News

National Apprenticeship Week: Spotlight on Samuel Foxwell

Samuel Foxwell - an inspiring 20-year-old Trainee Income Officer in the final stages of completing his Apprenticeship with Pinnacle Group. Read more about his story, in recognition of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, below.

Samuel’s backstory  

When Samuel left school with a few GCSEs, he was determined to turn his life around, and pursued a Business Level 3 course whilst re-sitting the GCSEs required at college. Samuel then faced another hurdle when the college was forced to cancel his course due to the pandemic. 

Samuel said: “When my course was cancelled, I started looking on the Government website for Apprenticeships. The Income Officer Apprenticeship stood out to me because, after growing up around social housing myself, I knew how important my role would be.”

Finding a new opportunity  

In September 2020, Samuel entered an Apprenticeship with Pinnacle Group, and has progressed to the role of Trainee Income Officer.

Samuel, who is based at Pinnacle Group’s Brockley office, said: “Some parts of the role can be challenging – as in my day-to-day role, I speak with residents that are struggling to pay their bills. Sometimes, this will mean gathering documents and escalating a case where someone can’t make payments for a long period of time. Other times, I’m able to genuinely help a family in need by pointing them to information and resources and help them with applications to receive additional benefits that could really make all the difference. I find this really rewarding.” 

Samuel, who supports residents in the Lewisham, is due to complete his course in June 2022. He spends four days working in the office and one day completing coursework each week, which works well for his style of learning:

“I find that the balance with practical experience works best for me – and people forget that everyone has different learning styles. I have good mentors around me that are always on-hand to help, who share their customer service expertise and support me in handling difficult conversations. I’m building some very transferable skills, and the on-the-job learning keeps me engaged. Pinnacle Group has clear values and structure, which has also helped me to progress faster.” 

A bright future  

“In the future, I want to continue to develop my skills and advance my position to give back to the community and help more families. My message is, if you’re told you can't do something, even if you don’t have any GCSE’s - don’t listen to them and take every opportunity you get to better yourself. My opportunity came in a one-hour interview with Pinnacle Group.” 

Alison Wade, Head of Income and Performance at Pinnacle Group said “Samuel demonstrates excellent customer service skills and brings a great energy which puts residents at ease. He will go the extra mile to make sure that residents’ needs are met, and we are proud of his progression to date. We see great potential in Samuel, and he is a shining example of how apprenticeships can provide a springboard for growth and opportunity - by offering a unique learning experience which results in a qualification that lasts a lifetime.” 

National Apprenticeship Week: Spotlight on Amber McCoy

HARD-WORKING Assistant Property Manager, Amber McCoy, is a rising star in Pinnacle Group - and a huge inspiration after quickly working her way up since starting her career as an Apprentice in 2020. In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, we take a look at her story.

Joining as a mum-of-three came, Amber started her Apprenticeship later in life following a five-year career break to look after her children. Since starting as an Apprentice Housing Assistant in November 2020, she then quickly progressed - being promoted two times - and is now revelling in her role as Assistant Property Manager for Asquith Court in Lewisham.

Amber’s backstory  

Amber was studying for a full-time law degree in 2014 when she discovered she was pregnant in her final year with eldest child, now 12. She had five years away from work after her second child, and now also has four-year-old. 

“I was keen to get back into work,” said Amber, who had also worked as a Customer Services Officer in a bank for seven years during her career. “The Pinnacle Apprenticeship became available on the Lewisham Council website - and an opportunity at the Brockley office came up.” 

Joining Pinnacle Group  

Amber took the plunge and applied for an Apprenticeship with Pinnacle Group, she said: “Being a social housing tenant myself and having dealt with landlords, I know what good and bad service looks like and I just wanted to give back and be able to provide a good service. And I really enjoyed interacting with different people in my previous role - in a way it is similar to housing because you are dealing with people who have different stories and issues.” 

Part of her degree included studying property law which led to an interest in shared ownership and leasehold. With Pinnacle Group, she was also taking one day a week to study for her level 3 qualification in housing management and was also able to take a break in her Apprenticeship.  

A rising star  

After seven months in her Apprenticeship, Amber was then offered a permanent position as a Housing Assistant, then later joined the Pinnacle Spaces division to assist the Property Manager. 

