The contractor set up earlier this year by former Wates Residential managing director Paul Nicholls after buying Rydon Construction’s south east and south west businesses has bolstered the management team for ambitious growth.

The shake-up includes three new leadership team members, along with several internal promotions.

Chief operating officer, Ben Cox, joins Real from his previous position as commercial director within the Wates Group.

He is joined by Stuart Hamilton who joins Real as the new regional construction director from Wates, where he was responsible for a portfolio of projects in Wandsworth and Westminster.

With over 15 years of extensive experience in organisational change, Shelley Allsopp has also been appointed as head of HR, following previous roles at Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland, and Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.

Alongside these new appointments, Real has made several key internal promotions.

Simon Carter has been promoted to regional construction director for the South West’s construction activity.

The newly-promoted head of legal, Caroline Saunders, has spent 15 years within construction legal teams, specialising in construction contracts and development vehicles.

Mark Unsworth has recently been promoted to regional director for Real’s London and South East business from his role as regional commercial director.

Newly-promoted regional commercial director, David Barton, has been in a surveying role since 2002.

Loftus Theron is the newly promoted commercial finance director also formerly at Wates where he worked as financial controller.

Paul Nicholls, CEO at Real, said: “Here at Real we want to create a business that cares.

“Having been in the construction industry for over 25 years I have seen individuals develop fantastic careers and want Real to be a driving force in supporting more people to further themselves in the industry.

“This is why we have chosen to promote internally and hire externally – we want to create equal opportunities for success, for everyone.”