Image source: ** RCB **

National Apprenticeship Week is a government-led initiative, which aims to highlight the importance of apprenticeships and the benefits for young people, businesses and the economy in general. Late last year, PM David Cameron vowed to create 3m apprenticeships in an attempt to quell youth unemployment. We asked SMEs across the South East to share their opinions on apprenticeship schemes and how they affect both young people and businesses across the region.

Ben Pike, director of Slough-based QA Apprenticeships, which provides training for young people across the UK, believes that going to university is no longer the only route to success: “Opportunities are limited for young people, and there is this idea that in order to be successful, one HAS to go to university but that’s just not the case. 

"We all learn in different ways and with new avenues open to school leavers such as apprenticeships, 16-18 year olds are more empowered to achieve success and gain a sense of self awareness. These programmes offer wages which provides a genuine level of independence as opposed to student debt."

Spencer Mehlmann, managing director of Essex-based training provider Not Going To Uni, also believes that young people should be encouraged to think outside of the academic box: “At Not Going to Uni we’re delighted to see that the profile of National Apprenticeship Week has never been higher. 

"We work with a wide range of employers in the region to promote apprenticeship opportunities, and have seen a 32% YOY increase in Apprenticeships positions in the South East. 

"Apprenticeships are rightfully being seen as a viable alternative for young people to achieve their career aspirations.”   Previously, apprenticeships were primarily available in ‘blue-collar’ industries and there was also a significant gender divide. Nowadays, there are apprenticeship schemes available across the board - from marketing to finance, young people can train in any discipline they like, without having a degree. Even Surrey-based party planning and events management company is getting in on the apprenticeship buzz. Mike Walker, managing director at MGN Events said: “As a young entrepreneur myself, I am a great supporter of apprenticeships.  We have two apprentices at the moment who I hope will go on and become full time members of staff.  

"As a business owner, my experience of having apprentices within the business has overall  been a very positive one.  

"For our business, the advantages are clear – we are investing in  training somebody from scratch in our way of working and giving them a complete understanding of our business.  The disadvantage is the amount of time involved in getting them up to speed on the nature of what we do.  However, six months into training for our current apprentices and we already have two highly competent members of staff who are an asset to our business – for us that’s a bonus.”

It’s not only young people that have gained from the increased government focus on apprenticeships. Leona Barr Jones, HR expert and managing director of Barr Jones Associates, believes apprenticeships can only benefit employers: “If you’re an SME and you are interested in taking on an apprentice, one of the first things you’ll need is a training provider so choose one who ensures that both you as the employer and your apprentice are fully supported. 

"For an employer, apprentices provide a great opportunity for on-the-job training in partnership with a local college or training organisation that takes care of the ‘off-the-job training for you. 

"For a young person, it can provide the opportunity to have a real job with training so that they can ‘earn while they learn’ and of course, very importantly, they can get recognised qualifications along the way.   

"The majority of our SME clients who have apprentices say that apprentices have increased productivity, staff moral and retention and bring fresh thinking and ideas to their businesses."

However, hiring apprentices is not always a walk in the park and many businesses find it can be hard to recruit adequately trained individuals. Surrey-based training firm Acuity Training says that, in its experience, there is a distinct air of apathy amongst youngsters and vital skills needed by most businesses are sadly lacking.

Manager of Acuity Training, Anne Carew, said: “Due to our increased workload, it was evident we needed some help, albeit part-time at that stage. After examining our options, it was agreed that an apprenticeship offered most benefits, and so we opened up a role in business administration, to include elements of IT”.

“From what we saw, there seems to be a lack of teaching students about what to expect when joining the world of work," 

“For many, even the basics such as working to deadline, personal appearance and maintaining a good work ethos were sadly lacking.  For those who showed more potential in these areas, they were unable to communicate effectively with other members of staff and customers or even use Outlook to arrange calendars and meetings. 

"In our opinion, schools are failing to prepare these students adequately, and explain the benefits of apprenticeships."

Perseverance paid off however, and four months later, Acuity hired Crystal Naudé, who had previously worked for her parents in their pub and had studied IT at college.  The company organised for Crystal to attend a couple of their MS Office training courses and her assessor visited once each month, which meant that she was able to complete the majority of her coursework during office hours. 

Crystal said: “The apprenticeship experience was invaluable. Throughout my time at Acuity, I managed to gain excellent day to day administration skills through software training and by practising my communication ability both over the telephone and face to face.  Gaining these types of skills earlier in a learning environment however, would have proved very useful."

Joseph Blass, CEO of WorkPlaceLive, a Croydon-based firm which is made up of one-fifth apprentices, also believes that training apprentices can be hard work - but its worth it: "Just because someone doesn’t have work experience doesn’t mean they won’t add value, as we have found out. An apprentice scheme gives businesses the opportunity not only to select the right people but also an opportunity to mould their attitude, which is priceless and much more difficult to do with someone who has been working for some time.

"We need to open our eyes and look at the potential we have in front of us; apprentices are those people who by definition have the drive and passion to enter in to something and succeed, and are likely to be great employees at those companies who provided them with the opportunity.

"Apprenticeship programmes take a lot of investment, commitment and dedication. We invested a lot of time upfront and worked with our existing staff to get their buy-in, which was essential because they are the apprentice’s life line and support mechanism.

