ARCHITECTS The Ratcliffe Groves Partnership (RGP) has recruited two new staff to add to their growing office in Manchester Road, Bury.

John Hardaker joins the team from Archial Norr in Leeds, while Rami Rahman is on the first step of his career as an architectural technician, supported by Bury College under a joint apprenticeship scheme.

Married with two children, a keen footballer and runner, John lives in Ramsbottom. After qualifying in 2008 he has worked on a wide variety of projects including residential, industrial, commercial and retail. He will be working alongside RGP director Martin Chew in the retail division.

RGP’s second signing is former Manchester City Football Academy player Rami Rahman. From an early age Rami’s ambition was to become a striker and having been signed for City at such a young age he was set to pursue this dream. When he was released from City at 16 he had to find another career in IT recruitment and retail but never found his niche — until he came across an apprenticeship in architecture.

Born in Iraq and brought up in Bury, Rami is a former Broad Oak High School student. A keen sportsman who is highly focused and very adaptable, Rami has demonstrated a real strength to change and develop.

Terry Ratcliffe, RGP’s chairman, commented “We are delighted to have these two very different and talented people on board. RGP has always believed in investing in the future of our industry, which is why we’ve developed more than 70 architects and technicians through our apprentice programme over the last 50 years.”