WSP hands Dunbar UK role

WSP hands Dunbar UK role

WSP, the professional services consultant, has appointed Glasgow-based Pete Dunbar to the new post of deputy operations director for the company's UK structures arm.

Mr Dunbar has been with the company since 2006, most recently leading its Scottish structural business. The growth of that division has been underlined by several new appointments, including the arrival of John Cox from URS as the senior technical director in the team.

Matthew Petticrew has also joined the team as associate director from his role at Edinburgh-based Elliot & Company, where he developed specialist skills in historic buildings.

Mr Dunbar said: "This is an exciting time for me and for the wider structures business which is thriving both in Scotland and across the UK. We are seeing a real upturn in business at present with a significant increase in technical staff throughout the UK since last year and continued growth for the structures team in Scotland."

Campbell is SLTA chairman

DONALD Campbell, sales director at wine wholesaler Inverarity Morton (IM), has been announced as the new chairman of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA).

Mr Campbell, pictured, whose near 35-year career in the trade includes a 10-year stint as managing director of Forth Wines, will succeed Diageo's Peter Lederer at the SLTA's chairman's lunch on November 19.

SLTA chief executive Paul Waterson said Mr Campbell "will be a popular choice" as chairman. "He is a man with immense experience in our industry, and is highly respected by all," he said.

"I know Donald will bring his considerable expertise and enthusiasm to our association, and we thank his company, Inverarity Morton, for their support."

Mr Campbell said: "The SLTA is well governed and has a commanding voice in Holyrood, which has enabled it to successfully effect positive change to the benefit of the industry in Scotland as a whole. We have the ability to be even more effectual but only if members of the Scottish licensed trade become members of the SLTA.

New role for Ford at CITB

CITB, the UK's industry training board for construction, has named Phil Ford, pictured, as its new strategic partnerships director for Scotland.

Mr Ford will be the senior representative for CITB in Scotland in his new role, acting as its main point of contact for national and local government. In six-and-a-half-years with the organisation, Mr Ford had been responsible for several high-profile projects, including a £2 million joint investment strategy with the Scottish Government, CITB's skills action plan and National Skills Academy for construction in Scotland.

He said: "I am delighted to take up this new appointment. These are exciting times for construction in Scotland and I look forward to working with the industry to ensure it has the skilled workforce it needs to make the best of the improving economic climate."