Accountancy firm Grant Thorton, property agency Matthews & Goodman, engineering consultancy Steven Hunt & Associates and GC Business Finance have all announced new appointments

Audit specialist Gareth Hitchmough has been made a partner at Grant Thornton in Liverpool. He said: “I already know a number of the partners in Manchester and Leeds very well and I can’t wait to get started.

“I know the firm has great opportunity to grow its client base in the North West and North Wales, but nationally too. I have worked in the North West for all of my career and it’s an outstanding place.

“There is a rich seam of international companies, long-established family businesses and a very exciting cohort of fast growing businesses in the tech and digital space.”

Matthews & Goodman, a multi-disciplinary property consultancy, has invited Phil Winckles to join the proprietary partnership. He will be a member of the LLP. Based in Liverpool, Mr Winckles will be responsible for directing its northern aaluation capability and grow its Northern Powerhouse business.

Prior to joining Matthews & Goodman, He spent almost 15 years with Keppie Massie Limited, where he led the rapid expansion of their Consultancy Service team. His focus has been on core valuation, CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) and s18 instructions, together with development and regeneration sectors.

“Phil has the energy, experience and the expertise to help us accelerate our northern valuation ambitions and capability,” said James Hewetson, head of Matthews & Goodman’s national valuation team. 

Liverpool-based mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy, Steven Hunt & Associates has appointed experienced project manager Martin Tunnicliffe, with the former Liverpool University graduate boasting more than four decades worth of experience in the industry.

Mr Tunnicliffe joins the firm having recently been the director at engineers, Patrick Parsons, and before that, head of building services at Cheshire-based DarntonB3 Building Services.

He said: “You only have to look at Steven Hunt & Associates’ project portfolio and be aware of its reputation to know what this company is all about – a growing firm, with its people firmly at the heart of what it does, and what it does so well.”

GC Business Finance has made three new appointments, expanding its team across the North West.

Jala Daly has been appointed as business development manager, Raj Dehel takes on the role of senior loan manager for NPIF (Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund) and Glenn Hyde has been appointed as loan manager for start-up loans.

Ms Daly joins GC Business Finance following 10 years at Barclays Bank in Oxford where she started as a cashier, Mr Dehel will look to support SME businesses across the North West with a focus on Lancashire and Cumbria. He will work alongside Ms Daly and Mr Hyde, who will be responsible for managing the start-up loans team.

Chris Hutchison, head of lending at GC Business Finance, said: “We are excited to be welcoming Jala, Raj and Glenn to the team and look forward to seeing the huge difference they’ll make to helping more businesses access funding across the North.”