Partner Article

Welcoming Mark Proud - a new chapter for Zenith and the businesses we support

We are expanding our offer beyond training and recruitment, bringing an experienced HR Specialist on board to help North-East SMEs recruit better, retain talent, and build stronger workplaces.

Here at Zenith, we have always believed that great businesses are built by great people, and that the right support at the right time can make all the difference. That is why we are absolutely delighted to welcome Mark Proud to our team as our new HR Specialist.

Mark’s arrival marks a significant and exciting step in our own journey. We have grown from our roots as a training provider and recruitment specialist into something broader -  a genuine workforce and HR partner for the small and medium-sized businesses that make the North-East economy what it is. With Mark joining us, we can now bring that ambition to life in a way that is practical, personal, and built around what employers actually need.

“I partner with SMEs to improve how people are recruited, developed and supported at work. By turning insight into practical action and building a supportive employer community in the North-East, I support leaders and people professionals create workplaces where individuals, teams and organisations can thrive.”

That is Mark in his own words, and it perfectly captures what he brings to Zenith. He is not here to sell, to train in isolation, or to process paperwork. He is here as a trusted advisor and thought partner: someone who sits alongside business leaders, understands the real challenges they face, and helps them take the next step forward.

Central to Mark’s work will be the Recruit, Retain & Develop workshop series, structured advice that helps employers look honestly at their people challenges and leave with a clear, practical plan. Inclusion runs through every part of this: from how you attract and hire, to how you support and manage your team day to day, through to the culture and leadership that helps people grow.

Alongside this, our People, Performance and Potential insight takes things a step further, helping leaders move from simply managing people to genuinely getting the best from them. When a people strategy is done right, businesses grow faster, staff turnover falls, teams pull in the same direction, and leaders spend less time firefighting and more time leading. That is the difference Mark is here to help you make.

The impact of getting people strategy right cannot be overstated. Businesses that invest in their people, even at an early stage, are more resilient, more attractive to great candidates, and better placed to grow sustainably. Mark brings the expertise to help you get there, whether you are starting from scratch or looking to take what you already do to the next level.

We are proud to be building something that genuinely serves the North-East employer community — not just as a service provider, but as a long-term partner. And Mark is at the heart of that.

The three pillars

• Recruit

Wider talent pools, inclusive hiring, accessible job design

• Develop

Inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and clear progression

• Retain

Wellbeing, fair management, reasonable adjustments

Support for every business

Mark will be offering support to businesses across the North-East, through insight workshops and one-to-one sessions. He can work directly with you and your team to surface challenges, explore solutions, and help you take practical steps forward. No cost, no commitment, just real support.
Whether you want to talk through a people challenge, explore what support looks like for your business, or find out where you stand, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch with Mark directly: mark@we-are-zenith.com

Attend focus-led sessions, led by Mark: We Are Zenith Event Tickets | Eventbrite

Take our free People Health Check: Organisational Talent Health Assessment for Success - We Are Zenith

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by We Are Zenith .