Member Article

This week's North East appointments

The latest appointment updates from across the North East.

Keith Barnes, FW Capital

FW Capital has expanded its North East investment team and appointed Keith Barnes as Investment Executive. Keith joins the team of 18 delivering part of the £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in the North of England.

The NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance provides loan and mezzanine investments of between £100,000 and £750,000 to businesses based in the Tees Valley and Cumbria and North West of England.

FW Capital is also responsible for investing the £10 million Tees Valley Catalyst Fund across the North East of England and the new £10 million North East Property Fund.

Based in the business’ Billingham offices, Keith will help Tees Valley-based businesses secure funding and is responsible for identifying and investing in eligible small and medium businesses that require funding from the £102m NPIF - FW Capital Debt Finance.

With over 25 years of experience working with SMEs across North East and Cumbria, Keith will utilise his knowledge and expertise in banking to help businesses to achieve their growth ambitions.

Keith said: “It’s a real pleasure to join the FW Capital team,” Keith said. “I’m really looking forward to working with ambitious companies across the region, finding funding solutions to meet their growth needs.”

Fund Manager Joanne Whitfield, added: “FW Capital is an established investor in the North East supporting businesses through a number of our funds.

“I’m delighted to welcome Keith to the team to develop our presence in the North, giving us the opportunity to support more businesses in the region in the future.”

Julie Hunter, George F. White

George F. White, the land, business and property group, has appointed a Partner to its planning and development team, in a key strategic move for the consultancy.

Julie Hunter joins the Group to enhance its range of planning and development services, attract a wider client base and help to grow the planning team.

With a degree in architecture and vast experience in local authority planning and working for house builders, such as Barratt Homes, on large scale developments, Julie provides an added dimension to the team.

Julie’s remit will be national, with a key focus on the County Durham area. Her core objective is to expand George F. White’s presence in this region and reach out to potential clients who manage larger scale housing developments, including developers and house builders.

Talking about her new role, Julie said: “It’s great to be a part of such a vibrant and skilled team that’s gone from strength to strength in recent years. The people-centred ethos of George F. White really appealed to me and the team consists of a range of talented, like-minded people who I am eager to work with, and learn from.

“I hope to share my experience and knowledge, especially within urban development, and also learn more about rural planning, including land sales and option agreements. It’s a good point to join the team, in very interesting times, and I am looking forward to building relationships with new and existing clients.”

Rachel Peacock, Digital Union

North East business network Digital Union has recruited Rachel Peacock as its new full-time Networks Manager.

Rachel will help drive the growth of the organisation’s membership network in a bid to further connect the creative digital businesses that continue to flourish in the region’s burgeoning sector.

Ms Peacock believes now is the perfect time to join the ranks of the expanding organisation and will use her IT and digital experience to help communicate the benefits of joining the Union.

She said: “I’m from the North East and proud of our region and what we’re trying to achieve. This role felt like a natural progression, combining my connections, knowledge of the area and desire to help grow the creative and digital community as well as create real jobs and opportunities.

“I’ll be helping the network to grow and connecting all the individuals, businesses and organisations working in the North East’s Creative and Digital sector. Having worked in this sector over the last few years, I am passionate about raising the profile of the region and promoting the fantastic work of businesses based here.”

Sintons

Newcastle law firm Sintons has appointed two new lawyers to its real estate team, Vinaya Jigajinni and Paul Stevens.

Vinaya joins from Watson Burton and handles a wide range of property matters of all complexities, and has particular experience in acting for lenders and investors.

Paul moves to Sintons from Whitehead and Low LLP and is a specialist in landlord and tenant matters, dealing with commercial sales, purchases and leases.

The department also benefits from the return of well-known solicitor Joanne Russell, who has been on maternity leave. Joanne has significant experience in dealing with public sector clients, including supporting schools in their conversion to Academies.

Mark Dobbin, Partner and Head of Real Estate, said: “We are well known and highly rated across the region and far beyond for the real estate experience and expertise we have here at Sintons. The size of our department, and the expertise we have within it, enables us to handle a wide range of transactions for some of the biggest names in the UK property market.

“We are delighted to welcome Vinaya and Paul to our team, and to welcome back Joanne, as we continue to grow and develop, and invest in our people.”

Synergi

North East technology company Synergi has bolstered its team with three new additions.

Kevin Houston, who previously worked regionally as a SharePoint Consultant for the last 10 years, joins with vast experience of the Microsoft SharePoint and Nintex landscape, from On-Premise to SharePoint Online and more recently with Office 365.

Kevin said: “I have always been a big advocate of Nintex, and I’m really excited to be able to progress my career within an award winning partner, I hope to excel with Synergi and continue with their excellent success.

Aiste Jakonyte and Isabella Slater have been appointed as new members of the Marketing and PR team. They will work together to drive Synergi’s marketing efforts forward and increase brand awareness.

Both students from Newcastle University, Isabella has just completed a year in industry gaining various experience in digital and social media marketing. Aiste has recently graduated with a degree in Fine Art and will bring valuable image and video design skills to the team.

Aiste comments, “I am excited to share my skills with the company and look forward to gaining invaluable experience in marketing and PR”.

Isabella added, “I am very much looking forward to working with the company to enhance their current marketing and PR strategy. I’ve found the team to be really friendly and look forward to coming up with a creative and innovative approach to improve the current strategy.

Explain Market Research

Explain Market Research has recruited four new team members into its North East head office team.

The company provides full-service market research solutions to a range of companies across the UK including those in the healthcare, social housing, utilities and financial services sectors for over three decades.

Samantha Yuk and Andy Patterson, both graduates from Northumbria University, have joined the team as full time Market Research Assistants, where they will develop in qualitative and quantitative market research methodologies aligned to Market Research Society training. Two apprentices have also joined up with the business.

Kim Davis, Managing Director, said: “We are a great supporter of professional development, and are delighted to add to our dynamic team. Our graduate and placement programme adds significant value to our business and our customers.

“A number of our graduates have progressed throughout the business into senior roles after developing their knowledge, skill and expertise in the sector.

“I am delighted to see the continued development and success of our graduate recruitment program, our growth strategy and continued delivery to clients will only be achieved through consistent investment in our exceptional team.”

Join us next monday for more North East appointment news.

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