This week's North East appointments

Your latest roundup of appointments from across the region is here.

Stuart Cameron, University Centre Quayside

Stuart Cameron has been appointed managing director of commercial operations at Newcastle-based independent higher education provider, UCQ.

Stuart will be responsible for leading UCQ’s national expansion programme and attracting candidates to UCQ’s six regional centres by raising awareness of the CMDA and its benefits among individuals and businesses.

Stuart brings many years’ experience of being an employer having founded and led two market leading businesses, turned failing companies around and managed the difficulties of company closure and selling businesses.

He said: “I am blessed to have held senior leadership roles within the Maersk Group, and benefitting from huge investments in my own leadership development, including being funded through an MBA programme.

“I appreciate that a stumbling block for many organisations can be the cost. However many companies are still not aware that in many instances, the full cost of degree apprenticeships can be wholly funded utilising payments they are already making into the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.”

Danny Stewart and Steve Welch, Chrysalis Leisure

A regional leisure development has announced two major appointments, as part of its new team.

Work is underway to transform the former Fat Buddha at Newcastle’s 55 Degree North into Alpine-themed venue, Antler which will offer a range of dining, drinking and entertainment.

As part of the transformation of the venue - which will still retain an Asian restaurant on its upper level - two experienced managers have been appointed by owners, Chrysalis Leisure.

Danny Stewart, who has worked extensively across the UK notably in a number of roles with The Alchemist Group, has taken over as general manager for both venues.

Danny, 22, is experienced in the hospitality industry, opening The Alchemist in Newcastle and having been assistant general manager at one of the London group bars.

He said: “It’s very exciting to be back in Newcastle which I feel is my Northern home.

“It’s especially exciting to be part of an amazing venture like Antler which is really something very different. It’s a fantastic concept and I think it really is going to show people something they’ve never seen before in the city.”

Also part of the new team is Steve Welch, who has been named as development chef.

Steve, who started his career in the military, has years of experience working in countries like Brunei and Hong Kong, and for a number of years was executive head chef at both Newcastle United and Sunderland FC.

He added: “It’s fantastic to be able to develop the food offering for such a unique venue.

“The fact that I am also able to bring all my experience for catering for large numbers to Antler, where we also focussing strongly on being able to host events of all sizes.”

Roker-based restaurants have unveiled exciting plans for their Summer season including gin masterclasses and metre-long pizzas.

Nathaniel Mdhuli and Scott Lynn, Tavistock Hospitality

Poetic License Bar and Italian Farmhouse - both owned and operated by Tavistock Hospitality - are gearing up for summer with two new managers.

Nathaniel Mdhluli has been newly appointed as general manager for the Italian Farmhouse, while Scott Lynn - formally manager of Pitcher and Piano in Newcastle - will take lead on running Poetic License Bar.

Nathaniel said: ‘We’re really looking to giving the Farmhouse its own identity amongst many Italian restaurants in the area.

“It is a unique space, with quirky interiors in a basement style setting, with an amazing menu to accompany.”

Paul Quinn, bimstore

The UK’s original BIM content library, bimstore has appointed Paul Quinn as its new sales director.

Paul brings with him an in-depth knowledge of the design and specification market, BIM and the digital construction industry.

As sales director, Paul will be responsible for the management of the sales team and developing and implementing sales strategies to deliver growth in the UK and international markets whilst maintaining superior levels of customer service.

Paul said: “bimstore are dedicated to helping the industry become smarter through digital construction and innovation. The team here at bimstore are fantastic, there really is so much talent and an extraordinary sense of teamwork.”

Lucy Cook, Sintons

A specialist tech lawyer has joined growing law firm, Sintons.

Lucy Cook advises businesses of all sizes on commercial and intellectual property matters, and has a particular focus on the tech sector.

She has held previous roles include working in-house at FTSE 100 software giant Sage, and now joins Newcastle-based Sintons as a senior associate.

Her professional memberships include the Society of Computers and the Law and the Chartered Institute of IT and Lucy is well known and respected in North East tech circles for her sector-specific work and knowledge.

Lucy’s appointment further strengthens the commercial team at Sintons.

She said: “I am very pleased to move to Sintons, a growing and ambitious law firm whose specialism in commercial work is well known across the North of England.

“In a region as dynamic as the North East, our tech scene is developing at a phenomenal rate. Through the combination of my specialism in the tech sector and the support and outstanding capability of the wider corporate and commercial team at Sintons, we have a strong proposition to offer to businesses of all kinds, and especially to fast-growing tech companies.”

