Partner Article

Monday Movers: Latest North East appointments

The North East arm of an international networking consultancy has expanded its team with the appointment of a dedicated Teesside representative.

Finance expert Jane Reynolds has been appointed by CONNECT North East to drive the organisation’s development across the south of the region.

Jane will make Teesside a priority for CONNECT North East, organising events at which businesspeople can meet other like-minded entrepreneurs, as well as find out more about funding streams.

The events will enable firms to meet with fund managers of the £125m Finance for Business North East, previously known as the JEREMIE fund.

Jane said: “By holding events that are easy for businesses to get to we can bring along the people that firms need to speak to directly, making it easier for them to find out more.

“It’s incredibly important to raise awareness about these funds and we want to get that message out there. Often people have heard about the fund, but don’t know how to access them or need more details. That’s where we come in.

“It’s very gratifying to see how companies can work together to take a business to the next level. That’s why we do what we do.”

Meanwhile, regional law firm Swinburne & Jackson has further extended its family department with the appointment of solicitor Eve Smith.

Eve, 31, brings with her a wealth of experience of divorce and cohabitation cases, private law children proceedings and injunctions after working for five years within the family department of David Gray Solicitors in Newcastle.

Eve’s appointment further strengthens the firm’s family department which specialises in offering the ‘dignified divorce’ – using the highly innovative area of collaborative law which enables marital and family disputes to be resolved without stepping foot inside the courtroom.

Globetrotting Eve joins the Swinburne & Jackson team after returning to her native North East following a period of three years living in the United States and Chile. She now lives in Gosforth, Newcastle, with her husband and two sons.

Eve said: “I am excited about working as a solicitor again following an extended maternity leave and I’m especially looking forward to the challenges it brings such as advocacy, client contact and liaison with other solicitors and agencies.

“It is an exciting time to be joining Swinburne & Jackson’s family department as it is really making a name for itself as a leader in the field and I’m delighted to be able to play a part in this.”

Nick Edgar has been appointed Investment Manager at IP Group plc, the developer of intellectual property based businesses.

Based in the group’s Newcastle office, Nick helps to manage the Finance for Business North East Technology Fund - a £25m venture capital fund dedicated to investing in technology businesses with outstanding potential which are based in, or are willing to relocate to, the North East of England.

Nick’s role is to lead on transactions from the fund - helping to ensure IP Group’s vast knowledge and experience of the technology sector is brought to bear to benefit the regional economy and develop businesses.

Nick, a chartered accountant from Gosforth, has significant experience of helping to develop both fledgling and mature businesses – having previously worked with fund management company NEL and Ernst & Young.

He said: “IP Group has an impressive track record of creating successful businesses by developing their intellectual property. I am looking forward to using this experience and insight, along with the investment available via the North East Technology Fund, to develop the incredible potential of technology businesses in the North East.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .