As we transition into the new financial year following a fruitful 2023, it’s with great pleasure that we welcome 4 friendly new faces to the ifse team across the Sales, Logistics, Design and Projects departments!
Kate Walton – Junior Designer
Kate, our latest addition to the design team, is no newbie to the world of design, with a degree and business diploma in Interior Design which she earned during her time in Australia.
She put these skills to great use after being appointed as the lead designer for a multi-residential unit in Whistler and successfully turning the project around, ensuring it was delivered on-time and on-budget.
Combined with over 10 years’ experience working within bars and restaurants across the UK, Canada and Australia, Kate is delighted to be able to combine her design and catering passions at her new Junior Designer role at ifse.
Working closely alongside Creative Director Sally and Design Office Manager David, Kate will also be collaborating closely with all members from our now 6-strong sales team, ensuring we develop designs that delight and accurately reflect the needs of our clients.
After being introduced to a welcoming team with a ‘great vibe’ and ‘palpable’ sense of teamwork, Kate has been reassured that her new venture is a great fit for her and is excited to get stuck into some major restaurant, café and commercial kitchen refurbishment projects!
Earl Barton – Project Manager
Joining the wider projects team under the guide of Paul Hume, Head of Projects, is Earl Barton – who we welcomed to the ‘super-friendly’ team in April as ifse’s most recent Project Manager.
After a brief 3-year hiatus away from the catering industry to work in telecoms, Earl is finally ‘back, baby!’ and already pairing his extensive experience managing projects across multiple industries with his outside-the-box thinking to generate new solutions that keep our projects running on-time and on-schedule.
Dedicating a lot of his time to looking after his 2 year-old ‘little legend’, as well as a local basketball team, projects are not the only thing that Earl manages. When he’s not on father duty, managing sports teams or refurbishment projects at ifse, you’ll either find Earl playing the cajon in one of many bands or relaxing with a glass of his favourite bourbon whiskey.
Elliot Hall – Logistics Operative
Working alongside Purchasing Manager, Colin Chislett, is our new Logistics Operative, Elliot Hall, who will be restructuring our busy warehouse and carrying out deliveries on behalf of the company, ensuring that all equipment and fabrication makes it on site at the appropriate time for installation.
With an existing background within the building and construction industry, Elliot studied carpentry in college before working for Alsford Timber as a delivery and forklift driver, also assisting the team with stock management and general maintenance of the yard.
One of the many projects Elliot has been proud to deliver includes an impressive bathroom refurbishment which he helped to deliver during his time working for a construction company focused on creating beautiful bespoke bathrooms.
Elliot is a self-confessed petrolhead, so outside of the office you’ll often find him getting hands-on with car development projects, driving them around town or heading to car meets with his mates. He combines his passion for cars with health and fitness, spending his spare time heading out for walks or to the gym before putting his feet up with his favourite Netflix series.
Sean Barnett – Sales Manager
With over 20 years of experience within the commercial catering sector, we welcome Sean Barnett to the team as ifse’s latest Sales Manager, where he will be overseeing all aspects of the sales process for new restaurant, café and commercial kitchen transformation projects.
Using client input to inspire and develop outstanding designs in partnership with our in-house design team, Sean will play an integral role as the main point of contact for client projects under his belt, ensuring the finished result goes above and beyond our clients expectations.
One of his most treasured projects to date includes a sustainable and fully electric transformation for a major UK university, helping them to minimise damage to both their pocket and the environment and ultimately enabling them to achieve their green credentials.
Sean’s 20+ year long career in catering sales spans work with coffee-giant Nestle Nespresso, gelato-specialists Carpigiani and most recently commercial kitchen supplier TAG Catering, so there’s no doubting that this experience will help Sean to deliver many more impressive projects for happy clients, this time on behalf of the ifse team.
A keen sportsmen and dedicated father, outside of work you can catch Sean playing padel tennis, managing his son’s football team or heading down to the coast to catch some waves, soak up the sun and enjoy a BBQ on the beach, which I’m sure we can all agree is needed to recharge the soul and keep the most important things in life in perspective.
