This week's North East appointments

Newcastle law firm Hay & Kilner has appointed three new team members.

Following the successful completion of their training, Christian Butler and Tom Goodman have secured their future careers as solicitors at Hay & Kilner.

Christian Butler has been appointed as a solicitor in the firm’s Family Law team, working alongside partner, Nicola Matthews. Christian assists clients with divorce, non-married partners separating, financial and children issues, Lasting Powers of Attorney and cases involving the Court of Protection.

Tom Goodman has joined Hay & Kilner’s corporate and commercial team. He deals with business acquisitions and disposals as well as a full range of commercial agreement work. Tom’s new position strengthens the department as one of the leading corporate and commercial teams in Newcastle.

Lynn Tomkins has left her position as UK operations director at skills organisation Semta to chair Skills 4, a provider of accredited Career Advancement and Progression programmes.

She will deliver a gender diversity programme to help more women into management positions.

Lynn said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with some of the biggest names in industry – Babcock, Bae, Nissan, Siemens, Airbus and Jaguar Land Rover to name but a few – to boost workforce skills through the recruitment of apprentices and graduates as well as developing training programmes to enable the existing workforce to skill up in order for the UK engineering and manufacturing sector to meet the challenges posed by traditional competitors and the emerging nations.

“It is now time for me to devote my energy into ensuring women and the businesses they work in are ready to take advantage of the opportunities which will be afforded as the economy once again begins to grow.”

Gateshead College has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of experienced HR director Mark Thompson.

In his new role as director of people and organisational development, Mark will be responsible for managing the provision of HR services at the college. His remit covers a wide range of areas including recruitment, employee engagement and people development.

Mark, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, said: “I am thrilled to join this exciting, forward-thinking organisation. Gateshead College has an ambitious vision for the future and wants to shape the next generation of entrepreneurs and industry leaders.”

Property maintenance specialist, Novus Property Solutions, has recruited Mark Rapley as operations manager at the firm’s Gateshead office.

Mark will work to develop and expand the company’s maintenance and refurbishment contracts in the region, bringing over 25 years experience in the construction industry.

He said: “I aim to expand Novus’ current business in the North East region so we are the maintenance and refurbishment specialist of choice for all. I look forward to attracting new business and to achieving both my own goals and those of the company.”

A North East teacher has been appointed as the Principal of a Newcastle school which aims to equip pupils with employability skills.

Val Wigham, who is deputy headteacher at Kenton School, has been appointed Principal Designate of Studio West.

Val, who has more than 25 years’ experience in teaching and extensive experience in leadership, is also passionate about business, having taken a significant role in running her family farm since her late teens.