We are excited to announce the appointment of Simon Franks as our new Employee Experience Director. 

Simon brings a decade of strategic leadership to the role, having implemented transformational people and culture strategies and introduced innovations to improve working environments. 

He joins Baily Garner at an exciting point in our evolution, with the practice recently achieving B Corp certification and opening a new office in Manchester to expand our reach to more clients in the North. 

Commenting on the appointment, Bradley Webster, Managing Partner at Baily Garner, said: 

“We’re known in the industry not just for our expertise, but also for our friendly and supportive approach—and that comes directly from employing the right people and creating a positive, rewarding work environment. Simon has a proven track record of strategically targeting ways to improve the employee experience, and he will play a critical role in building on what we’ve already achieved to ensure Baily Garner remains an outstanding place to work as we continue to grow.” 

Simon’s appointment follows the practice being named on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list and winning first place in the Employee Development category at the Building Communities Awards 2025. 

He will be part of a broader strategy to increase employee engagement as we implement transformations that enhance our service to clients and improve the way we work. 

Commenting on his new role, Simon said: 

“I’m delighted to be joining Baily Garner at such a significant point in its journey. There’s already a strong culture of support and development here, and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the business to build on that. My focus will be on making sure our people strategies continue to evolve in a way that supports both individual growth and the wider ambitions of the practice. It’s an exciting opportunity to help shape how we work together as we continue to grow.” 

Simon joins the business alongside Marc Baines, our new Director of Growth and Transformation. 

These strategic hires demonstrate our commitment to achieving our business ambitions through the recruitment of talented people.