In her current role supporting Asquith Court – which has 67 properties, 40 general needs and 27 shared ownership properties – she has the added responsibility for building maintenance. She looks after resident requests from arranging for repairs to supporting residents with access to utilities.  

Amber, said: “I have really enjoyed working with Pinnacle Group. My colleagues and my line manager are all so friendly and supportive. My career here has progressed twice in two years and the learning has been very flexible. This has all worked so well with my family life too. If you put in the work and do well everyone will boost you.  Don’t be put off by apprenticeships if you’re considering your options at a later stage in your career - it has been wonderful for me.” 

Kate Donovan, Head of Operations: Homes at Pinnacle Group and Amber's line manager said: “Amber is proof of how an Apprenticeship can start at any life stage and lead to an excellent career. Encouraging people like Amber back to the workplace and seeing them thrive is so rewarding and we are proud of all the different life experience that our colleagues bring.” 

Pinnacle Grows Affordable Rented and Shared Ownership Property Management Portfolio in London

Growing its presence in the capital as a leading integrated provider of residential management services, Pinnacle Spaces has been appointed by CBRE Investment Management’s UK Affordable Housing Fund to provide all management functions for the new Lewisham Exchange, Asquith Court development.

With 40 social tenanted and 27 shared ownership homes, Asquith Court provides much needed affordable housing in South London. Pinnacle Spaces is a Registered Provider of Social Housing with the Regulator of Social Housing.  

Pinnacle Spaces is also part of wider Pinnacle Group and commission their homes division to provide comprehensive housing management services including lettings, repairs and estate, tenancy and leasehold management services. The letting process is in accordance with a Nominations Agreements with Lewisham Council and includes conducting accompanied viewings and sign up.    

With a focus on reinvesting into the local community, at least 25% of Pinnacle’s on-site workforce at Asquith Court will be employed from within the London Borough of Lewisham. Furthermore, as part of its commitment to providing people-first community spaces, Pinnacle has designated a communal amenity area for the use of residents and will liaise closely with them to develop how best they would like to utilise it.    

Kate Donovan, Head of Operations: Homes at Pinnacle Group said “This is the first development for Pinnacle Spaces and will add to the large and growing management portfolio of mixed tenure homes that the Pinnacle Group has across London and the rest of the UK. This is the first of what we hope will be a strong pipeline of opportunities to work with CBRE Investment Management and play our part in addressing the need for high quality, affordable homes across the country.

“We are passionate about providing excellent property and leasehold management services, with an ethos of making a positive impact on the lives of the tenants who live in our managed developments. We look forward to welcoming our new Asquith Court residents and being part of this very vibrant community in the heart of Lewisham.” 

Asquith Court launched in December 2021 and form part of a wider Lewisham Exchange development, which includes 600 student accommodation dwellings.    

2021 Year in Review

At Pinnacle Group, we are proud to have launched our first “Transforming Communities, Changing Lives” annual review, which looks back at the fantastic Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) progress made in 2021, to create a lasting legacy in the communities we serve.

Last year, Pinnacle’s ESG journey started with the introduction of a new ESG framework, which underpinned our vision and purpose. Our objectives have been set out across four pillars: “Protect Our Planet”, “Our People”, “Community Impact” and “Responsible Business”.

To meet our new framework goals, we acted in 2021 to deliver against our ambitious plan – the results of which are now revealed in our first ESG annual review. Some of the review highlights include:

• Kickstarting Project Electrify – increasing the number of electric vehicles in our fleet.
• A new approach to retrofitting buildings such as the 70% energy reduction across Swindon schools by switching to LED lighting.
• Launching a first-of-its-kind Responsible Procurement Policy, in collaboration with our preferred commercial cleaning supplier, BCHS (Bunzl Cleaning and Hygiene Services).
• Embracing tools and technologies, such as our Voice of the Customer and FM Client Feedback programmes and a new supply chain management system.
• Engaging with the communities which we serve, in Myatts Field, London, we devised and hosted six weeks of free structured sport coaching followed by a healthy lunch for 50 young people. 
• Introducing a new supply chain management system which captures more detailed information on our supply partners.

Peregrine Lloyd, Group Chief Executive, said: “I am incredibly proud to launch our ESG Annual Review to showcase the activity that has taken place across our Group over the last year. This Annual Review serves as an important waypoint on our ESG journey.

