Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Sara Holmes & Christine Curran, Galliford Try

Construction specialist Galliford Try Partnerships North has appointed women with significant industry experience to two top posts.

Sara Holmes, who for 17 years has been forging partnerships between developers and housing providers across the region, is the new Development Director.

Christine Curran, with 15 years in land management, is heading up the company’s involvement with the £350 million Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP). As Galliford Try’s Development Director with GRP she will work alongside partners Gateshead Council and Home Group.

Sara, from Ashbrooke, Sunderland, said: “The business has a unique partnerships structure which enables us to secure sites for new developments which we can deliver either in conjunction with landlord partners or through our house building division, Linden Homes. I think this offers tremendous opportunities to develop some really exciting housing developments across the North East.”

Christine, from South Beach, Blyth, said: “I am delighted to be working on such a flagship scheme for the North East. The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership will provide over 2,400 much needed homes but more than that, it will deliver a step change in the value, quality and choice of housing in the region.”

The appointments come as the company, which is based at Great Park, Newcastle, released financial results which showed a trebling of turnover – to £27.7 million - and a return to profit - £178,000.

Antonia-Lee Walker, Elringklinger

Elringklinger, which has its UK based in Redcar, has added to its team with young engineer Antonia-Lee Walker.

Antonia has joined the automotive parts manufacturer as Technical Support Assistant within the New Product Introduction (NPI) department.

Prior to joining ElringKlinger (GB), Antonia worked with a number of manufacturing organisations in the region.

Antonia studied towards a Level 3 NVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering with TTE Technical Training Group. From there, she completed an HNC in Mechanical Engineering at Redcar College and an HND at Middlesbrough College – both through Teesside University.

Besides a host of other qualifications, including those in Computer Aided Design and First Line Management, Antonia has built up a portfolio of engineering experience at both an operations and technical level.

Antonia said: “I’ve been studying ever since I left school and instead of concentrating on one area, I’ve aimed to gain academic skills and real experience across different areas. By getting involved in operations and technical engineering roles, I’ve developed a better understanding of the pressures associated with them – which I take into account in my new role.”

ElringKlinger (GB) managing director Ian Malcolm said: “Antonia is a fantastic example of a motivated young individual who has excelled in her early career to stand out from the crowd and we have high prospects for her at ElringKlinger (GB).

“We have forged strong links with the likes of Middlesbrough College and Teesside University in order to encourage more talent into the industry and we’re sure Antonia will act as an inspiration for female and young engineers alike.”

Penny Wilkinson, Four Housing

Following a six-week placement at Four Housing in County Durham, Penny Wilkinson has secured a full-time role as a Maintenance Administrator.

She joins a company that has a strong track record in the affordable homes sector. Four Housing manages more than 5,000 properties across the North East of England, stretching from Redcar & Cleveland to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and is committed to building sustainable communities across the region.

Andrea Brown, PA and Researcher for the CEO at Four Housing said: “We were really impressed by Penny’s work ethic and broad range of skills, which has allowed her to come in and hit the ground running from day one. We are very committed to our local communities and are especially keen to assist with employment training and helping people back into the workplace.

“Penny’s training gave her the attributes that Four Housing were looking for so it’s a win-win situation all round,” concludes Andrea Brown.

Penny said: “I always thought I’d be suitable for an admin role as I’m generally very organised – I had to be when I was schooling Dane. I have an English Degree but having been out of work for so long my lack of work experience was a problem, so I decided to take another route and gain other qualifications to put on my CV and impress prospective employers.”

Penny approached Durham-based Finchale College, which provides specialist vocational training to help long-term unemployed people back into work.

She embarked on an intensive 16-week customer service course which gave her the chance to gain qualifications in word processing, proofreading and text production, as well as certificates in health and safety, manual handling, food hygiene and fire warden activities.

Martin Smith, Sanderson Weatherall

Newcastle-based chartered surveyor and property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall has recognised the outstanding performance of Martin Smith by promoting him to partner.

Previously an associate partner, Martin’s responsibilities include taking a lead role in the Newcastle office’s building consultancy department.

The team’s services embrace architecture and design, project management, cost consultancy and quantity surveying, health and safety consultancy, environmental consultancy and historic building conservation.

Sanderson Weatherall partner Richard Farr said: “The Newcastle building consultancy department has just completed an excellent year’s trading. The partners regard Martin’s promotion as recognition of the technical expertise, enthusiasm and leadership he has brought to the department and an investment in the practice’s future growth.”

A chartered building surveyor, Martin has in excess of 12 years’ property sector experience and a wide range of expertise in markets such as commercial, offices, industrial, public sector, retail and leisure.

