Rob Swiney MRICS has joined estate agents Lacy Scott & Knight to work with both the firm’s Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket offices to further strengthen its residential sales department.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me and I am thrilled to be joining such a well-respected and highly-regarded firm of estate agents and chartered surveyors at what is a very exciting time in the residential property market,” he said.

“I believe the flexibility and enthusiasm of a smaller firm that regularly punches above its weight is reflected in the service it is able to offer to clients.”

Rob, 32, a chartered surveyor, has spent the last three years with Strutt & Parker, and before that was with Jackson Stops & Staff in Bury St Edmunds, and so he is very familar with the Suffolk property market.

He is married with a two-year-old daughter. He currently lives in Walsham-le-Willows but is hoping to move into Bury St Edmunds shortly.

Robert Bryce, a partner at the firm, said: “We are very pleased that Rob has come to join us, and are confident that over the forthcoming months he will make a significant contribution to our house sales team. Rob’s experience in the country house market with some of the larger national firms will be invaluable in helping us to develop and improve the professional property service which we already provide.”

: : Angela Rushforth has been named as the incoming vice chair of the CBI East of England Regional Council. She will succeed current chair Andy Wood in December 2014.

Angela is group managing director of the Cambridge-based Ridgeon Group, one of the largest builders’ merchants in the UK which trades from 26 branches in the East of England. The group also includes Ridgeons Forest Products, a timber import and milling facility, CRS Wholesale, a wholesaler of sanitary wares, and Anglia Tool Centre, a multi-channel business specialising in power tools.

The CBI East of England Council forms part of the CBI’s national policy making committee, signing off all CBI’s public policy positions. The council also plays a vital role in promoting the interests of businesses in the East of England and ensuring the region’s business voice is heard in Westminster, Whitehall, Brussels and beyond.

Angela said she was “really excited” about her new role. “The next 12 months in particular are vital for business in the run up to the General Election and I’m looking forward to working with the current chair, Andy Wood, regional director Richard Tunnicliffe and the CBI team here to make sure our business voice is heard in national and regional policy debates,” she said.

“I am passionate about the potential of this region and look forward to working with our members here to ensure all parts of the region benefit from the economic upturn.”

: : East of England law firm Birketts has announced that Mark Henry is to lead its automotive industry group.

Mark, a partner in the corporate services team, said: “I’m delighted to lead the team at such an exciting time in the automotive sector. Retail sales have been growing consistently for over two years in the UK and manufacturing also continues to be a success.”

The automotive industry group comprises a team of specialists experienced in all aspects of the law relating to the motor industry sector. Birketts’ clients include vehicle retailers, manufacturers, providers of finance and many of the ancillary businesses that are related, directly or indirectly, to this very large and important part of the UK’s economy.

Jonathan Agar, chief executive at the firm, which has its headquarters in Ipswich, said: “Taking our motor industry sector specialism to the next level is one of a number of sector-based initiatives Birketts has identified. Over the years the team has built a fantastic reputation within the region. That sector knowledge and expertise has become increasingly recognised throughout the country and a number of new clients have been secured.”

: : Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has appointed Paul Coase and Simon Boddy as business development managers to increase its funding support to businesses in East Anglia.

Both are based in the lender’s satellite office in Peterborough, with the longer-term view of opening an operational office in 2015.

Paul joins the team from Qixpay Limited, following six years selling online merchant services to businesses across the UK. He has experience of selling to businesses with turnover of £1million to £50m and will be responsible for lending in Peterborough, Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester, among other areas.

Paul said it was “a really exciting opportunity to be part of a new and growing team”.

Simon Boddy returns to BFS following nine years at Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance. He has more than 14 years’ experience of invoice finance and asset based lending and says that the new team will enable businesses in the region to flourish and grow.

Simon will also have a specific focus on businesses in Lincolnshire.

Regional sales director David Webb said: “I’m delighted to have Paul and Simon on board. Both are proven deal-makers with a similar work ethic. Undoubtedly, their experience and commitment will help to put Bibby Financial Services firmly on the map in East Anglia.”

: : Five technicians from bus operator FirstGroup gave it their all at the 2014 IRTE Skills Challenge.

Electrical apprentice Daniel Robinson, who works for First Bus Colchester, joined master training technician David O’Hara from Chorley, body technician Gary Henshaw from Oadby, electrical technician Peter Murphy from Lane Head, and master training technician Jason Dicker from Exeter at the recent IRTE event, a competition aimed at discovering the best bus engineers in the business.

The five joined bus technicians from all across the UK at top Bristol college S&B Automotive Academy where they had to overcome a series of challenging electrical, mechanical and bodywork tasks.

The tests had a focus on bus safety and reliability, and included a specially designed task from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

IRTE is a professional body supporting road transport engineers and its annual competition for bus technicians has been widely embraced by UK operators keen to highlight the outstanding work done by their teams.

The IRTE Skills Challenge winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in July.

: : Essex-based payment solutions provider Annecto has appointed a number of new staff and taken on further space at headquarters near Witham

The firm, based at Braxted Park was launched in February 2013, and has grown rapidly, with a core employee base at its headquarters and a wide network of sales executives across the UK.

The firm has appointed Charlotte Miller as business manager. She will oversee critical company issues including HR, training and premises.

Lauren Robins has been made product development manager, Simon Tucker finance director and Laura Hill joins its welcome team, and will be responsible for providing support to new customers and guiding them through the sign-up process and introducing them to the Annecto service.

Managing director Kevin Hayler said: “Lauren has a wealth of experience within the card processing industry, having worked at Handepay, Cardsave and Cybersource.

“She will be a real asset to the Annecto team when it comes to providing industry insight and product knowledge and her expertise will be a valuable resource for our sales network, enabling them to keep our customers fully informed of developments to benefit their business.

“Simon also brings insight and experience having held previous roles at Thomas Cook, Opodo, Monarch Airlines and a number of start-up companies.

“We are very excited at his appointment and believe he will play a key part in helping Annecto fulfil its goals.

“I’m delighted that the team is growing and to reward Charlotte with this promotion as she has been a real star within Annecto since the start.

“Laura initially came in on a temporary contract but very quickly proved her worth and made employing her a ‘no brainer’,” he added.