This week's North East appointments

This week’s round up of North East appointments includes Onyx Health, the Port of Tyne, Your Home & Esh construction. Read on to find out more.

Hope Johnston, Jordan Carr, Onyx Health,

Newcastle-based healthcare marketing communications agency Onyx Health has expanded its growing digital content team with the double appointment of Hope Johnston as Digital Content Manager and Jordan Carr as Social Media Executive. The latest additions to the team come off the back of a period of sustained growth, which has seen the agency expand its international client portfolio.

Onyx Health’s new digital content specialist Hope grew up in South Tyneside and holds a Business and Marketing Management degree from Sunderland University. She joins the Onyx Health team from Gateshead-based agency, Mediaworks, where she was a content strategist, working across multiple client accounts regionally and nationally.

A Newcastle native, Jordan started his career as a digital media apprentice at Newcastle University Students Union, before progressing to become a Marketing Assistant. In this role, he was responsible for the Student Union’s social media and creative content, which incorporated elements of video and creative design.

Commenting on the new appointments, Onyx Health’s executive director Trevor Pill said, “Creating high quality digital content is an essential element of the creative communication campaigns that we develop and deliver for our clients.Our new appointments bring valuable digital content experience to the team, enabling us to develop and enhance our existing client offering.

“It’s been amazing to see our headcount grow from ten to over thirty in the last two years. We’re very proud of the fact that our recruitment strategy continues to revolve around North-East talent. Its something that we hope to continue into the future.”

Rebecca Finlay, the Port of Tyne

The Port of Tyne, one of the UK’s major deep-sea ports, has appointed its first ever Marine Apprentice. This apprenticeship is only the third of its kind in the UK and the only one north of the Humber.

Rebecca Finlay is the Port’s first Marine Operations Officer Apprentice and she is due to begin her studies at South Shields Marine School in September. By the end of her three year apprenticeship, Rebecca will be qualified for a wide range of positions across the marine operation.

The apprenticeship is designed to give students the opportunity to learn about shipping and ports. It provides hands on training in all aspects of marine operations including marine management, pilotage, and hydrography. Rebecca will also spend time in other business areas to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Port and the role of a Marine Operations Officer.

Dillon Brown, marine manager at Port of Tyne, said: “This leading apprenticeship helps to ensure that the Port’s marine team is fit for the future. Having completed this apprenticeship myself prior to its formal accreditation, I appreciate the value it brings to the business and the incredible opportunity it provides for young people seeking a career in the industry.”

Speaking about her new role and training, Rebecca Finlay, said: “The apprenticeship is giving me opportunities to develop my skills and knowledge in the marine environment, which will be beneficial in my future career.”

Alison Thompson, Siobhan Weightman and Hayley Hoben-Blight, Your home

A trio of new appointments is set to strengthen a Newcastle housing provider. Three experienced professionals, Alison Thompson, Siobhan Weightman and Hayley Hoben-Blight, have joined Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), bringing significant expertise to the organisation’s team.

Alison Thompson has joined as Interim assistant director of finance and performance and will take on responsibility for the wider finance directorate who are responsible for managing money effectively within the organisation. Having held roles with DWP, Defra, the NHS and most recently the Ministry of Justice, she brings a wealth of public sector experience to her new role.

Siobhan Weightman has been appointed assistant director of technology and transformation, a new directorate at YHN focusing on how digital transformation can improve customer experience and efficiency within the organisation. She joins the firm having built a successful career in local government, policing and housing.

Completing the hattrick of appointments is Hayley Hoben-Blight, who is Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead at YHN. Hayley has been promoted to her new role having previously served as a Safe Living Officer at YHN. EDI plays a significant part of YHN’s culture, so a specialised role was created to deliver a coordinated response to plans, projects and strategies to embed EDI across the organisation.

The roles are important new additions that YHN managing director, Tina Drury, believes will build on the organisation’s fresh focus, set out in its new business plan. She said: “These are three brilliant appointments, and I am proud to welcome Alison and Siobhan to YHN and to congratulate Hayley on her promotion, which is very well deserved.”

Nine director and senior-level promotions, Esh construction

North of England contractor, Esh Construction, is building on the success of continued growth within its civil engineering division by announcing nine director and senior-level promotions. Strengthening the division in all sectors both commercially and operationally, the new appointments will drive forward growth plans across the North East and Yorkshire regions.

Strengthening the proven operational capabilities of the civil engineering division is Steven Garrigan, who has been appointed as divisional director. Steven takes the reins following his success as project director for Esh’s flagship scheme, Phase 3 of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor, and builds on a 33-year career in the industry.

The operational team will be supported by Alan Croft and Stephen McClean, with the pair promoted to general civil construction manager and special projects construction manager, respectively.

Elsewhere, the division’s work winning abilities has been boosted by the appointment of Steve Conn as pre-construction director, Giovanni Asoni as estimating director and Ross Markwell as business development director.

The string of new appointments includes Lee Taylor as commercial director for Esh’s housing infrastructure division, Lumsden & Carroll, as well as Norman Barnett who has been appointed as framework director with the responsibility of managing the delivery of Esh’s small works schemes with the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water Group.

Finally, Martin O’Connelley has been appointed as group commercial director for all Esh Construction divisions. Martin has 12 years’ experience within Esh’s civil engineering division and is now tasked with driving performance and collaboration across the wider group as part of the new leadership team.

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