Member Article

Growth Capital Ventures makes first new appointment with Generation NE

DURHAM-BASED Growth Capital Ventures has kick started an ambitious plan of sustained growth with the appointment of a new digital marketing apprentice thanks to the North East’s new youth employment programme, Generation NE.

Aymie Barton, 19, from Kirk Merrington in County Durham, has been appointed at the technology-led finance business following a successful pairing through Generation NE.

Her appointment brings Growth Capital Ventures’ existing team to seven and forms part of the business’ ambitions to further expand by increasing its workforce significantly over the next two years.

Committed to helping businesses to grow, Generation NE’s dedicated business advisors each offer SMEs in their local authority areas a tailored and impartial service, with support through every step of the recruitment process.

Generation NE’s County Durham business advisor, Gill Cairns, connected Growth Capital Ventures with Aymie who was exactly the right type of candidate the business was looking for.

Growth Capital Ventures’ co-founder and chief operations officer, Craig Peterson, said: “As we’re a young growing company, we wanted to strengthen our digital marketing team with some fresh new talent.

“The whole recruitment process with Generation NE was both streamlined and supportive. Gill knew exactly what we were looking for and provided us with a better quality candidate than those found through external advertising.

“I would highly recommend any business who is looking to recruit someone at the forefront of their career to contact Generation NE – I definitely will for future recruitment.”

As part of her role as a digital marketing apprentice, Aymie will run the group’s social media channels, create tailored messages to engage with specific target audiences and build the brand online to increase traffic to its website. Aymie is also currently completing her apprenticeship with Baltic Training Services.

Aymie said: “Before I was lucky enough to be taken on as an apprentice by Growth Capital Ventures, I’d spent a while looking for digital marketing roles with no success because of my age.

“I was then referred to Generation NE by Jobcentre Plus and the Generation NE employment advisor Laura was so helpful. She really took the time to find out what kind of role I was looking for and recommended the position with Growth Capital Ventures. She then helped me to update my CV before I applied.

“Thanks to Generation NE I’ve been able to take my first steps onto the career ladder which is a great feeling. I’m learning so much every day and being part of a working environment has been a huge boost to my confidence.”

Generation NE is working to connect small to medium sized businesses across the region with the next generation of the region’s workforce, helping young people take their first steps onto the career ladder, whilst giving SMEs the opportunity to grow.

The £4.5 million youth employment programme is a collaboration between five local authorities, including Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, and the North East LEP.

Generation NE’s Mark Stamper said: “Generation NE is here to help SMEs in the North East like Growth Capital Ventures to connect with the workforce of tomorrow, providing a simplified, tailor-made package of high quality support and advice.

“As with Aymie and her new employer, our expert business advisors work hard to understand the exact needs of a business, finding out specifically what they are looking for in a candidate, in order to pair them with the most suitable local young people who are looking for employment.

“It’s great to see both North East businesses and young people benefitting from our free, impartial service.”

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration at Durham County Council, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of Generation NE, which will help many more young people, like Aymie, take their first steps on the career ladder.

“I wish Aymie every success in her future career and look forward to seeing other young people and businesses benefit from the support that Generation NE can offer.”

For more information on Generation NE and how its team of Business Advisors are helping North East businesses to engage with young people visit www.generationne.co.uk or call 0191 230 0491.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Generation NE .