bring this much needed Apprenticeship Programme to Wales.  We are committed to supporting the Welsh Government’s aim of increasing the number of apprentices employed in Wales and preventing a future skills shortage in the NHS. This year has been challenging for us all, but not least our incredible healthcare and frontline workers.”

Applying for the qualification starts with registering online, with more information available on the Educ8 website.

Appointments, Marketing, PR and SEO, News from Wales

Dragonfly ready to fly following appointments

Following an exciting first year of growth, Dragonfly Marketing, a Cardiff based marketing agency which also operates in Bristol and Milford Haven has welcomed two new members to the team, strengthening their marketing offering for businesses.

Marketing professional, Anna Sherer joins the Dragonfly team as Marketing Manager, bringing with her a wealth of marketing experience from previous roles which include O2 Telefonica and projects abroad in the UAE and Zambia. Anna will be supporting Dragonfly and their clients with creative and innovative marketing solutions and strategies.

In addition to Anna’s arrival, Maggie Jurajda joins Dragonfly as Digital Marketing and Social Media Executive, enhancing the team’s specialist offering for these disciplines. Maggie has marketing experience across a range of sectors and with numerous clients and has recently achieved a masters in Digital Marketing Management.

Dragonfly has seen significant growth since its launch in early 2020, now representing over 20 businesses across a range of sectors, from landscaping to biotech. The agency supports its clients with a range of services including PR, content creation, graphic design and is now developing its offering for social media and digital marketing.

David Dulieu, Managing Director of Dragonfly said; “We are delighted to welcome Anna and Maggie to the team, and excited for the months and years ahead. I have known Anna for a number of years and have always been highly impressed with her professionalism and creativity. Our growth has meant we needed the support of a senior marketing professional to support me and our clients as we continue to expand and we are delighted to have Anna on board.”

Anna spent over 5 years as Marketing Manager for Cardiff-based law firm Darwin Gray and was involved in establishing events such as the Wales HR Awards. Speaking on her appointment, Anna said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join David and the team at Dragonfly and at such an exciting stage in its development. The level of growth that Dragonfly has seen in such a short time speaks for itself and I am excited to be part of what the future holds for this creative and dynamic agency.”

The news of the new appointments follows the announcement in December of the agency entering a partnership with the GS Verde Group. This arrangement has since seen the agency become part of the Group, adding marketing support to an ever-growing list of services offered by the multi-discipline Group.

With the growth of Dragonfly has come an evolution of marketing services offered, an acceleration that has resulted in the subtle change of name from Dragonfly Creative to Dragonfly Marketing. Mr Dulieu added: “We are ahead of our expectations in terms of new clients, which is something I am really pleased with. However, marketing is something that moves quickly, and we have been keen to pivot our offering to help support our clients accordingly. Maggie’s role will be our first dedicated social media and digital marketing role, which is something we are very excited about and are certain will be of significant benefit to our clients”.

Maggie Jurajda, formerly a Digital Marketing coach, advising entrepreneurs and international businesses on digital marketing, joins Dragonfly to support the increased demand for digital and social media marketing support. Maggie said: “I am very excited to join the Dragonfly Marketing team, having the opportunity to be able to share my knowledge about social media and digital marketing as well as business development and having a chance to grow myself as well. Having met the team, I am looking forward to what creative solutions we can develop together, that will contribute to further expansion for the business.”

There is further expansion planned for Dragonfly, and the new appointments to the team will mean that the agency can continue to evolve as well as deliver high-quality marketing and communications services to businesses across Wales and the UK.