PETER Robinson has been appointed Barclays Business Manager for Waveney Valley and Long Stratton.

Peter, 34, has worked for Barclays for 13 years having gained a wealth of experience across a variety of roles. Peter will work from Barclays Beccles branch and will be responsible for Beccles, Bungay and Long Stratton.

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

BEST of Suffolk, a holiday lettings agency specialising in stylish and inspiring places to stay, has appointed Gemma Woolnough to the role of marketing executive.

Gemma joins Best of Suffolk at an exciting time; with over 170 properties they have enjoyed considerable growth over the past five years. As marketing executive, Gemma is based in the Best of Suffolk’s new eco-offices at Badingham, near Framlingham and is responsible for implementing the marketing strategy for both the recruitment and holiday sales sides of the business.

Gemma brings significant experience to the role, having worked for four years across the whole marketing mix within the legal sector.

Gemma said: “We have ambitious plans for further growth in 2012 and marketing is absolutely at the heart of it all. This is an exciting time to be a part of the Best of Suffolk team and play an integral role in the continued development of such a highly successful brand”.

Best of Suffolk Director Alex Tarry said: “Best of Suffolk exceeded its growth target of 50 per cent in 2011 and we have very ambitious plans for 2012, and so Gemma has arrived here at an exciting time. She’ll be playing a key role in our expansion plans for 2012 and we’re really delighted to have someone of her high calibre on board.”

DARREN Bradbury has been appointed as plumbing and heating development manager at East Anglian building supplies company Kent Blaxill.

Darren, 39, who has extensive experience in plumbing and heating, will initially be responsible for consolidating and developing plumbing and heating sales at the company’s Colchester headquarters.

“We have a good sized plumbing and heating department at Colchester but we intend to develop it further to become one of the best plumbing and heating departments in Colchester,” he said.

“Later next year we will then be looking to open up plumbing and heating departments in the Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds’ branches, as well as looking for further opportunities. The aim is to make plumbing and heating a core part of the Kent Blaxill business.”

Darren, who lives in Colchester, has spent his whole career in plumbing and heating, working his way up to become a manager of several branches. Outside of work his three children keep him occupied, although he is a passionate follower of Formula 1, and is a keen football enthusiast.

DANCE East has announced the appointment of two new senior managers, Bill Armitage as general manager and Lucy Taylor as head of development.

Bill Armitage was previously project manager for the mPOWER project in Scotland, a programme of artistic activity, skills and knowledge development for young people.

Lucy Taylor brings more than 18 years’ experience in fundraising to DanceEast. She started her career as events manager for MENCAP and then moved to the Royal National Institute for the Blind, where she worked for many years, ultimately as head of fundraising in the National Office in London, where she led a large fundraising team of 250 full and part time staff.

SARAH Jones has joined Ellisons Solicitors in Colchester as an assistant solicitor in the dispute resolution team.

Sarah studied law at Anglia Ruskin University and completed her legal practice course at City University in 2006. She qualified in 2009 and joined Ellisons in December 2011 after gaining significant experience at a smaller Suffolk firm. Her work covers all areas of civil litigation and employment.

AWARD winning restaurant The Bull at Great Totham has appointed Mark Blake as its new chef.

Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in the industry.

He was formerly at The Crown, Stoke by Nayland, where he led an award winning team, and will be bringing his passion and creativity to the team.