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This week's North East appointments

Start your week off with a roundup of the latest appointments from across the region.

Sara Bryson, Northstar Ventures

A researcher specialising in social change policies has joined Northstar Ventures to undertake a research project into social investment in the North East.

Sara Bryson, North East Specialist Fellow at Clore Social Leadership, will explore the regional challenges surrounding social investment. The research is being conducted as part of a secondment to Northstar Ventures, and aims to identify current attitudes towards social investment in the North East.

The secondment is part of Sara’s Fellowship at Clore Social Leadership, which she started whilst working as Research & Policy Manager at the charity Children North East. The research will be based on interviews with key figures from third sector organisations, social financiers and local authorities.

Sara said: “Joining Northstar Ventures has enabled me to analyse social investment from a practical perspective and gain a real insight into the financial world.

“One of the key challenges of social investment is the lack of knowledge exchange between the financial and voluntary sectors.

“Through working both with Northstar and Children North East, I hope to gain a better understanding of how these two sectors can effectively work together and encourage social change.”

Gary Lumby MBE, Techconsult

Techconsult UK, a recruitment consultancy based at the Wilton Centre near Redcar, has appointed Gary Lumby MBE.

The firm said Gary’s appointment will help develop and implement the company’s growth strategy and to capitalise on new market opportunities.

Techconsult specialises in finding candidates for highly specialised roles in the process and petrochemical, oil and gas, renewable, subsea, science and biotechnology and civil engineering sectors.

Speaking of the appointment, Steve Guest, managing director of Techconsult, said: “ In order to strengthen our position here in the North East and capitalise on opportunities in other parts of the UK, it was the right time to invest in bringing someone of Gary’s capability, track-record, networks and experience in growing companies on board.

“I’m sure he’ll be a real asset to the business and I’m excited to see where the partnership takes us over the coming months.”

BHP Law

BHP Law is boosting its existing corporate and commercial teams with senior lawyers across several disciplines as it seeks to grow its company work region-wide from offices in Durham, Darlington, Stockton and Newcastle.

Corporate, dispute resolution, employment and commercial property are just some of the disciplines where the firm has added experience and expertise.

Highly respected and experienced corporate lawyer Gary Copeland, who has been with the firm for many years, has been joined by new partner and team leader Marc Allison, who has previously worked as in-house lawyer for a multi-national listed company and run his own law firm.

Marc is a member of the British Franchise Association and an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

The team advises on matters ranging from basic terms and conditions to a variety of multi-million pound commercial transactions, including company and business sales and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, turnaround and restructuring transactions, corporate de-mergers and reorganisations and s110 Insolvency Act reconstruction schemes, as well as acting for a number of national franchisors.

The growth of the firm’s corporate team has been supported by the arrival of experienced lawyer and head of dispute resolution Leigh Ferguson.

Leigh has broad expertise covering a wide range of commercial disputes including claimant and defendant work involving breach of contract claims, negligence, misrepresentation, partnership disputes, fraud and complex debt recovery.

Commercial property specialist Jane French has brought considerable experience from both the public and private sectors, including acting for Scottish investors and banks with commercial property interests in England.

For employers, Andrew Lightburn is developing further the firm’s employment law services for companies needing advice on negotiating settlements or facing claims from aggrieved employees.

The firm has also been boosted with the arrival of new conveyancing solicitor Kelly Slater.

Marc said: “The range of expertise within the firm is immense and there are no matters that we cannot deal with effectively and efficiently on behalf of business clients, large and small.

“It’s a very exciting time to have joined BHP Law with so many new colleagues arriving to support the existing expertise within the firm and build on our reputation across the region.”

Lyndsey Sherwood, Newcastle Building Society

The North East’s biggest building society has reached the halfway point in its drive to create 100 new jobs during 2016.

As part of a £10m investment programme across the business announced at the start of the year, Newcastle Building Society has been creating new roles across its operations, including in itsProduct Administration, IT, HR, Credit Risk, and Treasury departments.