His specialisms include dilapidations, contract administration, design and building refurbishment, defect analysis, planned maintenance, pre-acquisition surveys and reinstatement cost assessments.

Commenting on his new status, Martin said: “I’m delighted to have contributed sufficiently to the success of Sanderson Weatherall, and specifically the building consultancy department, since joining the firm 15 months ago, to have been promoted to partner. The department posted record results in the financial year just ended and I hope that in my new role I can continue to promote this upward trend.”

Mark Watt, Jennifer Hadland & Laura Angel, Smiths Gore

The Darlington office of Smiths Gore has made three key promotions to prepare for future growth.

Mark Watt is now a partner at the well-respected property and surveying firm and Jennifer Hadland and Laura Angel (pictured right) have been appointed as associates.

With a wealth of experience in property consultancy, Mark joined the team over five years ago. He has naturally developed into a partner after growing the architecture and building surveying department, in his previous role as associate building surveyor.

Speaking about his new position, Mark said: “I’m really proud to say I’m a partner at Smiths Gore. It’s great to be recognised for the hard work and commitment that has been personally invested.

“I’m looking forward to getting involved with the strategic direction of the department in my new role. The future of Smiths Gore is really exciting especially after the extension of the building.”

Darlington-born Jennifer Hadland, who joined Smiths Gore as an assistant planner and is celebrating eight years with the firm this summer, has helped the planning department double in size over the last 12 months in her previous position as planner.

She said: “It’s a great privilege to be promoted to associate. It is something I have been working towards for some time and I am extremely proud to be appointed for this role.

“It feels good to be acknowledged for the work I’ve done to increase Smiths Gore’s client base and I’ll continue to focus on the growth of the department in my new role.”

RICS registered valuer, PG Dip and MRICS qualified, Laura Angel has been with the firm for almost three years as rural surveyor and has worked in the rural property market for 8 years.

Commenting on her promotion, Laura said: “It’s great to be rewarded for my achievements. In my new role, I hope to continue to increase my professional knowledge and experience in the industry as well as help the team develop their existing skills.”

Philip Coles, who heads up the Darlington office, said: “We’re delighted to announce Mark, Jennifer and Laura’s promotions and I’m confident they’ll all progress well in their new roles.”

Smiths Gore, which has recently extended its Coniscliffe Road base, has recently taken on graduate Antonia Ramsden as Graduate Surveyor and has plans to continuing growing into its new space this year.

David Paget, Ultimate Finance

Ultimate Finance, which provides cash flow solutions to SMEs, is expanding its presence in the UK with the appointment of David Paget, who will be covering the North East.

David, who is from Washington, Tyne and Wear, is well known in the area having spent the last 20 years providing invoice finance to SMEs, most recently with Close Invoice Finance where he was regional sales director.

David’s appointment as regional director coincides with impressive growth for Ultimate Finance.

The preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2014, which have just been announced, show that the loan book increased by 60.8 per cent and the number of clients is up by 36.3 per cent.

Business highlights also include the appointment of key management personnel, including Nick Smith as group sales director, increased marketing investment and the tripling of the sales force to support existing products.

Speaking about the move, David said: “I was particularly attracted to Ultimate Finance as it aims to be the funder of choice for SMEs by looking for ways to support them rather than putting obstacles in the way.

“It has a strong product range such as invoice, asset, recruitment, construction and trade finance, which will appeal to the different sectors within our client base. As an added advantage it gives companies the opportunity to apply for short term business loans online with a fast decision turnaround.

“It is also an ambitious and vigorous challenger funder with an appetite to grow the business.”

Group sales director, Nick Smith, is delighted to welcome David to the team, he said: “The aim is to build a team of people who are knowledgeable, highly respected and well known in the geographic area in which they operate, with both intermediaries and local businesses,

“David fulfils all three criteria and we are confident he will be a huge asset to the company.

“By attracting people of David’s calibre we can fulfil our aim to help businesses across the country to grow and become successful by providing the right funding solutions to enable them to do so.”

Phil Bolam, Auckland Castle

Auckland Castle has strengthened its management team with the appointment of a new Head of Estates.

Phil Bolam joins the team from the National Trust, where he worked for over a decade at Gibside, near Gateshead, in a variety of conservation and estate management roles.

Phil, 31, will focus on maintaining and developing the Auckland Castle Trust’s portfolio of holdings’ in the Bishop Auckland area.

These include not just the 900 year old former castle home of the Prince Bishops of Durham, but its adjacent medieval Deer Park, various buildings in Bishop Auckland Market Place and Binchester Roman Fort, which the Trust bought for £2m last September after it was put up for sale by the Church Commissioners.

