Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Amy Mortson, Jennifer Lagan & Bryony Iles, Explain Market Research

Explain Market Research has recruited three graduates from Northumbria University and Newcastle University, to add to the growing pool of talent.

Amy Mortson, Jennifer Lagan and Bryony Iles are starting their full time Market Research Assistant roles in June 2015 on a graduate program that will provide a kick start to their careers.

Kim Davis, Managing Director commented: “We are a great supporter of professional development, and over the years, have recruited many graduates, who have added huge value to the business and our customers.

“Our programme has enabled our graduates to progress well throughout the business, becoming senior members of staff after growing their knowledge and skills within market research,

“We are proud to support all of our employees in their professional development, and our long service awards demonstrate how much we invest in staff.”

Kim added: “As a business we have grown significantly over the last few years, and now provide stable full time and part time employment to 64 members of staff.

“Amy, Jennifer and Bryony will start a programme of development that will result in becoming experts on qualitative and quantitative market research methodologies and eventually managing a range of projects.

“On top of our graduate programme, we also offer other avenues for people to progress throughout the business.”

Charlie Bailes who recently graduated from Newcastle University worked part time around his studies as a telephone researcher within the business. Upon completion of his course, Charlie was promoted to Research Centre Assistant helping the team with the management of their growing outbound research centre.

Kim explained: “It’s fantastic to see people progress well through the business as Charlie has.

“We also offer a placement which we recruit for every year. Student, Hannah Phillips also joins our team in June for a 12 month stint within the research team as part of her Business degree.”

Amy Morston, one of the new graduate starters, said: “I’ve already met the team before starting my full time position in June and have spoken in depth to those who have been on the graduate programme to gain an insight on what to expect.

“Meeting everyone and understanding more about the business has made me even more excited to join the team. It’s a fantastic opportunity working for an organisation that has consistently grown.”

Margaret Binns & Ian Frostwick, Business Centre Darlington

Margaret Binns, Vanessa Wood and Ian Frostwick

Business Central Darlington has appointed Margaret Binns as services executive.

Joining Margaret is Ian Frostwick, operations support assistant. Together they will play key roles in the day to day operations of the state of the art building.

Business Central is in the Central Park Enterprise Zone, Darlington. The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) is working with Darlington Borough Council and the £6.6 million project has been supported with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Margaret said: “In the past I have been a property lawyer. As well as having many years in other business centres. But the opportunity to join a progressive company and be a part of an exciting new build was too good to pass up.

“I love interacting and meeting new people. I am looking forward to promoting this fabulous officer space and meeting room facilities to the business community in Darlington.”

The team are gearing up for a busy year with the doors of Business Central having opened in April.

Ian added: “Everyone has been so welcoming since I joined. It is exciting to be working in a brand new facility. I can’t wait to welcome and work with businesses joining Business Central. Ian added:

“Everyone has been so welcoming since I joined and it is exciting to be a part of a new facility. I am looking forward to welcoming businesses joining Business Central and watching their journey.”

The pair will work alongside centre manager, Vanessa Wood, she said:

“I am pleased to welcome my team here at Business Central. It’s an exciting time in Business Central, Central Park and Darlington as a whole. I am sure Margaret and Ian will relish the challenge.

“Their wealth of experience can only add value to our offering. The personal touch and customer service is something we want to focus on and both Margaret and Ian will help achieve this.

Phil Bell, NE Procurement

North East procurement consortium, NE Procurement, has added another specialist to their expanding team.

Phil Bell joins the team as Procurement and Contract Manager, having played a key role in delivering the his previous company’s procurement strategy as category buyer at Coast and Country Housing.

Phil is joining the team at an exciting point in NE Procurement’s seven-year journey and recognises the huge opportunities developing as the organisation grows.

Phil said: “Having worked previously for one of NE Procurement’s member organisations and having utilised and benefited one of their frameworks, I understand the economic, environmental and political challenges that the social housing sector face.

“I now have an excellent opportunity to transfer my skills and experience to NE Procurement and create value adding relationships within the supply chain.”

