Ipswich-based Concertus Design & Property Consultants has appointed four members of staff to senior positions.

Neil Turvey has been promoted from his role as senior estates surveyor to associate director – estates and Sarah Cossey has moved up from her role as business manager to associate director – business. Kay Boyden has been promoted to head of programmes from her role as project manager, and project assistant Sarah Layton has been promoted to replace Sarah Cossey as business administration manager.

Since 2013, the number of employees recruited at Concertus has increased by 23%. The new positions have been filled by individuals at various points in their careers, from graduate trainees to the experienced professionals. The types of job that have been recruited for are diverse and range from CAD technician, interior designer and electrical engineer, to more senior roles in building surveying and structural engineering.

Director Matthew Self said: “Our most important asset is our people, who all take some ownership for the success of our business. We feel it is important to provide those who show the right drive and enthusiasm, with the opportunity to enter and further develop their careers in this vibrant and exciting industry.”

: : Eastern Angles Theatre Company has appointed a new executive director, Kate Sarley.

The Ipswich-based theatre company was established in 1982 and since then it has gained a national reputation for touring East Anglian themed shows to village halls, theatres and unusual “found spaces” across the eastern region. Kate replaces Matthew Linley who, after working for Eastern Angles for four years, has moved on to become artistic director/chief executive at Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Kate said: “I’ve always loved going to the theatre from an early age and was inspired by my drama teacher to get more involved. I decided ‘backstage’ was for me and ended-up studying stage Management at RADA at the same time as Ipswich-born Ralph Fiennes.

“I then went on to work for companies including the RSC, Unicorn Children’s Theatre, The Royal Court, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Talawa Theatre Company, Cardboard Citizens and various in the West End.

“I moved to Suffolk in 1999 and created the role of general manager at Colchester Arts Centre. It’s great to be working in the region I love and I am enjoying the daily commute through Babergh to Ipswich! Working at Eastern Angles is great and feels like home already.”

Eastern Angles artistic director Ivan Cutting said: “Kate has great experience of working with small and large organisations and will be a fantastic fit with the rural touring nature of Eastern Angles – all she needs to do is work out the difference between Halesworth, Haverhill, Hadleigh and Harleston.”

: : Helena Quarmby has joined Eastern Angles as marketing officer from publishing house Boydell & Brewer Ltd, based in Woodbridge, where she specialised in marketing classical music and world literature titles.

Helena is a graduate from the University of Sheffield where she read English and Theatre. During her time at university she was publicity officer for the University of Sheffield Singers’ Society. She has also volunteered within marketing at the Sheffield Documentary Festival, the Cirqular Theatre Company and Red Rose Chain Film & Theatre Company, based in Ipswich.

Helena said: “I am so thrilled to be joining Eastern Angles. Having been a fan of their work over the years and volunteering with the company since Christmas, I feel very lucky to be working with the team, especially within the field of theatre marketing.

“I am looking forward to expanding the digital marketing side of the company and I’m very excited to be working at Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August with our new show, Chicken.”

: : Adult care and wellbeing support provider Essex Cares has appointed a new regional manager to lead the organisation’s development in north Essex following the introduction of the new Care Act.

Debbie Edgell will oversee Essex Cares’ services in Colchester, Harwich, Clacton and the surrounding areas and is one of four new regional managers who have joined the business.

Debbie joined Essex Cares in 2009 and in her previous roles she has worked for Essex County Council, the charity Mencap and volunteered for the Edith Borthwick School in Braintree supporting children with disabilities. Debbie grew up helping care for her father who had a stroke when she was a baby.

As a result, she has a lifelong passion to make care services for disabled and other vulnerable people the best they can possibly be.

Debbie said: “I’m very pleased to be taking up my new role at Essex Cares at such an exciting time. With the new Care Act people now have much more choice and control over the support they receive. I’m looking forward to supporting the delivery of Essex Cares services which help customers achieve their personal goals and enjoy a life that’s as independent as possible.”

Debbie’s promotion follows a role managing Essex Cares’ Work Based Training services in the north of the county, where she was instrumental in establishing a new business model for the service. She has also successfully developed new services while managing staff through the company’s evolution.

Managing director Liz Chidgey said: “Debbie’s appointment comes just as we are transforming our services and looking at how we can work with the health and voluntary sector to make sure we are meeting the demands of the new Care Act while continuing to put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Her skills and experience will be extremely valuable as we move forward.”

: : Liz Dixon, finance director of infection control products firm Tristel plc, based at Snailwell, near Newmarket, scooped the Smaller Quoted FD of the year award at the annual FDs’ (finance directors) Excellence Awards hosted at the London Marriot Hotel in Grosvenor Square in May.

The awards are held in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and supported by the CBI and recognise the best performing FDs from public and privately owned companies in the UK. The award Liz won recognised the outstanding skills of her core finance role and how she demonstrates an ability to facilitate growth for Tristel.

Tristel said it was thrilled that Liz has been recognised in this way. She joined the company in 2007 as chief group accountant, went on to join the board of Tristel Solutions Ltd in August 2009 and was appointed as group finance director in June 2010. She has helped with the major restructuring in 2012 and last year the company quadrupled its dividend after showing discipline and performance.