Phil said: “It is fantastic to be joining the team as Auckland Castle begins its transformation from a centuries old ecclesiastical residence into a world class art and heritage attraction.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in at the start of something so significant, and to know that I will be playing a key part in the many exciting developments which will soon be getting underway.

“I am very much looking forward to moving things on and to the challenges ahead.”

Phil studied conservation management at Newcastle University before working in the parks departments at first Northumberland County Council and then North Tyneside.

He initially joined Gibside as an estate warden. His final job was as conservation manager looking after both the built and natural environment.

Liz Fisher, Auckland Castle Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Phil’s calibre to the team. He joins with a wealth of experience and we are looking forward to Auckland Castle’s let estate being developed under his wing.”

L-R: Graham Smith Fitness Manager, Linda Wood Administrator, Ray Minghella Culster Sales Manager, Christina Allen Cafe Bar Manager, Daisy Bell Reception Manager, Samantha Marshall Senior Fitness Advisor

Nicola Turner, Bannatyne’s Health Club

Bannatyne’s health club in Chester-le-Street has appointed Nicola Turner as its new General Manager.

Nicola, who began her career in the childcare sector, joined the club as receptionist in September 2003, a month before it opened.

She progressed from receptionist to membership advisor before being appointed sales & marketing manager and has now taken over the management of the club.

A well-known and popular figure with both members and staff, Nicola has seen the club grow to more than 3,000 members.

Nicola is not the only long-serving member of the team - Administrator Linda Wood and Fitness manager Graham Wood both joined in September 2003 and Cluster Sales Manager Ray Minghella in 2008. Ray has progressed his career from Café Bar Supervisor to Membership Advisor and now manages the sales team in both Chester le Street and Durham.

Nicola said: “I’m very proud to take over the management of the health club. It has been very exciting, and challenging, to be a part of a brand new health club and to see it grow to be so successful.

“To have the opportunity to progress my career from receptionist to general manager is very rewarding and testament to Bannatyne Fitness as an employer. I have received tremendous support and encouragement from senior management and the team and members at Chester-le-Street and I now planning to build on the club’s success and continue to take it forward.

Tracey O’Neill, Coast & Country

Coast & Country, a North East regeneration and housing company, has appointed Tracy O’Neill as Director of Customer Services.

Tracy joined Coast & Country in 2002 as a Supporting People Officer, progressing her career to become Head of Community Investment in 2007.

Following the retirement of Assistant Chief Executive Ronny Harris, Tracy was appointed to the newly-created role of Director of Customer Services.

She began her career in housing in 1985, working as a Central Maintenance Control Clerk at Langbaurgh Borough Council, and has undertaken a variety of roles in the sector, with customer service and satisfaction one of the key strengths brought to each position.

Iain Sim, chief executive of Coast & Country, said: “Tracy is the perfect person for this position. She has skills, knowledge and experience but also a positive, can do attitude to ensuring that everything she does benefits the communities Coast & Country works in.”

Tracy said: “I am very proud of the work Coast & Country undertakes to make its communities a better place to live. Working with our tenants to ensure that their views are taken into account and they are listened to is a vital part of the job, and one I thoroughly enjoy.

I am pleased to have been offered the opportunity to further progress my career at Coast & Country and look forward to the achievements and challenges ahead.“

Jen Pearson, Swinburne Maddison

Swinburne Maddison LLP has appointed Jen Pearson, formerly an associate with Newcastle law firm, Bond Dickinson, to its growing dispute resolution team.

Jen, who lives in Darlington and is a member of the Property Litigation Association, has spent the last eight years working across all aspects of both commercial and residential property litigation. Typically, she advises clients such as local authorities, registered social housing providers and private landlords with large property portfolios in relation to freehold, leasehold and housing disputes.

In the commercial property sector Jen advises clients on matters of tenant default issues such as non payment of rent, breaches of covenant and alterations and dilapidations.

Speaking about joining the progressive law firm she said: “I’m excited to join Swinburne Maddison and its highly experienced dispute resolution team. Given the firm’s growth in recent years, particularly within the commercial property department, I felt my experience, coupled with my desire to work for a firm that is committed to serving the legal needs of the region, makes for a perfect fit.

“I am looking forward to working with some of the north east’s best solicitors in their specialist areas and see this as a great opportunity to broaden my experience.”

Partner, Jonathan Moreland added: “I’m delighted to welcome Jen to our growing team of legal professionals. Her level of experience in dispute resolution adds further strength and depth to our existing team and I am confident that she will make a positive contribution to the ongoing growth and success the practice continues to enjoy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .