Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

North East accountancy firm Tait Walker has grown its 143-strong team by four more in the second wave of its recruitment drive this year.

Nicole Chambers, 18, joins the team straight from college as the newest Payroll Apprentice, whilst 23 year-old Laura Defty, originally from South Shields, enters the role of Business Services Trainee after graduating in July 2013 from Newcastle University.

Leigh Perkins and Chris Smith, both 31, join the team as Business Service Executives with 12 years combined experience in the field. They will assist in the implementation of new software at the firm, as well as liaising with clients to complete audits to a high standard whilst providing a customer focused service.

Tait Walker’s managing partner, Andrew Moorby, said: “We’re delighted to welcome yet more recruits into the business. We’re big believers in keeping things fresh and our recruits always provide a great injection of new ideas and ways of working.”

Northstar Ventures, which now has 15 employees, has recruited finance executive James Foster, 29, to support the finance team.

In his role as finance executive, James, who is from Northumberland, will be responsible for management accounting and fund reporting, as well as working on the Proof of Concept portfolio.

James has moved to Northstar Ventures from Sage where he was an Insight Analyst in the Financial Planning and Analysis team.

He said: “It has been a long term ambition to move into venture capital and I look forward to getting involved in the exciting work that goes on at Northstar Ventures and helping to contribute to its on-going success.”

James Grant (left) has joined Peel Airports as Partnership and communications executive and will work with local and regional stakeholders, airline representatives and corporate partners to develop opportunities at both Durham Tees Valley and Doncaster Sheffield Airports.

James, who has recently become Chairman of the Darlington Business Club, has wide experience in the hospitality industry—most recently as sales and revenue manager for the Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel—and says he is looking forward to identifying and securing partnership opportunities as part of the overall marketing strategy for the two airports.

He explained: “Airports play a central role in their local economies and I believe that there are tremendous opportunities for working with a whole range of interests to develop mutually beneficial links which can promote the airport and help to attract increased business.

“A key part of my job will be getting out and meeting with local companies and other interests, both on an individual basis and through business and economic development bodies, explaining our ambitions for the development of the airports and involving as many people as possible in delivering those plans.”

TTE has appointed experienced vocational training specialist Alan Wallace as its new UK & Europe technical training manager.

Alan joins TTE from the National Apprenticeship Service where he headed up the organisation’s North East Apprenticeship Unit working with employers and learners.

With three decades of experience in the apprenticeship and vocational training sector, Alan, from Yarm, previously worked for the Learning & Skills Council, the North East Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and the Manpower Services Commission.

Alan Wallace said: “TTE has an excellent reputation for the quality of its training and facilities and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to join the organisation.

“The opportunities TTE’s provision offers to individuals and to employers are second to none enabling it to have a positive impact on the skills requirements of industry.”

Property and energy firm The Banks Group has recruited a new member of its development relations team to further enhance the public engagement work it carries out across the communities in which it operates.

After spending four years as Parliamentary Assistant to Gateshead MP Ian Mearns, Jeannie Kielty has joined the Durham-based, family-owned business as a development relations officer.

Jeannie, who comes from Gateshead, is now working with the project teams responsible for a number of Banks’ schemes to identify the most appropriate ways in which to work with individuals and groups in the communities around Banks’ developments.

North East PR agency, DTW, has recruited Guy Bailey (far left) as digital and social media manager, Chris Sealey (centre) as PR account manager, and Laura Hepburn, as a creative project co-ordinator.

Guy returns to the North East following four years in Atlanta, in the United States, while Chris recently returned to the UK following five years in Sydney, Australia.

The new employees have been brought in with support from Tees Valley Unlimited’s Jobs and Skills Investment Scheme. It provides financial support to enable businesses to take on new employees and grow their business.

Chris Watt has joined Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking as relationship manager, with responsibility for the South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham areas.

Chris joins Santander from Barclays, where he spent eight years working with North East SMEs.

He said: “I feel Santander is an ambitious and growing bank in the UK, built on stable foundations. It is a bank that matches my career ambitions.

“I now look after a select portfolio of commercial clients with turnover of £250k - £2.5 million.

“My new role provides a great opportunity to help the local economy by providing a wide range of innovative lending solutions to help support our business community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .