MARTLESHAM-based Consense, which provides online community consultation, has promoted a new member of staff after less than six months with the company.

Lois Ransome, 24, from Hintlesham, has been promoted to account manager following a successful five month term supporting the account management team with a range of high profile clients including National Grid, Scottish Power Renewables and local developer Iceni Energy.

Lois, who graduated from Lincoln University with a degree in PR and Marketing in 2011, brought a wealth of experience to the company having worked in both public relations and digital advertising throughout and following her degree.

Consense, which provides online stakeholder consultation for a range of clients from the energy, infrastructure and property industries, is currently focusing on expanding the full service arm of the business, making Lois’s experience invaluable.

Jessica Topham, director at Consense, said: “Lois has exceeded our expectations over the past few months. She joined us as a very capable account executive and has quickly established herself as a key member of the team. We look forward to seeing her career develop further with us into the future.”

Lois said: “I have had such a fantastic time working at Consense and have learnt so much over the past few months. The professionalism and enthusiasm of the team is such a breath of fresh air in a business environment which is constantly being challenged by the national economy.

“I am delighted to have been promoted to account manager, a role I have craved since first entering the workplace, and I look forward to helping to grow the business over the coming months.”

: : ESSEX Cares Limited and Essex County Council have made changes to the Essex Cares board of directors.

After three years in post, Sherry Malik will be stepping down as chairman of the Essex Cares board of directors to become director of children and adults at the London Borough of Hounslow and current vice-chairman Philip George will be stepping up into the chairman’s role on an interim basis.

Leader of Essex County Council Peter Martin said: “I would personally like to thank Sherry for all her hard work in building Essex Cares into a successful business that delivers outstanding social care services. The recent contract award from West Sussex County Council shows the strength of reputation that Essex Cares enjoys and Sherry is leaving the business on a very firm footing. I wish her every success in her new role.

“I would also like to thank Philip George for stepping into the role of chairman on an interim basis, thus ensuring the continuity of delivery that is vital to keep Essex Cares competitive in an ever changing market.”

Mark Lloyd, managing director of Essex Cares paid tribute to Sherry Malik’s “hard work, vision and commitment”.

“Essex Cares would not have evolved into the growing and successful business that it is, without her leadership,” he said.

Sherry Malik said: “Essex Cares is a successful business with a strong value base, providing vulnerable people with high quality care. I feel proud to have been part of its success story and pay tribute to the staff, senior managers and the board who have made it possible.”

: : BUILDING firm Bennett Homes has appointed Dawn Urry as sales manager, based at its Nowton headquarters, near Bury St Edmunds.

Dawn’s new role encompasses the day-to-day running of the sales department, managing the sales team, looking after developments throughout East Anglia and preparing show homes at new sites.

With many years experience in the property sector – four years in estate agency and five years in new homes – Dawn’s most recent position was as field sales manager with a regional building company.

Edward Parker, managing director of Bennett Homes, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dawn to our team and to wish Adele Pearce, who has worked with us for over 30 years, a very happy retirement. Dawn’s in-depth experience will be invaluable as we launch new developments such as Oak Trees in Attleborough and continue selling traditional homes for all ages and stages at our established sites at Downham Market and Kenninghall.”

Dawn said: “I was really attracted to this role as I wanted to work for a family-run business that is well known for its professional and personal approach to customers. It’s my perfect job as I am definitely a people person and love being in a sales environment with lots of face to face contact with customers of all ages”.

: : AT a time when many construction companies are reducing staff, East Anglian building contractor Pentaco Construction is bucking the trend.

The company has appointed Andrew Richman as regional business development manager following some notable contract wins this year in East Anglia and across the UK. Andrew will be responsible for expanding Pentaco’s current construction operations in Suffolk.

Andrew joins the company with a strong background in national contracting and business marketing. He has previously held key business development posts with construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall and building contractors ISG Jackson in the region.

“Having worked for national contractors in East Anglia for many years, Andrew has an in-depth knowledge of the construction market as well as excellent business contacts,” said David Sexton, construction director of Pentaco

Construction.

“We are delighted to have him on board to help drive the continuing growth and expansion of the business.”

: : DEBENHAM-based cider and vinegar producer Aspall has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Jake Nickell and Nathan Sloane as business development manager and account executive.

Jake joins from Anheuser-Busch InBev where he spent six years in both on-trade and off-trade roles which included driving distribution and volume in the wholesale and retail sectors. While at Inbev he also worked with Majestic Group and Matthew Clark Wholesale.

His final two years were spent in a business development role covering the North West and Bristol.

He reports to Aspall commercial manager David Randles and is responsible for developing sales in the on-trade in the Midlands, South Wales and the South West of England which all represent major areas of opportunity for Aspall.

Nathan joins from premium hotel and venue group Principal Hayley where he was responsible for new business development. Prior to his last role, he was a sales and marketing consultant at Virgin Active Health. He reports to Aspall commercial manager John Hadingham and is responsible for developing key London on-trade accounts including Fuller’s and Young’s.

Paul Simpson, Aspall sales director, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of both Jake and Nathan.

“These two positions are key to supporting our growth strategy within the on-trade in the UK.”

: : A CHELMSFORD business woman has joined one of the UK’s leading housebuilders in a sales manager role covering the Essex region.

Kim Ward joins Persimmon Homes Essex from local housebuilder Countryside Properties and brings with her a wealth of experience in the construction industry.

This is the first managerial position within a sales environment for Kim who has held marketing and sales posts in the construction industry for the past six years.

Commenting on her new role, Kim said: “Working closely with the sales advisers across the region I will be helping to drive footfall into our show homes and bring new developments to market.

“I think this is going to be a very exciting and challenging role and look forward to settling in with the team at Persimmon.”

Kim will be based at the Persimmon Homes Essex head office in Witham. Last week Persimmon revealed it had seen a 6% increase in legal completions compared to the previous year and underlying profit for the group before tax is up 65% on last year at �98.7million.

Current developments in the region include Foresthall Park in Stanstead Mountfitchet, Riverside Quarter in Colchester, Station Approach in Braintree, Elmbrook in Basildon and soon to open Nightingale Gardens in Stanway and Neave Place in Romford.