Manchester headquartered creative events agency Make Events has entered 2026 with a series of new senior and operational hires.
The appointments span business development, event production and venue finding and several roles are based in London, following the agency’s expansion into the capital in 2025.
Simon Bottomley has joined the company as head of business development, a newly created role.
Bottomley brings more than 20 years’ experience across sales and growth roles, most recently as sales director at Inspirational Venues & Events, where he worked closely with venues, clients and long-term commercial partners.
He will be responsible for driving new business and identifying opportunities across conferences, incentives, experiential and brand-led events.
Bottomley said: “Make Events has a brilliant reputation for creative excellence and strong client relationships. The culture, ambition and focus on quality really stood out. I’m excited to bring fresh energy and experience to the business at such a pivotal moment in its growth.”
The agency has also expanded its delivery team, with Maiya Dambawinna joining as event producer and
Rebecca Denton and Isobel Meldrum have joining as event production executives.
The roles are intended to support delivery capacity across both Manchester and London, as project volumes increase and the agency takes on a broader mix of work.
At the end of 2025, Make Events also created a new specialist role focused on venue sourcing, with
Jo Millie appointed to lead the function.
The appointment has resulted in the launch of a dedicated venue finding service, allowing the agency to handle venue sourcing in-house rather than relying on external suppliers, and to support clients from initial brief through to delivery.
The recruitment drive builds on wider investment made during 2025, with Adele Woods appointed managing director in June.
Since her appointment, the agency has added roles across marketing, creative and production, including marketing manager Cameron Pilling, senior designer Chris Moore, and event production hires Grace Cooper and Katie Sciculana.
The expansion into London was further supported by the acquisition of The PA Club in August, marking a clear move beyond Manchester while retaining the agency’s original headquarters.
Woods said: “Our growth is about making sure we continue to deliver brilliant work for our clients, while creating opportunities for our team to develop, progress and do their best work. Bringing in new skills and experience allows us to expand what we offer, without losing focus on the relationships and standards that Make Events is known for.”
Make Events plans further recruitment in 2026 and future roles are expected across finance, events leadership and production.
The agency said hiring will continue in line with project demand and regional growth.