Acorn expands its North West division

Acorn expands its North West division

Acorn, one of the UK’s leading recruitment and training agencies, has recently announced three promotions across its North West branches.

Ian Dunn, 28, from Penwortham, has worked with Acorn since 2006 in a number of consultancy roles, but has recently been promoted to Preston’s Branch Manager. With five years in the industry, Ian is looking to use his experience to develop Acorn’s existing sectors, including industrial and driving divisions, and also increase the geographical area the branch currently supplies.

Ian said: “Nationally, Acorn is growing all the time and I have been put in this position to ensure the Preston branch stays in line with this growth.

“Currently the branch works with clients across the area from Lancaster down to Wigan, and Blackpool over to Burnley, and we are steadily expanding this reach to enable more businesses to work with Acorn and thereby to increase the opportunities we are able to offer our candidates.”

New Branch Manager in Runcorn, Olwen Kilgannon, has also worked her way up through the Acorn ranks after starting in October 2005 as a Senior Consultant. Olwen, 32, from Widnes in Cheshire, has almost 12 years’ recruitment experience, with other roles including Trainee Recruitment Consultant, Commercial Consultant, and Senior Consultant with a commercial bias.

Olwen said: “I was here on the opening day of the Runcorn office and was responsible for the first temp out for the branch. I feel passionate about the success of Acorn in the Runcorn area and since my appointment to Branch Manager I have been working hard to continue its success by setting a good example, providing a good working environment and creating a team with the same desire to succeed.”

Christian Ash, 31, takes on the senior role of Regional Manager overseeing the four branches in the North and North Wales. Christian has nine years experience in the recruitment industry, with four of those years spent working with Acorn. His previous roles include Branch Manager of Acorn’s Preston branch and most recently managing the Runcorn branch.

Christian said: “All four branches achieved excellent 2010 performances in our core markets - industrial and commercial - and our plan is to build on these results and grow further in 2011.

“Due to this year’s success, there will be expansion of our current office locations, and with the addition of some specialist recruiters, Acorn North West and North Wales will be recruiting in new markets.”

Acorn’s Operations Director for the North West region, Alison Broderick, said: “We are delighted to have made these appointments in our Northern branches.

“Ian, Christian and Olwen are all ambitious individuals with excellent backgrounds in the industry, and having personally worked with them in their previous roles, I am confident they will achieve their goals for the coming year.”

Acorn acquired its Crewe branch, along with Hanley, from Advance Personnel in April 2007. The two branches underwent an extensive refurbishment in September of last year to complete the takeover.