The British Business Bank has appointed Sue Barnard to a new position as Senior Manager, UK Network for the North West.

The British Business Bank, the government-owned economic development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses, is establishing a UK Network, with team members based withineach of the English regions and the three Devolved Nations. The UK Network was originally announced as part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy in November 2017, with a remit to identify and help to reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across the UK.

The UK Network will help enhance business finance ecosystems across the UK so smaller businesses, wherever they are, can grow and prosper. It will also help the Bank develop a deeper understanding of small business finance markets in all parts of the UK so that, ultimately, the Bank can improve its support to smaller businesses everywhere.

Sue will represent the UK Network across the North West and will engage closely with business finance stakeholders in the region. She will be supporting Geoff Whiteland, the recently appointed UK Network Director, North of England and the Midlands.

Sue joined the Bank in 2016 as Senior Relationship Manager for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). Sue has also held similar positions in the last twenty years with the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub and the North West Development Agency, delivering a range of programmes to businesses across the North West.

Geoff Whiteland, UK Network Director, North of England and the Midlands said: “I am very happy to welcome Sue to the UK Network, where she will be able to build on her existing network in the North West to enhance and build our relationships with key SME finance stakeholders and to help identify and reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses.”

Sue Barnard, Senior Manager, UK Network said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining the newly created UK Network and look forward to continuing to work across the North West. I want to build lasting relationships across the region’s business finance ecosystem and ensure that smaller businesses are encouraged to explore the different finance options available to them.”

Manchester-based e-commerce and digital agency, Visualsoft has appointed Daniel Dixon to direct social media strategy as the company continues to grow.

As head of social media, and alongside an already-established team of social media professionals, Daniel will be responsible for scaling the company’s offering, overseeing social media marketing campaigns, developing content topics and managing day-to-day social media output.

Daniel has a wide array of experience, having worked at digital agencies for a diverse range of clients with a strong focus on paid social. In the past, he has undertaken projects with a clients such as PwC, Domino’s Pizza, Costa Coffee, as well as training SMEs in all aspects of digital technology.

Alongside his role at Visualsoft, Daniel is a goalkeeper for semi-professional Whitby Town FC and a part-time director of an autism charity.

Visualsoft has a growing team of over 300 staff who specialise in the design, build, support and marketing of online stores for retailers across the UK. TJ Hughes, Shoetique and Psyche are amongst the brands on the business’ ever-growing client list.

The company also operates a unique ‘Shared Success’ model which, unlike the industry norm, charges clients based on a percentage of their sales, instead of upfront and fixed fees.

Visualsoft opened 20 years ago as an innovative web developer and is still headquartered in Teesside – opening its current office in 2015. It has grown rapidly over the past two decades – now counting nearly 300 staff of digital specialists, with plans to grow this by at least a third in the next 12 months.

Talking of his ambitions for the role, Daniel said: “Visualsoft’s social offering is one of the fastest growing areas of the business and we’re already recognised for our expertise – but I’m hoping to boost these even further. My ambition is to grow our client base and develop the internal team to ensure our expertise is best utilised across all of our client accounts whilst raising our own profile.”

Dean Benson, Visualsoft CEO, added: “As our business grows. we are extremely pleased to be attracting top quality talent and Daniel is a great hire for us. As we celebrate the milestone of our 20th year in business, I am confident that he and his team can help us lay the foundations for another successful two decades!”

The Manchester office of national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has appointed Paul Davies to lead its Private Capital team.

He joins as partner bringing 20 years of experience assisting wealthy individuals, trustees, and executors with legal and tax issues.

Paul deals with all aspects of private client work with specialisms in estate planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and the use of onshore and offshore trusts, and other asset holding vehicles.

He is also regularly appointed as an independent professional executor and trustee by his clients.

Said Clarke Willmott managing director Anthony Fairweather: “Clarke Willmott has one of the leading Private Client teams in the UK and Paul’s appointment further bolsters our reputation and expertise.

“He is a highly regarded individual, known for building excellent relationships with his clients, and brings a wealth of experience servicing high net worth individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs.

“And with the recent addition of two new senior associates to the team, his appointment will undoubtedly help cement existing client relationships as well as establish new ones.”

Roy Crozier, head of the Manchester office, said: “This has been an exciting year for Clarke Willmott and Paul’s appointment bolsters the Manchester office offering with high quality lawyers.

“We have built upon our successful Corporate, IP, Employment, Litigation and Social Housing teams by adding excellent new partners and teams in Construction, Insolvency and Family Law.

“Our reputation in the city continues to grow and it is great to have a new Private Client team to further enhance the range of services that we provide to clients.”

Paul is currently the deputy-chair of the Manchester district branch of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

He is also a member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), a chartered tax adviser, and a chartered accountant (non-practising).

Paul is a joint author of one of the foremost books on Inheritance Tax – Ray & McLaughlin’s Practical Inheritance Tax Planning.

He is a contributor to the Tolley Guidance Service, published by LexisNexis, and is on the ‘LexisAsk’ panel of experts. He also tutors a paralegal training course in wills and estate administration, run by Central Law Training.

According to the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth guide Paul is considered “technically excellent and incredibly knowledgeable.” Another interviewee reveals: “He is our first choice for our private clients in Manchester, because he handles complex issues expertly, cuts to the chase and is never afraid of expressing his opinion honestly.”