Movers & Shakers: Two new managerial roles at Lay & Wheeler

Lay & Wheeler, originally founded in 1854, has long been part of the fabric of the UK fine wine trade, as well as being among the East Anglian region’s oldest businesses. Purchased by Majestic Wine in 2009, it is now part of one of the most successful wine companies in the UK.

The establishment of two new customer-facing roles comes at an important time with the company aiming to introduce fine wine to an ever expanding list of customers.

Nick Connell, formerly of St Helena School in Colchester, has returned to the area to take up the role of sales manager. A solicitor by original training at Nottingham Law School, he worked for six years in property law in London, before changing direction completely to pursue a career in the wine industry. He joins from an established London merchant, bringing a fresh perspective to the team.

Former Colchester County High School pupil Kat Wiggins has worked with Lay & Wheeler for more than 10 years, joining the company almost straight after her studies at the University of Cambridge. Initially working in fine wine sales, but with an increasing focus on marketing and fine wine offers, she has been promoted to the role of marketing manager with a brief, among other things, to increase the company’s profile both locally and nationally.

Director David Smith said: “In what are challenging times for all businesses I am delighted to have strengthened the management team at Lay & Wheeler. In the coming months I want to improve our connections throughout East Anglia and especially in Essex and Suffolk.

With Kat and Nick in place, we are very well placed to do this.”

: : SAVILLS estate agents has strengthened its team operating in the fast- growing energy and renewables sector with the arrival of Cambridge-based Nick Barber.

Nick, formerly an energy specialist with Carter Jonas, has six years’ experience working on a range of projects including the sale of large-scale solar and wind energy schemes as well as site acquisition, feasibility studies and project management.

David Grindley, who leads Savills’ eight strong team in the east, said: “We are delighted to have Nick on board whose skills will build further on the expertise we offer to private clients and developments across the sector. Our team advises on technologies from solar photovoltaic, wind and Renewable Heat Incentive schemes to ‘passive house’ design for residential construction. The decision to boost our team comes after two extremely busy and successful years in this rapidly expanding area of the market.”

: : TRAVEL agency Fred. Olsen Travel has appointed cruise specialist Gemma Deakin to its Ipswich branch in Upper Brook Street.

Recognising a keen interest in the travel industry from a young age, Gemma enrolled on a travel and tourism course at the Colchester Institute to broaden her knowledge and understanding of the industry. This course acted as the catalyst for Gemma’s career as she was quickly recruited as a trainee travel consultant upon completion of her course.

As a travel consultant for Co-op Travel Gemma was given the opportunity to progress further to the position of senior travel consultant. An avid traveller herself, Gemma gets satisfaction from providing customers with a personal, confident service using her wealth of knowledge and experience, able to offer advice on the best locations.

Nicola Atkinson, branch manager at Fred. Olsen Travel, Ipswich, said: “We’re so pleased to have had the opportunity to recruit Gemma as a cruise specialist for our Ipswich branch. Gemma’s in-depth knowledge of our cruise partners and services allows us to offer so much more to our customers, providing expert guidance and advice on a much more personal level. I feel that having Gemma on our team is just another asset that sets our travel advisory service apart from others.”

Gemma said: “I’m so excited to have this opportunity working for, in my opinion, the region’s most prestigious travel agent. I have a lot of in-depth knowledge within the industry and specifically within cruise travel so am thrilled that my role will be assisting customers in booking their dream holiday.”

: : BUILDING supplies firm Kent Blaxill has sharpened its business focus with the appointment of Andy Whitney and Steve Last as sales and operations managers to head two of its divisions.

Andy Whitney has been promoted to become sales and operations manager responsible for the company’s building materials division.

Andy, 51, who lives in Colchester, joined the company in 1978 and has completed 35 years’ service with Kent Blaxill, becoming well known to builders throughout East Anglia.

“I am delighted that Andy has taken on this role” said John Ford, operations director. “He is a highly able and dedicated member of the company’s management team.”

Outside of work Andy, who is married with two daughters, is a National Trust volunteer.

Steve Last, 45, has been promoted to sales and operations manager for the glass and glazing division. He has been with Kent Blaxill for 28 years, working in a number of different sectors of the business. Steve, a Charlton FC supporter, lives in Maldon with his wife and four-year-old daughter.

Part of Steve’s new role will involve expanding the glass and glazing division’s business to the company’s seven other branches across East Anglia.

“Steve is already submitting investment proposals to grow the glass business,” said John Ford.

n BARCLAYS bank has appointed Kelly Sutton as the new branch manager for West Mersea.

Kelly has worked for Barclays for more than seven years and, before taking up her new role, was a personal banker at the Witham branch.

Kelly will have a team of more than five staff, including four cashiers and a counter manager.

She said: “I am looking forward to working in West Mersea. The branch is popular with the local community and customers will find me approachable and easily accessible in the banking hall.”

: : BARCLAYS has appointed Adam White as a the new area business manager for Hertfordshire and Essex.

Adam has worked for Barclays for five years and was, until recently, a regional business manager looking after the business start-up market.

Adam will be based at Barclays’ Harlow branch and will manage a team of 15 business managers across the Hertfordshire and Essex areas.

Adam said of his new appointment: “I am looking forward to working with business owners across both Hertfordshire and Essex.

“I have extensive experience of working with business customers across a wide spectrum of sectors, and look forward to visiting customers with my team at their premises so we can fully understand how we can support them to grow their businesses.”

: : ESSEX law firm Birkett Long is strengthening its expert rural team with the promotion of solicitor Annabelle Savage to be an associate within the firm.

Annabelle, who joined Colchester and Chelmsford-based Birkett Long in 2008, leads the firm’s rural team in Chelmsford and specialises in agricultural property dealing with sales, purchases, refinancing and the management of farms and estates. She has experience advising on tenancy issues such as succession and retirement, preparing farm business tenancies, land registration and agri-environmental schemes.

Managing partner Adrian Livesley said: “Annabelle is an asset to our rural team and has already made a significant contribution to the firm. She has a wealth of experience in rural business law to offer our clients, both existing and new, and I am confident that she will excel in her new role.”

With a strong local farming background, Annabelle is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association and sits on the Essex Agricultural Society Council and on the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust committee for Essex. She is also a member of Suffolk Agricultural Association, Country Land & Business Association, Hadleigh Farmers’ Agricultural Association and Tendring Hundred Farmers Club.

Annabelle said: “I am extremely pleased to become an awwwqwssociate at Birkett Long. It’s a fantastic firm to work for and I’m looking forward to playing a full part in the continued development of our rural team and the firm over the coming years.”