Preston-based property and construction company Eric Wright Group has appointed Lesley McGregor as new managing director of its health and care business and has also promoted Wayne Ashton to director.

McGregor joins from Community Health Partnerships (CHP) where she worked for eight and a half years, six of which she held the position of regional property director across the Northwest and Northeast and Yorkshire. At CHP, Lesley was responsible for the property and asset management function of the LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) estate as well as being the national soft facilities management lead for £40 million worth of contracts from procuring the services to contract delivery.

Ashton, who has been with Eric Wright’s health and care division since 2014, initially joined as head of strategic planning and became LIFTCo director in 2019.

McGregor said: “It’s an exciting time to join the business working in partnership with the NHS and local authorities to support the delivery of clinical services across the Northwest. I was also incredibly impressed with the company’s excellent reputation as a business which creates profit for purpose, helping to enhance the lives of the people in the communities in which it operates. The health and care business provides specialist knowledge and skills as a key partner and majority shareholder in a number of long-term strategic partnerships in the region. Some of the main challenges are tackling how we help clients work towards zero carbon in line with the NHS’s own targets; the delivery of fast-tracked digitisation and integration in new fit-for-purpose health care buildings and retro-fitting across an ageing NHS property portfolio.”

“The team’s role has also expanded rapidly under Covid to include the rapid provision of step-down healthcare facilities and Covid testing centres. We will be continuing to help the NHS optimise both the value and functionality of its property portfolio, flexing to the needs of the local community and providing cost-efficient solutions to public sector challenges as people’s healthcare needs change and as the NHS itself evolves.”

Eric Wright’s health and care division also provides resources to the healthcare sector including capacity modelling, strategic planning, building utilisation, asset disposal and whole system planning advice.

Jeremy Hartley, group managing director said: “Lesley brings considerable sector experience and leadership to our health and care business and we are pleased to welcome her to the team. Her knowledge and understanding of the region’s evolving needs will help us shape our future business model to ensure we continue to meet the changing demands of both our public and private sector clients. She joins at an exciting time when we see increasing opportunities for working in partnership across many parts of both the health and care sectors.”