RUSSELL Taylor Group has appointed Gerard Lester to the new role of national business development manager to support the growth of its expanding Construction and Fit Out Division.

With 32 years’ experience supplying labour to many of the UK’s leading construction, shop-fitting and modular build contractors, he will work closely with recruitment teams at the company’s Burton Manor headquarters and those based at its offices in Manchester, Liverpool, London and Scotland.

Gerard, 50, joins Russell Taylor Group with a wealth of knowledge gained from working with some of the biggest names in the UK on commercial, retail, heritage, art and five-star hotel projects.

His appointment comes as the business accelerates its expansion plans to match the upturn in the UK’s construction output, major infrastructure projects and “green” activity to meet net zero targets in new build all contributing to sector growth.

Russell Taylor Group managing director Rob Kurton said: “Gerard joins us as our ambitious plans progress to grow the business even further this year and into 2023.

“Our core operating sectors in the technical, engineering, science, industrial and manufacturing industries are all targeted for growth but it’s in construction where skills and labour to help rebuild the economy are at the heart of our push to get the UK back to work.

“Here Gerard will be at the forefront of these moves, using his background, experience and great client relationships gained over many years working in blue chip settings.”

Gerard begins his new role as the construction and fit out industry predicts future growth despite the current backdrop of higher energy costs and material shortages. Key to pushing these upward trends is recruiting and developing a highly skilled workforce then retaining this top construction trade talent and construction managers along with a semi-skilled labour force.

He said: “The construction industry is showing remarkable signs of bounce-back and it’s a great time to be joining a recruitment market leader like Russell Taylor Group.

“Their family values, high levels of service and ‘old school’ approach to recruitment exactly match mine – it’s an industry where openness and integrity play such a major part in reaching clients’ expectations to create a skilled and stable workforce.

“The business has set its sights on a major expansion programme with construction and fit out at the centre of its plans. Jobs in this sector are vital to supporting regional and national growth and I look forward to working in partnership with our existing clients, identifying new markets and creating huge opportunities for us all as a revitalised construction industry takes the economy forward.”