BIDWELLS estate agents has appointed Toby Lambert as head of residential development for Essex and Hertfordshire.

Head of residential Brian Buckingham said: “Bidwells is responsible for delivering some of the most prestigious and high value development sites in the country and this level work demands the very best Partners and Staff. We’re are delighted that Toby has joined us and his experience, both as an Agent and for a Plc. House Builder will ensure our high standards are maintained.”

Toby’s recruitment follows the recruitment of Hannah Beamish and Alex Cox earlier in the year both of whom came from prestigious house builders

Toby said: “I am delighted to have joined such a well respected company in Bidwells. We are entering a new phase of Bidwells’ history and I am excited about expanding the Residential Development team in our key growth areas of Essex and Hertfordshire.”

: : FRAMLINGHAM-based farm inputs purchasing and crop marketing cooperative AtlasFram Group has appointed Jo Pitts as business development manager in The Midlands and North West of England.

In her new role Jo will look after the group’s members, suppliers and stakeholders in an area from the A1 in the east up to South Lancashire in the north.

Coming from a ‘medical family’ in which both her parents were doctors, Jo was encouraged to study law, but had a long-standing interest in agriculture and at one time owned her own flock of championship-winning Wensleydale sheep. She decided to study land management at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, where she gained a BSc in the subject and went on to achieve an MSc in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin.

After working for commercial property firm Jones Lang Wootton in London, Jo spent three years as a Key Account Manager for Milk Marque in the North West of England before going to work for an events management company in Northamptonshire in 1996. In 2011 she joined another agricultural buying group as Account Manager for the Midlands, but is now a key member of the AtlasFram Group team.

Jo is married to Andrew, who farms 1500 acres at Mears Ashby in Northamptonshire. The business, which produces seed wheat and oilseed rape together with choose-and-cut Christmas trees, won the East of England Agricultural Society’s Supreme Countryside Management Award in 2012.

Jo said: “I am delighted to be joining AtlasFram at a time of such exciting development for the Group. I had always heard very positive things about AtlasFram and how good it is to deal with. That is very much the case and I find it very encouraging to be working in such a positive, diverse environment.”

Chief executive Richard Anscombe said: “Jo’s background and expertise will be invaluable in further improving the level of service which we provide for our 1250 members, who collectively farm more than 300,000 hectares throughout the UK.”

: : WOODBRIDGE-based communications agency Lexia Media has expanded its team for 2013, with the appointment of an events and sponsorship co-ordinator.

The Woodbridge-based company has welcomed Abi Gagen, who joins the team from regional newspaper group Archant, where she worked as an account manager for three years.

Abi, who is 22 and from Kesgrave, brings a wealth of experience in commercial media relations across the region. In her new role as Events and Sponsorship Co-coordinator, Abi will organising and managing events as well as liaising with clients in regards to sponsorship opportunities.

“I am very happy to have joined the Lexia Media team, and to be working alongside some of the best local talent in the industry is a privilege” said Abi.

Director Deborah Watson said: “The events side of our business has expanded recently and Abi will bring an experienced yet fresh approach to our client offering. Her experience in commercial sales will also help us bring new value-added opportunities to our current PR clients”

Lexia has a broad client base from across the region, as well as nationally and internationally, and is a member of the Archant Future50 list of businesses. Clients the company have provided event management for include Archant, New Anglia LEP, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Visit Norfolk.

: : Independent high street mortgage broker Just Mortgages has appointed Antony Lark as its managing director.

Antony, who has almost 20 years experience working in financial services within the estate agency sector, will assume responsibility for the rapidly expanding business, which employs a network of close to 100 mortgage consultants across the UK.

Just Mortgages is part of Colchester-based Spicerhaart, the UK’s largest independent estate agency group, and is an appointed representative of Legal & General.

Prior to joining Spicerhaart, Antony worked as a regional financial services director for Countrywide Mortgage Services. He began his professional career as a mortgage consultant.

Antony said: “I am delighted to be joining Just Mortgages and look forward to working with the team to build what I believe will become the most dynamic independent mortgage brokering provider in the UK.”

Paul Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Spicerhaart, said: “Antony brings a wealth of financial services experience within estate agency to Just Mortgages which will prove of huge benefit to the business moving forward.”

Married with two children, Antony, who lives in Kent, is a keen golfer currently playing off a 16 handicap.

: : IPSWICH-based law firm Prettys has appointed solicitor Rebecca Palmer to its construction department. Rebecca joins Prettys from the market-leading engineering, construction and procurement practice at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP in London.

Rebecca is a specialist in non-contentious commercial construction law and advises clients from all sectors of the industry on procurement strategy and implementation, project management and the drafting and negotiation of standard form and bespoke construction contracts including building contracts, engineering contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, development and funding agreements and all related documentation.

Head of construction services Peter Blake said: “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to the firm, she brings with her a wealth of experience and will be a great asset and valuable addition to the construction team at Prettys.”

: : COLCHESTER-based residential and domiciliary care provider Healthcare Homes has appointed two new managers in Suffolk.

Alison Lovelock joins the group as a regional manager and Emma Beckett is the new home manager of its Mill Lane Nursing Home in Felixstowe.

Alison, who lives in Sudbury, has joined Healthcare Homes to oversee the operational management and development of the group’s homes located on the A14 corridor, from Felixstowe up to Cambridgeshire. Having previously held senior positions with three other major residential care providers across the UK, Alison brings extensive industry experience with her having worked in the healthcare industry for over thirty years.

Emma, who lives in Hadleigh, has worked in elderly and dementia care homes for over 20 years, with 12 years specifically as a Home Manager at a Suffolk-based home for the elderly.

Alison said: “All of Healthcare Homes’ residential and nursing homes are warm, welcoming and there is a large emphasis on supporting all staff members to deliver excellence. This refreshing approach really appealed to me and so I am delighted to have joined Healthcare Homes as a regional manager and look forward to working alongside the teams to continue making a real difference for all service users.”

Emma said: “Providing care and support to the elderly is one of my passions. I commenced my nurse training at the age of 18 and have worked in related fields ever since. I’m very pleased to have joined a home that has a great local reputation and I am enjoying the opportunity to help shape the services we provide to residents at our home.”

Chief operating officer David Bates said: “We are proud to announce the appointment of two highly experienced individuals into our business; both of whom join the team with a wealth of knowledge in supporting elderly individuals with high quality care. We would like to extend a warm welcome to both Alison and Emma and look forward to working closely with them, moving forward.”