Phil will be leading the renewal of the New Build framework as well as working with members to deliver efficient procurement solutions.

NE Procurement is a procurement consortium set up by a number of social housing landlords to provide members with labour, materials and services through their various frameworks which offer value for money solutions and efficiencies to the procurement process.

Rod Brasington, Chief Executive of NE Procurement said: “We are delighted to have Phil joining the team. It is a busy but very exciting time for the company and hiring new staff, particularly at managerial levels will help to further develop our fantastic offer in the North East.

“Phil also brings a wealth of experience and we are really looking forward to him settling into the team and enhancing the service we offer to our Members and Supply Chain partners alike.”

Paul Callaghan, Margaret Cholmondeley & Becky Williams, TTE Technical Training Group

The TTE Technical Training Group has bolstered its burgeoning international operations with a hat trick of appointments.

Paul Callaghan joins the Middlesbrough-based firm as Technical Sales Manager for the Middle East and Pacific region alongside Technical Sales Manager Margaret Cholmondeley, who will responsible for West Africa and the Americas, and new Customer Relations representative, Becky Williams.

Paul has worked in industrial sales for more than 10 years, working across different sectors, including oil & gas and petrochemical, while Margaret possesses more than 15 years’ experience in the training industry and sales - both for funded and commercial programmes.

After graduating with a 2:1 in Business Management from Northumbria University, Becky will form part of the business development team.

TTE International Ltd, which has established and operates training centres with partners in Azerbaijan, Oman and Ghana, and has developed key markets in West Africa, The Middle East, Caspian Region and Libya, provides technical training consultancy to international clients in the oil & gas, process and manufacturing sectors across the globe.

Steve Grant, Managing Director of The TTE Technical Training Group, said: “We are delighted with these appointments which provide a good mix of experience and enthusiasm, and will further benefit our growing international operations. We’re committed to supporting skills development across industry and our investment in our staff will allow us to further expand in the markets we serve”.

“I would like to welcome Paul, Margaret and Becky to their roles, and wish them all the best in their careers at TTE.”

Christopher White, Darlington Building Society

James Ramsbotham, Chairman of Darlington Building Society (left) with Chris White

Darlington Building Society, the country’s 22nd largest building society with assets in excess of £530m, has appointed Christopher White as Finance Director replacing Janice Lincoln who has retired following 39 years’ service with the Society.

Janice spent her whole career with Darlington Building Society, the latter five years as Finance Director and everyone at the Society wishes her a long and happy retirement.

Christopher, who was born in Middlesbrough, joined Darlington Building Society in 2012 as General Manager, Finance having worked previously for PricewaterhouseCoopers where he managed the Society’s external audit relationship, as well as working with a wide range of financial institutions throughout the North East of England.

He is a chartered accountant and a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Following his appointment to this key role Christopher said: “In 2012, after spending many years working with Darlington Building Society as their external audit manager, I jumped at the opportunity to join a strong and ethical business at such an interesting time in its history. I have very much enjoyed my time so far with the Society and I am looking forward to my new role and fresh challenges ahead”.

He added: “Darlington Building Society is entering an exciting new chapter as we build for the future with new technology-based services planned for our customers, further investment in our branch network and an even greater involvement in our local communities”.

James Ramsbotham, Chairman of Darlington Building Society congratulated Christopher on his appointment as Finance Director and said, “Christopher was an outstanding candidate for this key role and the members of Darlington Building Society can rest assured that the finances of the Society are in safe hands”.

He continued, “Christopher has the experience, knowledge and qualifications required to help steer the Society forward and he will be a valuable addition to what is already a very strong Board.”

Tiffany Pearson-Davie, Cedrec

Sunderland-based Cedrec has appointed a new environmental health and safety consultant to support growing demand for its services.

Tiffany Pearson-Davies joins as an EHS consultant, expanding consultancy team which has already doubled in size over the last two years while extending the advice to help private and public sector organisations understand, interpret and comply with complex legislation.

Cedrec offers a range of consultancy and subscriptions services which companies such as Virgin Trains, Nissan, Toyota and MIRA use to improve the quality of their environmental and safety management systems.