“It provides us the opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made, to challenge our approach and to find ways in which we can extend and strengthen the impact we make. It was six months ago that we launched our new ESG framework, and I’m pleased to see the outcome of our new approach to capturing and measuring the impact of our collective efforts in this review. Looking forward to 2022, I am excited by what I believe we can achieve."

To learn more about the positive impact Pinnacle has had on the environment, communities, and training and development, you can read the full report here.

Celebrating our people and culture at The Pinnacles

Our 2021 staff awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of our colleagues from across the Group.

Pinnacle Group’s annual staff awards, 'The Pinnacles', celebrate our people and our culture, acknowledging those that have embodied the spirit of what it means to be a Pinnacle employee. This means living our values, making an impact and striving to make Pinnacle a company that we can all be proud to work for. Pinnacle strives to transform communities and change lives, and this ethos runs through everything we do. But it’s our most important asset, our people, that is at the heart of this vision.

For our 2021 awards, each Pinnacles finalist received a cash prize of £300, £1000 goes to our five category winners and £2,000 for our Employee of the Year.

It was our honour to give a virtual drumroll and present the awards to:

Doreen is a Cook in Charge with an absolute wealth of experience spanning 26 years. Working in a primary school, some of her young customers can be difficult to impress and are fussy with food. However, with her passion for cooking, preparing meals from scratch and making food look appealing and interesting, Doreen has won them over. The drawings and testimonials from Years 3 and 4 are tangible proof of how Doreen works hard and puts her creativity into play to make a real difference.

Michelle Lee, Doreen’s manager says: “I only wish I could clone Doreen. Her knowledge and expertise in the role she holds is considerable. She is great to work with and a shining example.” This high praise is echoed by our client at Rufford Park Primary School in Leeds: “I have been nothing but impressed with the job she does and the service she provides. From the outset, Doreen gave me the immediate impression that she worked at the highest of standards and sought excellence in everything that she did. Mutual respect, trust and collaboration have been at the centre of her work ever since as she continues to provide meals to the highest standard.” 

Congratulations to Doreen and our other Employee of the Year finalists:  

• Kwaku Asimeng, Cleaning Operative
• Armant Tona, Grounds Maintenance Operative
• Andrew Atkin, Cleaner
• Sonia Leon-Alvarez, Property Manager

Since Neil started working with Pinnacle in April 2019, as the Contract Manager for East of England, he has been an inspiration to his team, enabling them to flourish under his leadership.

Neil accepts the challenge of managing over 140 sites with pride and determination, consistently promoting and delivering a high quality service through leading by example. Empowering his team is a key element of Neil’s management style, and this encourages and this generates trust and a creative work environment.

It is clear that Neil goes over and above what is expected of him, as has been clearly demonstrated by his checking on the welfare of our elderly residents through the pandemic. 

Congratulations to Neil and our other Manager of the Year finalists:  

• Minal Hazisa, Contract Manager
• Ramesh Raikundal, Client Liaison Manager

Nothing is too much to ask the Direct Maintenance team. The small team, led by Graham Callis, consistently goes above and beyond their daily duties to deliver an excellent experience. They are a fine example of our Pinnacle values and wear their ‘Pinnacle badge’ with pride. No job or query is a problem to them and they are always willing to lend a hand.

The team are on a 24-hour call-out rota and attend sites at short notice when there are unforeseen issues. They often need to access and carry out key tasks at education sites which is facilitated by Graham and his team’s flexible attitude and their willingness to  carry out their work over weekends to avoid any disruption to the client and students.  

Pinnacle Direct Maintenance go the extra mile and they thoroughly deserve the accolade of Pinnacle Group’s Team of the Year.

Congratulations to the Direct Maintenance team and our other Team of the Year finalists:  

• Lexington Gardens Concierge
• Bidding and Growth Team

Gordon has worked with Pinnacle for six years as Estate Manager and clearly loves his job and genuinely cares about the residents in his development. He has been nominated by numerous people and is the deserving winner of the Extra Mile Award. Gordon has commented that he couldn’t have succeeded without the support of his amazing team.

