This week’s North East appointments

Lauren Coleman, Watson Burton

Newcastle-headquartered commercial law firm Watson Burton has announced the appointment of solicitor Lauren Coleman in its real estate services team.

The role will see her providing legal advice on the funding, acquisition and disposal of development sites, as well as plot sales, planning and highways and social housing initiatives.

She will also provide the firm’s real estate clients with employment, corporate, banking, commercial and regulatory advice.

Lauren’s background includes positions at Jacksons Law Firm and Womble Bond Dickinson. She said: “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to work with a firm that is highly regarded for its track record in the Real Estate sector.

“My focus will be on acquisition of development sites, funding, and disposal of finished homes. I am delighted to be able to progress my career at Watson Burton and work with a friendly, dynamic team.”

Watson Burton’s head of real estate, partner Naren Deen, commented: “We are pleased to have Lauren join our team as she brings fantastic experience to the firm.

“In particular, Lauren has great knowledge and experience in the residential development and sales sector.”

Ryan Norbury, Stagecoach North East

A graduate from Pontefract has taken on the role of assistant operations manager for a Stagecoach bus depot in Teesside.

Ryan Norbury joined the depot in Stockton as part of the company’s graduate training programme.

In his new role, he will oversee the day-to-day running of the depot as his training and development continue to progress.

Ryan has just started his second year on the programme. His first was spent in Aberdeen as part of Stagecoach’s North Scotland operation.

He said: “The experiences I gained over the years working in customer services was invaluable to my current role.

“It taught me how me to communicate with staff to get the best from them and to have a customer-centric approach to everything that I do.”

He added: “While I enjoyed the job and the people I worked with, I knew it was not what I wanted to do with my career, but the time that I had spent in that role made me want to look at operational management roles.”

Speaking further, Ryan said he looked on graduate job sites and came across Stagecoach’s graduate program.

He continued: “I was impressed by the structure. The varied nature of the role and the opportunity to become an operations manager in two years showed the trust that the company has in its program and the people they recruit.

“When I attended the assessment centre day I knew Stagecoach was the company for me. There was a real family feeling and to see former graduates who have gone onto become directors of the company highlights how seriously they take the scheme and the passion they have in developing future leaders from within.”

Jack Nunnerley, Absolute Quality

Business management systems and training company Absolute Quality has appointed graduate Jack Nunnerley.

Joining the firm’s Newcastle HQ as a graduate trainee consultant and trainer, Jack will undertake an intensive training programme led by business development consultant Lora Wilson.

Lora said: “Jack’s been a burst of energy and has made a fantastic impact so far. He’s really enthusiastic and is helping us all become a lot more efficient.”

Jack is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University, where he achieved a BA (Hons) International Business degree.

He commented: “I’m really excited to be part of the Absolute Quality team and share their passion for supporting businesses through both training and the implementation of management systems. I’m sure my addition to the team is going to be a great success.”

Bob Cuffe, Resolution Media and Publishing

Middlesbrough-based Resolution Media and Publishing has appointed Bob Cuffe as a non-exec director.

Bob has over 30 years’ experience in publishing, including time as managing director of the Teesside Gazette and regional MD for Trinity Mirror North East.

He now works for a number of local firms in consultancy roles, including Jacksons Law Firm, Recognition PR and Darlington Building Society, where he is vice chair.

Bob said: “I’m delighted to be joining Dave [Allan], Martin [Walker] and the team,” he said. “Their achievements since launch have been outstanding, the Tees Businesswomen Awards being a great example.

“Tees Business has an excellent and growing reputation in the business community, and I look forward to helping them accelerate their ambitious plans.”

Resolution launched last year on the back of its pilot publication, Tees Business.

Co-director Dave, owner of Middlesbrough firm DNA PR and Publicity, commented: “We’re delighted to have brought Bob on board during this exciting time for the company.

“He has bought in to what we’re trying to do, he shares our passion for print and he will give us invaluable knowledge and expertise as we drive forward our plans.”

Martin Walker, who owns Mantis Media in Newton Aycliffe, said of the appointment: “We have some exciting ideas but as the company has grown, it was important to bring in someone who could be a critical friend to the business, provide us with honest advice and to bring ideas, so to have someone with Bob’s experience in publishing is a huge boost.”

James Cross, Newcastle Parks and Allotments Trust

Newcastle Parks and Allotments Trust has chosen James Cross as its first chief executive.

James Cross is the former chief exec of advisory body Natural England and currently serves as a board member and trustee of the University of Teesside.

In his new role, James will work closely with Jim Beirne MBE, current CEO of Live Theatre.

James was selected as the Trust’s chair in July alongside a 13-strong founding board of trustees whose members span a variety of backgrounds.

He said: “The parks, allotment and green spaces in and around Newcastle are amazing and enhance our lives by providing a place right in the heart of our communities to improve our physical and mental wellbeing, to play sport, to practice our hobbies or to spend time with our friends and family.

“I am over the moon to be able to work alongside the people of Newcastle to find new ways of strengthening these connections, forging new ones and investing in the parks future.”

Chair Jim Beirne MBE commented: “I am delighted to welcome James Cross on board as Chief Executive of the Newcastle Parks and Allotments Trust, he brings a wealth of experience from Natural England, to compliment the local and business experience on the board, to drive the Trust forward as a truly innovative partnership.”

Laura Lee, Lisa Whitwell and Simon Cottenham, Samuel Knight International

Recruitment company Samuel Knight International has announced new hires and promotions.

Laura Lee has taken on the role of marketing manager to lead the firm’s marketing and communications strategy. She boasts 10 years of experience in several senior marketing positions across the private and public sectors.

Laura said: “I’m incredibly excited to be part of the company’s growth and I’m excited to be working with Samuel Knight’s international client base.

“I’m looking forward to broadening my experience and working with the team to achieve the vision and strategic goals of the business.”

Lisa Whitwell, meanwhile, has been promoted to financial controller, and Simon Cottenham to business development manager within the energy division.

Steve Rawlingson, founder and chief exec of Samuel Knight International, said: “It’s essential to the success of our business that we get the right people in place.

“It was and is, a strategic priority of the business to ensure that we are bringing onboard extremely talented, skilled professionals that fit the SKI vision to propel the business forward.”