Karen Simms, partner and head of corporate and commercial at Sintons, added: “Lucy is a highly respected lawyer, whose recognition… speaks volumes about her deep and genuine knowledge and understanding of the tech sector and her excellent reputation.

“As a business which understands that people are central to our continuing success, I am delighted that Lucy has chosen to join Sintons, and I look forward to working with her.”

Paul Barrow, Ascent Homes

Northumberland-based housebuilder, Ascent Homes, has appointed a new senior land manager.

Paul Barrow, who is a general practice chartered surveyor and admitted into the profession in 1989, has 20 years of experience in housebuilding. His brief at Ascent Homes is to identify, source and contract new residential development opportunities and to add to the forward supply pipeline of sites for the housebuilder.

Formerly holding senior management positions in the public sector and as a director of two private housebuilding companies, Mr Barrow has led in-house multi-discipline teams of engineers, architects, and other land professionals as well as managing and coordinating the contracts of external specialist consultants to quality assure projects.

He said: “Ascent Homes is extremely busy, developing high quality homes in striking locations throughout Northumberland.

“We are currently looking at a raft of new sites up and down the county as we seek to deliver a variety of much needed new homes for local people.

“My last role, working for a leading social landlord, involved growing its portfolio by 400-500 units per annum, so this has equipped me with useful experience, which has allowed me to hit the ground running at Ascent Homes.

“I am looking forward to seeing some of these sites swiftly moving ahead as they gain planning consent.”

Another recent appointment due to business expansion, is Simon Nicholls, who has joined as a senior quantity surveyor.

He reports to head of commercial and technical, Shaughn Gibson and amongst wide-ranging duties, is providing support on the latest Ascent Homes housing development, Allerburn Gate in Alnwick.

Rory Ogden; Sharney Randhawa; Eleanor Fisher-Thompson; Anna Stephenson; Gillian Moir; Ashley Patterson and Chris Ross, Swinburne Maddison

As part of its expansion strategy, seven new appointments and promotions have been made at Swinburne Maddison, one of Durham’s pre-eminent law firms, on the back of its newly refurbished office accommodation.

The dispute resolution team, under the leadership of partner in charge, Jonathan Moreland, welcomes two new members of staff, while partner, Martyn Tennant’s corporate and commercial team, welcomes a further two new starters.

Employment solicitor, Sharney Randhawa, brings a wealth of experience to the firm, joining from leading law firm, Bindmans LLP in London, where she also completed her training contract.

During her time there, alongside her employment practice, she was involved in several professional discipline matters, representing doctors before the General Medical Council and bankers, before the Financial Conduct Authority, receiving the accolade of being named as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 for this area of work.

She is joined by Rory Ogden as a trainee solicitor. He previously worked as a paralegal at a Newcastle law firm. A second trainee solicitor, Eleanor Fisher-Thompson, has joined the corporate and commercial department along with Ashley Patterson, who has been appointed personal assistant.

Swinburne Maddison took sole occupancy of its 10,000 sq ft office at Aykley Heads in Durham a year ago and has since invested over half a million pounds in transforming the space to create a stylish and contemporary working environment as well as eight client meeting rooms overlooking lawn and woodland.

The refurbished facilities have been well received by staff and clients alike and Jonathan Moreland believes they mark a turning point in the development of the firm, enabling greater collaboration and understanding between departments, which will facilitate business growth.

He said: “With the office redevelopment now complete, we can offer staff one of the best working environments around and a great location on the fringes of the city. Our new starters join us at an exciting time in our development.

“Sharney particularly, is a tremendous hire for us, bringing as she does, superb high-level experience to her role from a London law firm while Rory and Ellie have been recruited as part of the firm’s trainee programme and to support the growth of the firm. Ashley will support the growth of our corporate and commercial team.

“We have always enjoyed a great team spirit at Swinburn Maddison, but our new working arrangements have led to a renewed sense of purpose and a focus on reaching the highest standards for all our clients. We are truly excited about what the future holds.”

Three new promotions have also been made. Gillian Moir and Chris Ross, both commercial property solicitors and Anna Stephenson, a private client solicitor have been appointed as managing associates. All three joined the firm in 2014.

The role recognises their seniority and experience and will involve the trio in matters of compliance, staff training, policy development, mentoring junior staff and the implementation of business development initiatives as well as the fostering and development of client relationships.

Looking ahead and continuing with its recruitment drive, Swinburne Maddison is actively looking to recruit two further trainee solicitors, a commercial property solicitor and a secretary for the private client and property departments.

A further solicitor will also be joining the dispute resolution team in June to work with its litigation arm, bringing the headcount at the firm to 57.