Congratulations to Gordon and our other Extra Mile Award finalists:  

• Elaine Ball, Caretaker
• Lee Moorcroft, Mechanic

Jack and Katie have been working together for just over a year and have developed and managed the deployment of the first-of-its-kind innovation in the district heating and billing space. Pinnacle Power’s new open-protocol and cloud based Pay-as-you-go heat product ‘MBus PAYG’.

They have challenging the status quo of expensive, licensed prepay systems to deliver this hardware and software innovation by involving clients in the development journey and understanding their needs; delivering excellence by bringing to market a product that is unchallenged in terms of cost and functionality.

The solution has impressed clients so much so that some are rolling it out on all of their new sites and are looking to retrofit existing ones too.

Congratulations to Jack and Katie and our other Innovation Award finalists:  

• Simona Misukiatie, Project Manager
• Performance Management Team

Sam has only been with Pinnacle since February 2021 yet has already proved his passion for meeting residents and providing opportunities for the community. Sam has shown that the residents are at the heart of all we do and that their involvement and voice is an essential element of bringing the community together.

Sam has extended his ‘can-do’ attitude to create community development strategies on each of his projects, adding value to the work that Pinnacle does as well as delivering £30K of external funding to help deliver workshops for the young people living on our estates.

Congratulations to Sam and our other Community Impact Award finalists:  

• Helen Regan, Housing Officer
• Rawdon Littlemore Team

In addition to the substantial reduction in energy consumption achieved for the Swindon Schools Project, Paul Dewberry and the team, have achieved many other significant results.  The team sourced a UK manufacturer for the lighting system to ensure that the carbon footprint was further reduced by using local suppliers. 

The standout feature of the team’s actions is how they have succeeded in improving the overall learning experience for students, through this project, which positively impacts the overall drive to reduce carbon . The enhanced lighting system has improved overall wellbeing and mental health for the learners, as students are able to study in well-lit rooms, and this is having a hugely positive impact on their education. This is a fantastic result from a project which at first set out to save energy! 

Congratulations to Swindon LED Team and our other Protect Our Planet Award finalists:  

• Sarah Russell, Procurement Manager
• Michael Hogg, Asset Adoption & Commissioning Manager

Liz believes in teamwork and leads her team to be the best they can be. She communicates with them regularly and works alongside them daily to iron out any issues and ensure service delivery is at its highest. This has led to Liz and the team being recognised with several AM Services Group colleague and team awards.

The Recipharm site’s Engineering Team Leader summed up Liz’s vital contribution during a coronavirus-impacted time, saying: “We couldn’t do it at all without you. We know that the current situation makes it difficult for you as a team, and the additional services you have provided have been exceptional and always with a friendly smile and ‘can-do’ attitude.”

Congratulations to Liz and the other finalists:  

• Chris Simms
• Gary Yates

Zoe proved herself an absolute star over the year, achieving 38% of the company’s Google reviews in 2021 and receiving a total of 54, 5-Star reviews! She has continuously and consistently gone above and beyond her daily duties to deliver an outstanding level of customer service to our landlords and tenants in a time that has been particularly difficult for many.

Congratulations to Zoe and the other finalists:  

• Abbie Jay Cronin
• Gillian Parris

Unfortunately, The Pinnacles awards event, which was due to be held in December at the prestigious VSC military members club in the heart of London, was cancelled due to the tightening of COVID restrictions. However, since then our ExCom team and senior managers from AM Services Group and Orchard & Shipman have been honoured to visit finalists to present them with certificates and trophies.

We look forward to celebrating in person with all our finalists and colleagues this year. 

Pinnacle Group support the Great British Tech Appeal

During December we have been busy collecting used smartphones and tablets from across the Pinnacle Group.  With support from our mobile phone provider, Redsquid, we have donated over 130 pre-loved devices to Vodafone who will work with charity partners Barnardo's and Business to Schools to distribute the refurbished devices to individuals, families and schools who have been identified as most in need. 

“Christmas is a wonderful time for giving and we have been pleased to support Vodafone's fantastic initiative. This appeal aligns closely with our social values, as engaging with communities is what we do each day. The devices that will be distributed to those in need will be so beneficial and fits in so well with the ethos behind our own work, which is to help those living and working in the areas we provide our services to.”

