Press Releases

Lauren Docksey joins expanding Portixol Relocations business

Portixol Relocations have appointed Lauren Docksey as their new Business Relationship Manager. Portixol, who are based at Darley Abbey Mills in Derby, offer home finding and relocation services to companies and individuals across the UK.

Lauren joins the business to manage key client relationships following a period of rapid growth at the firm.

In recent months, Portixol have attracted new clients in Cheshire, Wiltshire, East Anglia and the East and West Midlands – as well as from Derby itself. The growth has been overseen by Managing Director Mark Averill, who himself joined the business in May 2015. Mr Averill stated that “We have received glowing recommendations from companies including Derby-based Ford and Stanley and this has given other businesses the confidence to work with us. By finding new employees a home and helping them quickly settle into the area, they hit the ground running in their new job straight away. Employers have found a winning formula when we work closely with their recruitment teams and Lauren’s remit will be to enhance this benefit for employers”.

Miss Docksey was previously the wedding and events co-ordinator at a local employer and Carl Bridge, owner of Portixol Relocations, is ebullient about the new recruit. “We’ve known Lauren for a while and I have always been impressed with her professional, calm and personable manner. Lauren is tailor-made for this role and I’ve been hugely impressed during the two relocations that we worked together on in Milton Keynes last week. Our sister company The Birchover Residences will also benefit from Lauren’s experience when we open our apartment-hotel at the Bridgford Hall wedding venue next Spring”.

Lauren takes over the role from Rebecca Hewitt, who has spent a placement year with the company as part of her studies towards a Business Management degree at Nottingham Trent University. Mark Averill was full of praise for Rebecca, commenting “Rebecca joined the business in our embryonic stages and has been pivotal in helping us to define and build our brand. Rebecca worked tirelessly to attract new businesses and carry out relocations. It is credit to her professionalism and friendly manner that many of our clients, as well as us, are sorry to see her return to university for her final year. We’re pleased that Rebecca has indicated she would like to return to us next year as we continue to grow”.

Portixol Relocations is part of The Cirena Group, which includes The Birchover Residences, Birchover Sales & Lettings and Azure Cleaning & Maintenance Limited.

25th July 2016

Press Releases

Cirena group adds another stellar recruit to team

Derby-based Cirena Group has added Laura Etheridge to their senior management team.

Cirena – which is the parent company of The Birchover Residences, Birchover Sales and Lettings, Portixol Relocations and Azure Cleaning & Maintenance – has group headquarters located at the historic Darley Abbey Mills complex.

Laura joins the team as Business Development Manager, but with a remit to work on a wide range of activities across all of the Cirena brands. Lisa Bridge co-owns Cirena with her husband Carl and commented “We are absolutely thrilled to have attracted someone of Laura’s calibre. She is a fantastic all-rounder and even in Laura’s first few weeks, she will be working on things as diverse as our operational processes, social media, brand guidelines and playing a key part in a major project looking to enhance our culture and high-growth strategy”.

Laura will combine this role with her own business, Hi Tea, which is a company supplying a diverse range of teas which are expertly blended by Laura. Hi Tea already supplies Oliver’s Kitchen on Friar Gate and the Derby Conference Centre.

And, together with Mark Averill – managing director of Portixol Relocations – Laura will continue to run the Derby Networking Club.

Carl Bridge is delighted at Laura’s appointment and stated “We have known Laura for some time and we are all really excited to be working together as we continue to build the brands under the Cirena umbrella. We recruited leaders for of each of our businesses in 2015 and I was confidently saying then that we are building a team comprised of some of the brightest and most talented young business people in Derby. Laura definitely fits that description and will work closely with Lisa and myself across the businesses to drive them forward.”

4th April 2016

Press Releases

Local businesses collaborate to reinvigorate the Liversage Arms

A collaboration between several Derby-based businesses and the Liversage Trust charity has given a new lease of life to a well-loved building. The former Liversage Arms public house has been converted into six apartments which will be the latest property in The Birchover Residences portfolio.

Located on Nottingham Road, on the northern edge of Derby city centre, The Birchover Residences Liversage House is available for long-term stays and is already fully booked until mid-May. Guests staying at the property are typically working for large organisations in Derby on contracts for several months at a time.

Paul McLocklin of Montague Architects created the vision and the plans for the property to be altered from it’s previous status as a public house into residential apartments. The work was carried out by Derwent Valley Construction and overseen by members of The Liversage Trust.

Commenting on the challenges faced during the restoration phase Andrew Stone, Managing Director of Derwent Valley Construction, explained “The condition of the ground and the age of the foundations at this historic property caused some major challenges. However, with the Company’s experience of refurbishing older buildings and the co-operation of the entire team the problems were successfully overcome. This is a project to be proud of and a handsome addition to the historic fabric of the City.”

The result is a fine example of modern living housed within a beautiful and important building which is familiar to many as part of Derby’s city centre landscape. The transition of use was marked by an event held in late February, which was attended by representatives from Liversage Trust, Derwent Valley Construction, Montague Architects and The Birchover Residences. Also in attendance were several local councilors and other people who have an affinity with the building.

John Brittain, Chair of the Estates Committee for the Trust gave a detailed and interesting speech on the history of the property before presenting several members of the project board with a commemorative original beer pump from the old pub!

Carl Bridge, Director of The Birchover Residences gave a nod to the past, whilst looking forward to the future when he said “We are extremely proud to be the custodians of this fine building.
We are hugely impressed with the quality of the finish, the layout and design of the apartments and the working relationship we’ve had with the entire team. Naturally, we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with The Liversage Trust on this and future projects”.

22nd March 2016

Lauren Docksey joins expanding Portixol Relocations business

Cirena group adds another stellar recruit to team

Local businesses collaborate to reinvigorate the Liversage Arms

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