Following a career-changing move that started during university, Caroline Kaiser has been appointed as the new head of domiciliary care services at RV Care, part of Retirement Villages Group Ltd.

She will be based at the RV Care head office at Great Easton, Essex. Caroline first found a passion for care following a stopgap job during university. Her new role will see her lead the domiciliary care team - an industry she first stepped into in 1997, across RV Care’s UK branches, covering the southern half of the UK.

“I absolutely loved the work, I found it very satisfying and so rewarding,” said Caroline, who studied computing and finance at university.

“My plan was to work in finance and I did try this but I knew deep down that the care industry was where I wanted to be. So I made a huge shift in my life choice and it is the best decision I could have made. I am so content and love this work.”

She added: “The domiciliary and extra care industry will grow as demand for these services, particularly among the older population, continues to escalate. To be able to provide a quality, luxury, and yet still value for money service is paramount to me. I expect to deliver the type of service I would want my mum or dad to receive in their home, and that’s my goal every day I come to work.”

:: A highly experienced specialist from the banking world has joined the Ipswich team of financial and business advisers Grant Thornton in a consultancy role to help further progress the firm’s strategy for growth.

Peter Glynn comes to Grant Thornton following more than 40 years with Barclays Corporate, latterly as a relationship director, working with many large corporate clients across the eastern region.

Peter formally retired from Barclays in the summer of last year before taking on the part time position with Grant Thornton. In his new role, Peter will work closely with the Ipswich team and its client base, helping to further strengthen the firm’s service offering and expand the business.

Peter said: “I worked with Grant Thornton for many years during my time with Barclays and was always impressed by the dynamic team.

“After a five month break from the corporate world it’s exciting to be joining such a forward-thinking firm at a time when the focus is very much on progression and growth.

“I hope that by tapping into over four decades of banking experience, I will be able to add a fresh and valuable dimension to the Grant Thornton team, build on existing client relationships as well as promote new ones, and help to propel the business further along its growth path.”

Ian Thoroughgood, associate director at Grant Thornton’s Ipswich office said during his banking career, Peter accrued a vast array of skills and expertise across a range of disciplines which the firm will now be lucky enough to tap into.

“Peter’s experience will bring a new perspective to our team and his appointment represents another important piece of our continued growth strategy. We are delighted to welcome Peter on board,” he added.

:: A dedicated garage worker has been rewarded after completing 30 years at the company.

Adam Beecroft, 47, joined Sudbury’s Barrett-Lee Garage in 1984 straight from leaving school as part of a government funded Youth Training Scheme (YTS). He was offered a full time job with the company in 1985.

Mr Beecroft, who lives in Sudbury, started work as a trainee mechanic but within months become a parts service advisor, a position he still holds today.

During the past 30 years Mr Beecroft has seen many changes at the company. When Mr Beecroft started with the company it was an Austin Rover dealership and later a Nissan dealership based at Northern Road, on the Chilton Industrial Estate.

Barrett-Lee moved to its current base in Byford Road more than 20 years ago becoming an independent garage servicing and repairing cars and vans. It is now a market leader in specialist servicing for makes such as BMW, Jaguar, Audi and Land Rover.

“This is the only job I have ever had and I have seen many changes over past 30 years in both the structure of the company and the advances in modern technology, “ said Mr Beecroft.

“Today, everything is more electronic meaning vehicles have less need for maintenance but more for repairs. I really enjoy my job, this is a good company to work for and every day is different.”

Managing director Simon Barrett said: “I would like to say congratulations and thank you to Adam for his long service and dedication, he is a merit to the company. Adam is just one example of how we can offer life-long job opportunities. We have a very low turnover of staff and several of our employees have been with us for 20 years or more.”

:: Jessica Robins of Savills Cambridge, Romy Jackson of Savills Chelmsford and Rebecca Roberts of Savills Ipswich have passed their Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) exams. CAAV is a specialist professional body representing, qualifying and briefing over 2,600 members who carry out a diverse range of agricultural and rural work throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

CAAV members are agricultural and rural valuers who provide professional advice and valuation expertise on issues affecting the countryside from tenancy matters to the sale and purchase of farms and land, from taxation and compulsory purchase to auctioneering, from conservation issues to farming structures.

In addition, Jessica and Romy also passed their APC assessment along with Lulu Barton of Savills Norwich and Will Gray of Savills Cambridge.

The APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) assessment follows two years of studying and work experience. The completion of the APC is part of the Savills graduate programme and is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ process of ensuring its members are competent to practice as a chartered surveyor. The qualification leads to RICS membership.

Michael Horton, head of rural practice for Savills Eastern, said: “Our young professionals are a credit to our business and I am thrilled to see such positive exam success for them all. This is the result of hard work and dedication across our team and we cannot grow our business without the development of our colleagues. A huge well done to them all.”

:: Rachel Buxton has been appointed as marketing co-ordinator for estate agents and auctioneers TW Gaze of Diss and Wymondham.

Joining on a part time basis, Rachel has over 15 years marketing experience gained from her time working in the commercial, local government and charitable sectors.

“I am really pleased to be working for such a well respected and reputable company as TW Gaze. They are a traditional yet forward thinking firm that puts the customer at the heart of everything they do. “

Director Mike Sarson said: “We are delighted to welcome Rachel to the TW Gaze family. Her extensive marketing experience and knowledge will be a valuable asset, enabling us to continue to grow our brand across Norfolk and Suffolk and help deliver the best quality services for our customers across our many disciplines.”

Rachel will be combining her marketing role at TW Gaze with her existing business of running Hoveton Hall Estate in Norfolk with her husband Harry Buxton.

:: Wealth management expert Andrew Longbon, of Ramsholt near Woodbridge, has scooped a gold boutique portfolio adviser title at the Portfolio Adviser Wealth Manager Awards in London.

The awards, sponsored by Schroders and in association with Enhance Group, recognise exceptional talent in managing client money.

Andrew has worked in financial services for more than 34 years. He started his career in the 1980s working in the City for various investment companies.

Since 1990 he has been advising private clients and managing investment portfolios at private banking and stockbroking firms where he held senior positions.

Later, he and his family moved from London to Suffolk, and he launched Longbon & Company.

“This is a huge accolade and I am delighted,” he said.

“Stepping away from the world of large corporations and branching out independently has allowed me to provide a complete hands-on service. I focus entirely on the requirements of each client. “Being away from the ‘noise’ of big cities has engendered long and steadfast client relationships — attributes that are paramount to Longbon & Company.”

Daniel Gilmore, portfolio adviser director at Last Word Media, said: “Now in their fourth year, the Portfolio Adviser Wealth Manager Awards have firmly established themselves as an important barometer of quality within the UK wealth management sector. To be chosen as a winner by a wholly independent panel of judges, all of whom have experience in outsourcing to and working with wealth managers, should really be seen as a badge of honour.”