Sarah Russell
Group Procurement Manager at Pinnacle Group

More about how we have been giving back, as well as our work to ‘Protect Our Planet’, ‘Our People’, ‘Community Impact’ and ‘Responsible Business’, can be seen in our 2021 ESG Review. 

Pinnacle Charges Towards Net Zero With Fleet of Electric Vehicles

Pinnacle Group is delivering on its “Project Electrify” ambitions to roll out an all-electric fleet of service vehicles. Pinnacle looks to transition almost 500 Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) from the current diesel-power to all-electric - starting with its first 33 models of the Nissan eNV200.

Pinnacle, which has more than 100 locations and 3,000 staff nationally, is accelerating its efforts to build a carbon neutral fleet under its Carbon Net Zero road map. Every vehicle due for renewal or added to the fleet will be considered for an electric vehicle replacement where possible.

Working closely with Fleet Alliance, a national fleet management company, there are also plans for a smaller tranche of Citroen e-Berlingos and electric replacement Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in the new year. The move follows a comprehensive six-month plan to identify the vehicles suitable for electric replacements.

Pinnacle’s group procurement manager, Sarah Russell, said: “We are pleased to take the first step as part of our Project Electrify strategy, which has been well-researched and formalised by a dedicated cross-sectional group of colleagues.

“Building on Pinnacle’s ESG ‘Protect our Planet’ commitment, we will now be pressing ahead with the transition ambition in earnest - and we are planning to equip each of our core locations with the required charging infrastructure. This will start with the installation of 10 charging points at Tulse Hill, South London, in the new year.”

Pinnacle Group has been an outsourced client of Glasgow-based Fleet Alliance since late 2017 and benefits from several services and solutions.

Fleet Alliance CEO, Andy Bruce, commented: “Pinnacle Group is to be applauded for its decision to transition to an all-electric fleet in a structured, disciplined and well thought through manner.

“We will, of course, be with them all the way to ensure that the transition is a complete success and plays a key role in helping them achieve their zero net carbon ambitions.”

The vehicles will operate on four year/68,000-mile operating cycle, which will allow Pinnacle to better-record the long-term carbon savings. With full maintenance packages, drivers will be provided with electric charge cards, while those who park their vehicles at home overnight can also opt for home chargers.

Karen Reid, Corporate Sales Manager for Fleet Sales at Nissan, said: ‘‘We are naturally delighted that Pinnacle has chosen Nissan as a partner on its electrification journey. This announcement is a great way to round off an incredible year for e-NV200 in the fleet arena.

‘‘Pinnacle are clearly serious about making a success of their decarbonisation plans and the team there deserve huge credit for their efforts. We wish them every success.’’

Pinnacle Group lands contract with LaSalle for temporary accommodation

Pinnacle Group has commenced management of a scheme which provides 80 temporary accommodation homes in Newman Street, Westminster on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management. 

From the 1 October 2021, Pinnacle has been providing property management services to the temporary accommodation scheme which provides 84 bed spaces within 80 separate apartments. Each apartment is self-contained and includes a private bathroom and kitchenette.

As managing agent, Pinnacle delivers full management and maintenance services including 24/7 onsite provision.   After a competitive process, Pinnacle was awarded a 3 and a half -year contract with possible extensions. 

In support of LaSalle and Pinnacle’s strong ESG credentials, Pinnacle has committed to meet specific sustainability targets, in both the supply of data and information, along with identifying opportunities to improve the environmental impact of the scheme. 

During the duration of the contract Pinnacle will be working closely with homeless charity, The Passage, to support residents into transitioning into permanent accommodation and sustaining tenancies successfully.  

“We are delighted to be working with Pinnacle Group and look forward to developing our relationship with one of the UK’s leading housing managers.”
James Hart
Asset Manager at LaSalle Investment Management
“We’re delighted to have been successful in our tender for the management of Newman Street in the heart of Westminster. This latest win gives us an exciting opportunity to build a long-term preferred supplier relationship with a new blue-chip client in the case of LaSalle. It also allows us to continue to provide vital management services to the residents of Westminster City Council; a role we have been fulfilling for over 25 years.”
Ollie Miller
Director at Pinnacle Group

Pinnacle LED the Way for Swindon Schools

PINNACLE GROUP, a leading national facilities management (FM) provider, is proud to be working with seven schools in Swindon to reduce energy consumption by an estimated 60% - 80% per annum by switching to LED lightbulbs.  

