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PRP widens skills net to diversify business
07.10.2005
PRP, the UK’s largest firm of housing architects, is today announcing several key promotions, underpinning the company’s strategy to broaden its pool of specialists as its business expands into new markets. The company has grown its staff base this year by over 15% and expects to continue growing at this rate in 2006.
Sarah Harrison, who joined PRP in February 2005 from the Notting Hill Housing Trust (NHHT), has been promoted to Associate Director within PRP’s Project Services group. Her experience as a former Deputy Director with NHHT is the perfect accompaniment to the team’s mix of project managers, cost consultants, building surveyors and specialist consultants. Reporting to Director Philip Murphy, Sarah will focus on stakeholder management and liaison and provide counsel on design and project management issues required in large-scale regeneration projects. Sarah’s experience of working in-house is also expected to enhance the collaboration between the design teams, contractors and housing associations.
Philip Murphy, Director, PRP Project Services, says: “Clients are increasingly looking for a single point of contact to guide and help them through complex issues such as the delivery of affordable housing through planning agreements, funding opportunities, community consultation, project planning and procurement. Sarah’s experience of working for a housing association is invaluable and adds another dimension to the breadth of skills we can offer clients. We are ideally placed to guide and support our clients on regeneration projects as we can leverage and pull experts from a broad spectrum of skills.”
Another significant appointment is the promotion of Anne-Marie Nicholson to the role of Associate Director within PRP’s specialist housing team, led by Director Roger Battersby. She joined PRP in 1997 and is a key member of the Special Needs Housing Group. A published author and architect, Anne-Marie specialises in specialist housing projects ranging from a dual registered care home and chapel for older people to special needs housing developments, day centres and care homes. Anne-Marie also specialises in producing feasibility reports for the redevelopment and remodelling of care homes and sheltered housing.
“Anne-Marie will play a vital role in helping our clients navigate and understand the ongoing reorganisation of the supported health and social care agendas, where new initiatives in funding, procurement and delivering of care are constantly evolving. Her experience and expertise in all aspects of specialist housing will continue to help us retain our leading position in providing the right solutions for this market,” commented Roger Battersby, Director, PRP.
PRP, which currently employs over 320 employees, has also promoted Andrew Mellor, Bhupinder Chawla, Kerem Cengiz, Claudia Riga de Spinoza, Ben Williamson, Julien Buttel, Alan Budden, Kim Robinson, Jeremy Poulter and Dan McCormack, to Associate level across its sustainability, regeneration, housing, interior design and mixed use and commercial groups.
PRP chairman, Barry Munday, says: “Our growth has been driven by bringing in new experts but also by nurturing the wealth of talent that already exists within the company. Our plan is certainly paying off as we have built a base of intelligent and creative professionals that possess independent thinking as well as a broad range of specialist skills. These promotions we’ve announced are an excellent example of the opportunities that exist within our practice. Our investment in training and people development is a key reason why we’ve been able to attract and retain great professionals.”