Local Events

Jon Rouse

Chief Executive at City Of Stoke-On-Trent Council

Jon Rouse is Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Previously, he was Chief Officer at the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, co-ordinating the delivery of Greater Manchester’s strategy for the transformation of health and care services. Other previous roles include: - Director General for Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, Department of Health. - Chief Executive, London Borough of Croydon. - Chief Executive, Housing Corporation. - Chief Executive, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. He has also held a wide range of non-executive positions, including on the Board of the Department of Health and as Chair of Shaw Education MAT. He currently sits on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS Board as a partner member. He is the executive champion for children’s health. Jon is also currently the SOLACE national lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure and is a member of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.

Tom Wilmot

Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric

Tom has spent over 15 years in the property industry after achieving a first-class honours degree in Urban Land Economics. Tom started in the industry in an acquisition role for The Mansion Group, a PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) provider. During this role, Tom acquired over £100m of property assets for two open-ended property investment funds. After three years with The Mansion Group, Tom joined Crosslane, a property developer active in the PBSA sector across several European jurisdictions. Tom’s role was to manage two closed-ended property investment funds and to assist Crosslane with its expansion into mainland Europe. During Tom’s time at Crosslane, he acquired properties in France and Germany, and set up a business in the Netherlands that secured development sites in Amsterdam and Delft. After six years in the PBSA sector, Tom joined the development arm of the Robertson Group, a Scottish tier one contractor. Tom opened the Robertson Group’s Manchester office in 2016 and developed a 230-key hotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. In 2017, Tom joined Capital&Centric to grow its development team. Tom was made a Development Director in 2019 and Joint Managing Director in 2022. Iconic projects that Tom has led on include the Jenga Hotel in Manchester, The Eyewitness Works in Sheffield and the Goods Yard in Stoke-on-Trent.

Damien Holdstock

Senior Planning Manager at Indurent (formerly St Modwen Logistics)

Damien is Senior Planning Manager within the Development team at Indurent, and is responsible for promoting and securing planning permission across the company’s sites in the Midlands and North. He is involved in the ongoing delivery of Indurent Park Stoke Central, at Etruria Valley, as well as a number of other projects in Staffordshire. Damien worked in planning consultancy for over 15 years advising clients on major development schemes across a range of sectors with a particular focus on industrial and logistics development.

Jennie Hennessey

Regional Head Of Business Development - Midlands at Willmott Dixon Construction Limited

TBC

Rachel Wood

Growth Hub Manager at Staffordshire County Council

A business expert with vast experience in project management and business innovation has taken the helm at Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub. Rachel Wood has been appointed Growth Hub Manager and will oversee the organisation’s work supporting diverse businesses from start up to large established firms across the region to drive economic growth. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub is funded by the UK Government and acts as a focal point for businesses that aim to grow, by referring them to growth programmes and business networks as well as providing links to specialist information, advice and services. Rachel brings a deep-rooted working knowledge of the local business landscape to the position, alongside 25 years’ experience in roles including programme manager, business advisor and economic development officer. She said: “I’m delighted and excited to have been appointed Growth Hub Manager and look forward to working with the excellent team of committed experts who are on hand to support start-ups, SMEs and established businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.” “Throughout my career I have worked for various organisations, and this has helped me to build up my knowledge and channel my efforts to drive sustained growth. “Most recently I have been instrumental in helping SMEs to commercialise new products and services and move their business forward through innovation.

Mona Baig

Social Value Co-ordinator at Bowmer & Kirkland

Mona has extensive social value knowledge having joined Bowmer + Kirkland in 2022 as a Social Value Coordinator, predominantly working on private sector developments for the North West region. With a focus on supporting and creating opportunities for disadvantaged groups, Mona has worked with special interest groups to address modern slavery within the industry and has steered her projects to offer employment to individuals currently in the prison system who have Release of Temporary Licence. Mona is responsible for strategizing and implementing social value initiatives from the pre-construction stage all the way to project completion to create long-lasting legacies of positive change.

Willmott Dixon Construction Limited

Services: Builders, Construction, Refurbishment, Interior Fit-out

Willmott Dixon is a privately-owned contracting and interior fit-out group. They are passionate about our purpose: to deliver brilliant buildings, transform lives, strengthen communities and enhance the environment so our world is fit for future generations. ''We’re onsite building a new Student Village at University of Staffordshire’s main Stoke-on-Trent campus.''

Galliford Try

Services: Building, Infrastructure, Environment, FM & Specialist Services

Galliford Try is one of the UK's leading construction groups, working to improve the UK's built environment and delivering lasting change. They are attending the Stoke-on-Trent Big Buyers Brunch to meet suppliers and contractors within the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent area. 

BOWMER AND KIRKLAND LIMITED

Services: Construction, Developers

Bowmer and Kirkland have grown into one of the largest and most successful privately owned construction and development groups in the UK. Working with Capital and Centric developers on the Goods Yard, Bowmer and Kirkland is the principial contractor for this ongoing project. 

SEDDON CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

Services: Property Services, Engineering, Painting & Maintenance

Seddon provides end to end construction and development services for customers across the North West and Midlands regions. From planning and procurement, through to construction, fit-out and property services, we work with clients across multiple sectors including housing, care, education and retail, and both the public and private sectors.