The energy efficient lighting replacement initiative is part of Pinnacle’s commitment to improve sustainability and deliver long term value for the school buildings managed by its local FM team. 

So far, over 6,000 light fittings have been replaced with state-of-the-art LED lighting as part of this energy saving project. Working with lighting specialists WILA, who have partnered with Pinnacle to install the LED bulbs in the schools over the past six months, it is predicted that around 260 tonnes of CO2 will be saved every year across the seven schools.  

Furthermore, based on the energy consumption savings and the capital cost of replacing the fittings, it is estimated that the project would have paid for itself in under four years. The schools that have benefited from the project include Abbey Park School, Red Oaks School, Uplands School, Brimble Hill School, Nova Hreod School, Orchid Vale School and Moredon School – all of which are primary, secondary, or Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools. 

“Pinnacle consistently strives to enhance the energy efficiency of the buildings that we maintain. This project proves that a small but significant change can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective, which is paramount when working towards a more sustainable future.”
Paul Dewberry
Regional Operations Manager, Pinnacle Group
"WILA was delighted to be appointed to upgrade the lighting for seven schools across Swindon. We fulfilled this by replacing T5+T8 lamps with LED solutions, upgrading 6,000 luminaires in total. We took responsibility for supply, installation and commissioning of the lighting, as well as partnering with Lumicom to ensure disused luminaires, batteries and lamps were recycled. The new luminaires are now running at 80% and have been integrated into the onsite DALI control system. WILA have delivered further energy savings by customising the control system to dim the luminaires by the windows and reduce Passive Infared (PIR) time.”
Jon Grzbiela
Business Development, WILA

Pinnacle is a leading FM provider for the education sector and is currently serving 220 primary and secondary schools, academies and universities. Pinnacle plans to roll out similar projects, in the near future, to significantly reduce energy consumption across a wide range of buildings and facilities. This forms part of Pinnacle’s recently launched ESG Framework which has been developed to make a positive difference to the communities Pinnacle supports.  

To learn more about Pinnacle Group and its commitment to ESG here. 

Pinnacle Group Acquires AM Services Group

Pinnacle Group expands facilities management expertise and acquisitional growth drive with purchase of AM Services Group

TODAY, Pinnacle Group has announced that it has acquired AM Services Group (AMSG) in a deal that extends its service capacity, technical skill set and expert knowledge across new FM sectors including retail, manufacturing, and chemical industries. This acquisition expands Pinnacle’s service footprint across the North of England and Midlands as well as bolstering its business-to-business offer.

Importantly, this acquisition also enhances Pinnacle’s ability to deliver holistic seamless services to a broader range of communities in accordance with their commitment to community stewardship.

Established in 2001, AMSG is a Lancashire-headquartered business which employs 750+ people. It has a loyal client base with an impressive 96% business retention rate.

AMSG’s Greg O’Brien, Managing Director; Ashley Kirk, Commercial Director; and Neil Cooper, Operations Director will all remain with the business to focus on continuing to deliver growth and service excellence. This senior management team will fully integrate the AMSG business with Pinnacle over the next 12 months. Current CEO and Founder Adrian Cresswell will be retiring from the company.

The acquisition provides AMSG’s existing and new clients with enhanced value through wider access to technical skills and innovative service solutions and will support Pinnacle’s existing plans to optimise new FM growth opportunities. This includes penetration of the large-scale UK catering market by building on AMSG’s recent landmark contract win with a leading Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer.

“Pinnacle prides itself on delivering the very best FM services and the acquisition of AMSG bolsters that further. Both organisations have enviable reputations for delivering consistently high levels of customer service. In tandem with shared customer-led service values, our joint track record of longstanding, trusted client relationships and recurring revenue, puts us in good stead for continuing to strengthen and grow Pinnacle.”

Peregrine Lloyd
Chief Executive of Pinnacle Group
"After 22 years heading up AM Services Group, I have decided to retire from the company. It has been an amazing privilege to run and develop this business during my tenure and given me immense pride. I would like to thank all the people that have helped me develop the business along the way, your dedication and commitment has been faultless. I am confident that Pinnacle and the AMSG management team will work well together, given that they foster the same commitment to delivering high levels of customer service and staff development. The aligning of these two companies offers many opportunities for those working within the business.”