She will be responsible for delivering a range of services including legal compliance assessment, the compilation and updating of Registers of Legislation and legal support for Cedrec subscribers.

Senior EHS Consultant Richard Clarke, who oversees the consultancy team, said: “Tiffany comes with a strong environmental management background, having graduated from the University of Sunderland and undertaken a range of voluntary environmental work experience. She came to my attention as a member of a “Green Thinkers Bookclub” with her clear and detailed grasp of many core environmental issues.

“She will be an asset as she takes her first steps in environmental and safety consultancy work. I look forward to the contribution she will make to the development and future success of Cedrec.”

Currently employing 16 people, Cedrec, formed in 1994 in Sunderland by directors Steven Armstrong and Gareth Billinghurst, plans to boost current turnover of approximately £500,000 by a further £1 million in the next three years.

Wayne Mabbott, Drayton Partners

A leading figure from the footwear industry has joined specialist recruitment consultancy Drayton Partners in a move which marks the launch of a new division and sees the Newcastle-based firm further establish itself in the international marketplace.

Wayne Mabbott brings global experience from adidas, Pentland Group (Ellesse) and latterly Dr Martens to his new role with the firm. Drayton Partners specialise in the recruitment of senior management personnel within the Consumer Goods sector.

The arrival of Wayne will see Drayton Partners expand its reach into Fashion and Sportswear.

The move – which will concentrate upon senior and executive roles within general management, product and category management, marketing and technical development - is seen as a natural evolution of its existing specialist areas of Food & Drink and Retail.

This key strategic development is part of an ambitious expansion programme both within the UK but also internationally.

Wayne brings more than 20 years experience gained within Sports and Fashion to his new role as Partner, having held senior European and global brand, product and category manager positions in a career which has seen him based in Germany and USA before returning to the UK.

Wayne Mabbott said: “Drayton Partners is well established within the Food & Drink and Retail sectors.

A move into Fashion and Sportswear compliments this and provides not only a natural extension for the business, but also a platform from which to enter into several lucrative international markets.“

The new division is gaining real momentum, most recently securing a contract with D3O, a highly innovative British company that specialises in ‘impact protection solutions’ for globally recognisable sports and technology brands.

Wayne secured two senior management individuals for the business, one who will be based in their London office and another based out of North America.

Wayne added: “I have worked in the Fashion and Sportswear sector for more than 20 years, holding several key roles both in this country and abroad, and therefore offer invaluable first-hand, industry experience.

“This experience combines perfectly with my extensive network both here in the UK but also further afield, specifically in Asia and North America”.

Drayton Partners was established in 2010 by Rob Seery and Ian Pickett and is based at City Quadrant in the centre of Newcastle.

Paul Dodsworth & Alistair Gill, Wates Construction

Wates Construction, the contractor currently building Leeds’ £100m Central Square, has announced a surge in recruitment with four new appointments to its regional business development team.

The announcement comes after Wates launched a recruitment push in January, which has since seen the appointment of Paul Dodsworth as Business Unit Director, Yorkshire and North East.

Alistair Gill joins as Bid Centre Manager, supported by newly appointed Proposals Manager, Diana Holden. Both will be responsible for tendering opportunities across the region.

The appointments also include Business Development Manager, Freddie Whitehead, who joins from ISG Construction and will fulfil a remit of generating new business opportunities. Sophie Waite joins the team as Commercial Administrator.

Boasting a collective 44 years in the industry, the new team forms part of the contractor’s growth strategy to expand into new markets in Newcastle, Teesside, Sunderland and Durham.

Wates Construction’s current project portfolio includes Haribo’s new £35m production facility in Wakefield, the £5.6m XP Free School in Doncaster and the £12m Bradford Forster Academy.

Paul Dodsworth, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Yorkshire & North East, commented: “Wates has a proven track record as a reputed and trusted contractor across Yorkshire and beyond, expertise that span both the public and private sector markets.

“Our new appointments mark a significant move by Wates to boost an already strong regional team and we look to the coming months with immense enthusiasm as we seek to expand our regional presence.”

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