Bellway gets the cream to fill its top positions

Consolidation in the housebuilding industry has enabled Bellway to snap up 40 managers who were previously employed by their rivals.

A spokesman for Bellway said this week: "When we spotted the opportunity, we ran some large adverts in The Sunday Times to attract the cream as, by coincidence, there were a series of jobs going within Bellway.

"We were looking for an MD for Bellway Yorkshire as well as a similar person for the top job in our East Midlands' division. Two sales directors were needed, for Scotland and Yorkshire, and we were short of land directors.

"Knowing that senior people were coming on to the market, we made sure we were ready to step in. Several of those who were made redundant and received a golden handshake have walked into prime jobs."

Bellway chief executive John Watson said: "We have recruited some remarkable new talent. The spate of redundancies and job losses has been Bellway's gain and we are delighted with our new intake."

Bellway's most senior appointment has been Tony Watling. Now MD of Bellway Yorkshire, he previously held a similar post within Wimpey. Bellway's Yorkshire division has also attracted Tony Paler as sales director. Paler formerly worked in the Yorkshire division of Beazer.

Bellway Scotland has taken on former employees with Barratt, McLean, Wimpey and Wilcon.

Bellway is showing no signs of participating in the consolidation within the housebuilding industry. "We are not looking to acquire," said a spokesman. "We hear that financial institutions want to see further rationalisation but no-one has approached us. We are happy at being the number five player."