This week’s North East appointments

This week’s round up of North East appointments includes Hay & Kilner, Nexus and Ignite Accelerator. Read on to find out more.

Sophie Fletcher, Hay & Kilner

Solicitor Sophie Fletcher is bringing a range of personal and legal expertise to a new rural role with North East law firm Hay & Kilner. Sophie has joined the Newcastle headquartered practice’s award-winning private client team and is now specialising in rural and farming business property work.

Having grown up in a farming family in Great Ayton in rural Teesside, Sophie moved north to study for a law degree at Northumbria University before returning to her home area to begin her career and qualifying as a solicitor in 2020.

Sophie (pictured left) commented: “Much of my work so far has focused on residential property, but with my farming background, I’ve always had an interest in rural property matters and this new role is a great opportunity to combine both areas.

“Farming and rural businesses face their own unique set of circumstances and challenges when it comes to managing property assets, and with so much change within the sector at the moment too, there’s a great and growing need for the advice and guidance we provide.

“I came across Hay & Kilner regularly at events during my law degree and it always struck me as a friendly and well-rounded practice. Everyone’s been really supportive and helpful as I’ve been settling in, and I’m looking forward to getting fully involved with expanding the firm’s client base still further.”

Joanne Milne, partner in the private client team at Hay & Kilner (pictured right), added: “Sophie is a talented solicitor who has both the legal expertise and personal knowledge that our farming and rural clients require, and it’s great to be bringing her on to our growing team.”

10 appointments, Nexus

Nexus has welcomed its 2022 cohort of apprentices, following an extensive recruitment campaign earlier this year. 10 people, aged from 17-38, are starting their training in a variety of roles, including Metro track and signalling engineers, business administration, Shields Ferry crew and automatic fares collection.

Katie Goldston has started an apprenticeship in Infrastructure, where she will gain a working knowledge of all the signalling, electrical and telecommunications systems on the Metro network.

She said: “I had previously started a degree in Law, but I didn’t get very far before I realised it wasn’t for me. I wanted something more hands on and practical, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It’s completely different but it’s been great so far, I’m learning so much.”

Another new starter, Brogan Clarke started an apprenticeship in automatic fares collection, where he’ll be part of a team responsible for the maintenance of all ticket machines, validators and gatelines on the Metro network.

He said: “I knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship, because I wanted something that was hands-on and varied, so this seemed ideal. I’m looking forward to getting started with the team and working towards my engineering qualifications.”

Two of the new apprentices, Nick Mansfield and James Wangadia, already worked for Nexus, on stations as customer service advisors. Nick has transferred onto an apprenticeship in learning and development, and James onto the Ferry crew.

James added: “I was always keen on working on the ferry so went for this opportunity when it came up. I’m enjoying working with the crew and I’m looking forward to working towards my Boatmaster licence so I can drive the ferry.”

Jo York, Ignite Accelerator

Ignite Accelerator has appointed Jo York as its new CEO to oversee the delivery of its startup programmes and alumni engagement. Jo will be replacing Tristan Watson, who is transitioning into the role of chairman to support Ignite’s strategic direction.

Jo has been involved with Ignite since 2013, first taking part in its autumn accelerator programme as co-founder of social video startup ‘Reframed’. Since then, she’s “never really left” Ignite and has been brought in to mentor various cohorts.

After her latest startup, Ricochet, was acquired by Cognism in 2020, Jo joined the Ignite Northern Ireland programme as Entrepreneur in Residence. Later that year, she joined Ignite full-time to oversee the delivery of its North of Tyne programmes.

In her role as CEO, Jo will continue to lead the delivery of the North of Tyne Ignite programmes, which are funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority to drive digital business growth in the North East of England.

Jo said: “It’s such an honour to be appointed as CEO of Ignite. I’m all too aware of the number of other alumni whose lives have been changed for better by Ignite programmes and I feel the weight of responsibility to continue that momentum very keenly.”

“It feels very surreal to think it was nearly a decade ago when my co-founder Kev Price and I applied for the programme. I’m excited to be able to bring my experience as founder, mentor and Ignite Alumni to the role.”

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