Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

The latest appointment news from around the North East.

Rebekah Hutchinson and Owen Wright, Trend Bible

Newcastle-based Trend Bible, which advises some of the biggest brands in the world, has recruited two new graduate trainees.

The company has welcomed Rebekah Hutchinson, of Chilton, County Durham, and Owen Wright from Blyth, Northumberland, as a Creative Studio Assistant and Trend Research Assistant respectively.

The agency sells its trend forecasting reports to major retailers and brands such as Target, Marks & Spencer and Lego, which informs their strategic, design and marketing decisions.

The company also carries out bespoke project work using unique methodologies to predict how consumers’ shopper and lifestyle behaviours will evolve up to ten years in the future.

Both of the new recruits completed internships at Trend Bible. Rebekah has a Masters in Fashion Textile Practice from the University of Huddersfield, while Owen joins following a year as Innovation Specialist at furniture manufacturer Godfrey Syrett. He studied Industrial and Product Design at Teesside University.

Joanna Feeley founded Trend Bible in 2011 and said the company had a strong track record for taking on interns and progressing them through the business.

“Our internship scheme is hugely important to us and I’m delighted to be able to build upon this by offering a paid graduate traineeship. I consider this to be pivotal to fuelling our talent pipeline as we grow the business,” she said.

“As the only future trend agency in the North of England, I believe we have a duty to show young people what kind of career opportunities there are in the North East. You don’t have to go to London to have a really strong, creative career these days. As a local employer, we’re delighted to support the talent of the future.”

Andrew Glover, Cairn Group

DoubleTree by Hilton Newcastle Airport, owned by the Cairn Group, has appointed Andrew Glover as its new general manager.

Bringing over 20 years’ experience of working in hotels to his new role, Andrew A will oversee the general running of the hotel.

The 45 year old will work closely with his new team to raise the hotel’s profile as a destination for business travellers, tourists and local guests alike. Expanding the hotel’s food and beverage offering and its conferencing and events arm will also form an important part of Andrew’s new role.

Andrew said: “From an early age I have had a passion for the hospitality industry and to be working for a globally-recognised brand like Hilton under Cairn Group is extremely exciting. I love to travel, so to be based so close to Newcastle International Airport welcoming guests from all over the world is perfectly suited to me.

“The company’s philosophy, vision for its people and plans for the future really appealed to me, and I’m pleased to be a part of it. Drawing on my experience and taking inspiration from my time in the industry, I’m looking forward to making my mark on the hotel.”

Kathryn Redpath, Scholes & Brown

Newcastle-based financial planning firm Scholes & Brown has appointed Kathryn Redpath as its new Practice Manager.

Kathryn, who joined the wealth management firm in 2013, already holds the position of Senior Financial Planner.

An Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and a member of the Personal Finance Society, Kathryn has a wealth of experience having worked in financial services for over 30 years in a variety of roles with firms including Barclays, Ernst & Young and lastly the wealth management division of Bond Dickinson (now Bond Dickinson Wealth Management).

The role, a new one for Scholes & Brown, will see Kathryn managing all compliance and risk regulations, supporting the Directors and implementing continuous improvement practices throughout.

She commented: “I am thrilled to have been appointed as Practice Manager of Scholes & Brown. I am very much looking forward to my new role and working closely with the Directors and all of the team at Scholes & Brown and be part of the continued growth of the firm”.

Simon Duckworth, Wear Inns

Simon Duckworth has been announced as the new MD of Wear Inns on a permanent basis after the finance director had been interim MD since the sudden death of John Weir in August last year.

Duckworth plans to invest significantly in the existing estate, enhancing and refreshing the offer across its 25 pubs in the North East and Yorkshire. He paid tribute to Weir and the way in which the company’s 300-strong workforce had reacted to his sudden death.

“It has been a momentous year in several ways,” said Duckworth. “John Weir’s sad death last August left all of us feeling bereft and uncertain about the future, but everyone has pulled together and carried on, and the anticipated results for the year are a testament to the fact that John had built an efficient and robust business.

“As the new Managing Director it remains my intention to continue to run the business the way John would have wanted, and to maintain the same philosophy of providing excellent amenities, service and value to customers, and an excellent place to work for employees.”

Join us next monday for more NE appointment news.