The Society has made over 50 new appointments so far this year, with its 50th new recruit being Lyndsey Sherwood, who has joined the award-winning Newcastle Strategic Solutions team, which delivers savings management services for a range of well-known banks and other financial institutions.

Lyndsey has joined as manager of the service academy team of trainers and coaches, which helps ensure new starters have the knowledge and skills they require to quickly get fully up to speed in their new roles within Newcastle Strategic Solutions, a fast growing subsidiary of Newcastle Building Society, which provides leading edge technology and customer service solutions to business clients.

She joins the Newcastle from Cofely GDF Suez, having previously worked for Leeds Building Society, and before moving into the financial services sector, she delivered skills, communication and leadership training programmes for the Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Lyndsey says: “We promise the highest standards of service to our Newcastle Solutions clients, and put considerable training and personal development resources in place to ensure that our new starters have everything they need to hit the ground running and deliver on our commitments.

“When I was researching the Society, it was obvious that there is a very clear strategic vision for how it is going to develop in the future, as well a positive, enabling staff culture that appealed greatly to me, and I’m already really enjoying my new role.”

Lisa Merritt and Alexis Grant, Miller Homes North East

Miller Homes North East has opened the doors to the showhomes and sales office at its newest development in North Tyneside, Heritage Green, and added to its team of sales advisers with two new appointments.

Moving into her new role with Miller Homes and based at Heritage Green is sales adviser Lisa Merritt from County Durham.

Bringing 12 years’ industry experience, the 44-year-old is on hand to welcome potential homebuyers to the development where they can view the newly launched showhomes, the four-bedroom detached Mitford, which is being built in the region for the first time, and the four-bedroom Auden.

Another new addition to Miller Homes’ team of North East sales advisers is former teacher Alexis Grant who is based at Wheatfields in Seaton Deleval. The 42-year-old from Stanley is realising her passion for the industry, securing a role with the leading housebuilder following a career change.

Andrew Somerville, regional sales manager at Miller Homes North East, said: “We are excited to be able to welcome those on the hunt for a new home to explore the development’s showhomes and sales office, where they can meet Lisa who is on-hand to help buyers find their dream home.

“We’re pleased to have had both Lisa and Alexis join our talented sales team and it’s great to see how well they have already settled in. I wish them all the best in their new roles.”

Helen Brain, Square One Law

Helen Brain has joined the Newcastle-based Square One Law as a new commercial partner. The appointment sees her return from the United Arab Emirates, where she has been working for the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department with the Government Contracts and Agreements Directorate.

Helen obtained a first class degree at Newcastle University, before qualifying as a barrister at one of the leading Intellectual Property (IP) chambers in London. She continued to specialise in IP and IT, working in London for K&L Gates, a leading global law firm, where she advised a variety of international household names.

More recently, Helen has advised on all kinds of commercial contracts and licensing agreements, including IP and software development agreements.

Helen said: “I was looking for a new challenge, and the next step in my career, so the move to Square One Law made perfect sense. I wanted to return to the region for personal reasons but without compromising my career.

“I was impressed by Square One Law’s client base and delighted to be offered the opportunity to help grow their commercial team. It’s incredibly exciting to be involved in such a progressive, forward thinking and rapidly growing business in the North East.”

Susan Luke, Henderson Insurance Brokers

Henderson Insurance Brokers Teesside office has bolstered its team with the promotion of an experienced member of staff.

Susan Luke has been appointed as the firm’s Sales Development Director, having previously held the position of Operations Director since 2009.

Susan, a Chartered Insurance Broker who possesses an Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII), has more than 30 years’ experience within insurance, particularly in the hotel industry and public sector, having worked in the region and in Scotland throughout her career.

She said: “It has been an enjoyable and successful seven years for me and the company as a whole, and I am delighted to have been given this opportunity. I am now looking forward to starting my new role and being a part of the future success of our Teesside office.”

Join us again next week for more appointment news.

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