Movers and Shakers: New operations manager for Southwold Pier

Jonathan has been working for a privately owned restaurant company, in London’s West End where he was back of house operations manager for three years.

Prior to this he was proprietor at Carlton Manor Hotel, Carlton Colville and owner at gastro-pub, The George in Cavendish.

During his tenure in London he worked for Terence Conran and The Conran Group for five years. Jonathan enjoyed a successful career there and was proud to be Conran’s youngest head dhef at Cantina del Ponte and Pont de la Tour, Butler’s Wharf.

As a result he was invited to become head chef at their flagship restaurant The Bluebird in Chelsea. Before a spell at Congham Hall, North Norfolk, where he was awarded three rosettes, he had cut his teeth with Marco Pierre White at Harveys, and the Canteen, Chelsea Harbour.

CARE UK has appointed Heather Choat as manager of its new home, Colne View in Colchester Road, Halstead. Heather says she is excited by the prospect of managing such a high calibre home.

“For anyone with preconceived ideas of how a care home should look and feel, Colne View will come as a lovely surprise,” she said.

“It’s more like a 5 star hotel, than most people’s idea of a typical home for older people.”

Heather, who lives nearby, brings more than 20 years’ experience to her new role and shares Care UK’s mission to help residents lead interesting and fulfilling lives.

“For many older people, particularly if they have dementia, life can become increasingly restricted and isolated as time passes,” she says.

“I have found that by the time a person moves into a care home many have had to give up hobbies, socialising and going out. At Care UK, we work alongside each resident, giving them the individual care and encouragement they need to regain and improve their quality of life and pick up their interests in a safe, supportive environment.”

Heather’s new role is one of many jobs created at Colne View. Following a recruitment event held last month at the Earls Colne Valley Golf Club more than 20 job offers were made.

Colne View is one of over 30 new homes that Care UK plans to build over the next four years.

LOGISTICS firm Maritime Transport (Maritime) has appointed two new managing directors.

Simon Smart has been promoted to managing director, container transport, and David Boomer, managing director, distribution.

Both Simon and David were previously operations directors in the business. Simon joined the company in 2004 from DHL as general manager, operations.

David has been with Maritime since 1990s when he joined the business as a traffic operator. Most recently, he has spearheaded Maritime’s diversification into distribution and the development of a business with a 100-strong truck fleet, since the start of 2011.

The decision to create these new positions was taken to strengthen the senior management of the company and to provide greater focus on the two key areas of growth for the business.

“I am delighted to announce these important appointments,” said group managing director John Williams. “These promotions have been made to create the next generation of managing directors and both David and Simon bring many years of senior management experience, focus and energy to their new roles.”

RUPERT Moody’s love and knowledge of caravanning with his family, coupled with his engineering experience has led him to start up a mobile caravanning and motor home service and repair company in Ipswich.

The firm, called Birchwood Caravan Services Ltd, was formed after Rupert spotted a niche in the market to provide a mobile service, saving customers’ having to take their tourer to a service centre.

Birchwood Caravan Services repairs and services caravans and motor homes at a customer’s home, on a site or at a storage compound.

“Birchwood Caravan Services is able to offer a complete home service with a personal feel,” he said.

“I build a rapport with my customers. I am also on hand to give advice and answer any questions.”

Birchwood Caravan Services recently gained National Caravan Council and Approved Workshop accreditation which means that they can service any caravan or motor home without invalidating warranties.

SIMON Culling has been appointed Barclays business manager for Sudbury, Suffolk.

Simon, age 46, has worked for Barclays for 28 years having gained a wealth of experience across a variety of roles.

He will work from Barclays Sudbury branch and will be responsible for business customers in the Sudbury and Hadleigh area.

Simon said: “This role is a great opportunity to support the business people of Sudbury and surrounding area. I am looking forward to meeting my customers and visiting them at their premises.”

BIRKETT Long Associate Solicitor Vicky Raynes has become a qualified member of the international Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Miss Raynes, a specialist in estates and trusts at the Basildon firm, undertook an intensive two-year diploma course to attain membership of the worldwide professional body. She passed each of her four exams with a distinction.

The 28-year-old is the sixth solicitor at Birkett Long to have achieved the qualification.

She said: “Completing a STEP diploma and becoming a member of the organisation is a hallmark for solicitors in my field. It highlights to clients that we have got the knowledge and experience to work successfully on their behalf, so there is an awful lot of value in attaining the qualification.”

Miss Raynes began her training with Birkett Long in 2005, qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and became an associate at the firm last June. As a member of the rural business team, she also specialises in wills, powers of attorney, trusts and estates for agricultural clients.

Managing partner Adrian Livesley said: “Huge congratulations are due to Vicky for her dedication in completing her diploma alongside her full-time role as solicitor. We are very proud that she has become a member of STEP with such outstanding results in her exams.”

Miss Raynes will collect her STEP certificate from His Honour Judge Denzil Lush of the Court of Protection at an awards ceremony in Westminster in June.

Birkett Long provides a wide range of legal and financial services including probate, wills, inheritance tax planning and fixed-fee funeral plans. With 22 partners, the firm has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester.

EAST Anglian-based My Business FD, which offers professional financial director services to growing businesses across Suffolk, has welcomed two new finance directors to its rapidly expanding team.

Auriel Folkes and Julia Throop have substantial commercial financial director experience at international level and will use their expertise to support clients working across a variety of sectors throughout East Anglia, London and the South East.

Auriel is a qualified chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience of running finance and operations functions for international technology companies.

Her portfolio of skills includes working with private equity backed, start up and high growth firms, managing restructures and turnarounds, exits and trade sales, and leading teams across multiple size companies in various geographic markets including the UK, US, Australia and Europe.

Born and raised in the US, Julia Throop began her career as a National Bank Examiner with the US Department of Treasury.

She has spent much of the past 20 years working at senior management level in banking, financial and information services, e-commerce and operational and product development functions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Julia has particular expertise in fast moving, high growth fields, having worked with some of the largest companies in the US as well as SMEs and private equity starts ups.

Her experience includes fundraising, business turnaround and establishing and strengthening sales and marketing functions.

Commenting on the two latest signings, founder and managing director of My Business FD Chris Chapman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Auriel and Julia on board.

“Over the past 12 months we have grown from a team of two to 10 FDs and we expect our head count to rise to 20 by the end of the year.

“This will further expand our ability to help ambitious businesses across the region to achieve growth and fulfil their aspirations – something we are passionate about.”