Adrian Cresswell
CEO and Founder of AMSG
“Pinnacle’s clients and customers will benefit greatly from this acquisition. Our wider geographical spread, broader FM service scope and ability to seamlessly integrate service provision across more FM sectors will ensure that Pinnacle remains top of its game. The technical expertise that AMSG will bring will ensure that we continue to innovate in terms of our service models to better meet client and customer needs.”

Neil Fergus
Managing Director FM of Pinnacle
“Adrian has built the AMSG brand with pride and passion which I am sure he will throw into his next ventures. It is rare to find two companies that share similar people focussed values and going forward I am looking forward to working with everyone at Pinnacle, sharing best practices that will underpin our growth, benefit our clients and develop our teams.”

Greg O’Brien
Managing Director of AMSG

Earlier this month Pinnacle announced it had acquired residential and social housing specialists Orchard & Shipman, expanding its Homes business nationwide.

Rebecca McCann, Associate in the Corporate team at Forbes Solicitors advised on the deal, alongside Rachel Marsden at MHA Moore and Smalley and Charlotte Potts and Kaine Smith at Rickitt Mitchell.

Pinnacle Group acquires Orchard & Shipman

ANNOUNCED today, Pinnacle Group, one of the UK’s leading multi-tenure residential service providers, is expanding its geographical footprint and service capability nationwide through the acquisition of residential and social housing specialists Orchard & Shipman.  This acquisition will integrate the whole of Orchard & Shipman within Pinnacle, including their Registered Provider (Orchard & Shipman Homes), and will continue to be led by Chris Shipman, Executive Chairman. 

Orchard & Shipman brings over 30 years’ experience and expertise in the provision of the highest quality residential management services to public and private sector landlords and portfolio owners nationwide. 

With a mixed-tenure residential management portfolio of over 80,000 homes across the UK, the strategic acquisition of Orchard & Shipman further boosts Pinnacle’s already significant sector expertise and capability whilst benefitting existing as well as new customers and clients.

The deal immediately strengthens Pinnacle’s capacity to deliver step-change housing solutions. This includes delivery of the 49,000-home National Accommodation Management Services contract - secured by Pinnacle in June - on behalf of Defence Infrastructure Organisation (part of the Ministry of Defence). It also includes the £85m funding project, devised and secured by Orchard & Shipman in August in partnership with London Borough of Bromley, to provide much-needed permanent affordable homes and to manage them over a 50-year period.

“I am delighted to able to announce this strategic acquisition for Pinnacle. Both companies have a long history as trusted housing service providers and a complementary client base across public and private sectors. We have shared values and heritage and look forward to meeting our collective goals of providing even better value, more service innovation and extra customer focus as we continue to grow under the Pinnacle umbrella.”

Peregrine Lloyd
Pinnacle Group Chief Executive
“I am delighted to be joining an organisation that has the same high standards and values we have striven to deliver over our 30 years in business and very confident that our customers and employees will be in safe hands. Our businesses have many complementary skills and I look forward to helping to deliver the exciting projects we already have in the pipeline."

Chris Shipman
Executive Chairman of Orchard & Shipman

Claire Kober joins Notting Hill Genesis board

Claire Kober, Managing Director, Homes at Pinnacle Group has been appointed as a board member at Notting Hill Genesis.

In early September, Claire joined the board of Notting Hill Genesis, one of the largest housing association in London and the south east, to support their aim of providing more of the homes desperately needed in London.

Claire oversees Pinnacle Group’s housing and property management contracts and sits on Pinnacle’s Executive Committee. She works closely with local government, institutional investors and developers.

On taking on the new role, Claire said: “I believe the housing association sector has a vital role to play in providing individuals and families the security of a decent home. As one of the largest players in the sector with an impressive track record, ambitious mindset and focus on London – a city with huge housing need – I’ve long admired Notting Hill Genesis.

"I’m particularly keen to contribute to discussions on the delivery of social purpose in a modern age and play a role in driving the organisation forward at a time characterised by both great challenges and opportunities.”

Claire will serve on the Boards of Notting Hill Genesis, Notting Hill Home Ownership and SpringBoard Two Housing Association.  She is a member of the housing association’s Audit and Risk Committee and chair of the Operations Committee.