"Most apprentices are new to the world of work so quite often the early days are spent teaching them basic work related skills. It takes time for them to adapt but by creating a strong support network you’ll be able to address their concerns and challenges early on.

"The reality is that setting up an apprenticeship scheme is time consuming but it is also very rewarding and can deliver a real return on investment. There are great resources available on the web, and a lot of recent industry expertise to guide you, so it needn’t be difficult."

All in all, apprenticeships can be greatly beneficial for young people, offering opportunities that were previously only available to graduates and academically-minded individuals. However, businesses must remember that taking on an apprenticeship means taking responsibility for training a young person and often that can take time and cost money. 

What do you think about apprenticeship schemes? Have we found a solution to our youth employment problem?

Businesses and apprentices from across the North West told Bdaily about the importance of apprenticeships, especially during National Apprenticeship Week.

Reed.co.uk said: “The apprenticeship boom of 2014 continues to thrive in the North West, with employers opening up more apprenticeship opportunities to young people, and record level of applications being made.

“School leavers and graduates are placing more emphasis on finding meaningful employment that will give them the right foundation for their future career.

“We value schemes like National Apprenticeship Week hugely, as they help to demonstrate the value of apprenticeships to employers and job seekers, and this in turn drives employment growth in key industries like retail and technology.”

Oldham building company Emanuel Whittaker celebrate generations of apprentices. John Gallaher, Emanuel Whittaker Contracts Director said:  “Emanuel Whittaker has a long and distinguished record of creating training and employment opportunities for young people and we believe we have trained over 700 apprentices in our 187 year history."

Peel Ports Chief Operation Officer, Gary Hodgson, knows the value of apprenticeships as he began his career in their shoes as 17 year old mechanical engineering apprentice with Thorn EMI – an experience he draws on when working with Peel Ports apprentices.

Gary said: “Our apprentices are hugely important to us.

"It is important that we help each and every one of them develop their career within the industry.

"We also encourage them to develop themselves as individuals, helping build their confidence and communication skills, which are just as important as the technical skills.

“When I was an apprentice I was an employee of the company and there was always going to be a job for me at the end and we have taken the same approach.

"If our apprentices have something invested in the company there’s more chance of them staying with us long term.

“From our experience apprenticeships create stronger prospects for a future workforce, as they become part of the company for longer than they would as part of a degree and have already shown us they can adapt to a working environment.”

Close Brothers banking group provide asset-based finance for Burnley based, specialist manufacturer, BCW.

Most of BCW’s workforce started as apprentices, and the company works with local schools to recruit and train school leavers.

Stephen Hodges - Managing Director & banking Chief Executive of Close Brothers said: “BCW’s apprentice programme has been core to the business from the outset, and has been hugely successful in supporting the company’s impressive growth from 10 to 120 employees.

"It’s a great example and why my advice to any SME is that if you are serious about growth, you need to be serious about apprenticeships.

"This isn’t just about hiring young staff or jumping on a political bandwagon, it’s about seizing the opportunity to build a loyal and sustainable workforce by inspiring and nurturing great talent.”

Spencer Mehlman, Managing Director of notgoingtouni.co.uk, commented: “Apprenticeships are a great option for anyone who is looking for a way into a career.

"At Not Going to Uni we work with major employers to promote apprenticeship positions in the North West, and we’ve never seen more opportunities on our site in the region.”

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said: “People want to work, but many lack the skills to match the available jobs in their areas.

"This is particularly true in the North, and yet apprenticeships have gravitated towards the comparatively successful South.

"It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation: which came first, the apprenticeships or the successful companies willing to train up skilled workers?

“Apprenticeships are the kind of investment that take some time to pay dividends.

"It’s understandable that during tough times, employers weren’t thinking this far ahead – the pressures of keeping employees in work and companies afloat overrides the kind of long-term thinking exhibited by apprenticeships.

"It’s time for companies in the North to make themselves heard. Their flourishing manufacturing, trade and construction sectors are building the foundations for tomorrow’s economy.

"With help, they’ll be able to rise to the challenge of securing the future of Britain’s skilled labour market too.”

Zoe Brimelow, Brand Director at Duo UK, said: “As a manufacturer we are constantly fighting to find individuals with the aptitude and talent we need to strengthen our team and continue to grow our business.

"This is why we feel very strongly about addressing the skills gap and investing in young talent, for us an individual’s attitude and willingness to learn is just as important as academic grades.”

Civil engineering apprentice Daniel Long works at WSP in Manchester’s infrastructure team as part of his Level 3 Diploma in Civil Engineering for Technicians (through the Institution of Civil Engineers). Daniel thinks apprenticeships are important to close the skills gap in the industry. Daniel said: “It is fairly well known that there is a skills shortage within the construction industry, which as work and demand increases is only going to get worse.

"Apprenticeships are an effective way in which more people can be brought into the industry and trained up.

"However, I think there is some work to be done with how apprenticeships are perceived.

"They can be seen as perhaps a less desirable alternative than a more traditional college or university route.

"Yet when you sit down and weigh up both options, an apprenticeship with the right company can be far more beneficial.

"This could be addressed by making a concerted effort in increasing the quality, not just quantity, of apprenticeships on offer.”

Ann-Marie, senior regeneration manager at Procure Plus, North West social housing regeneration consortium said:  “As a living wage employer, we recognise the benefits it provides our employees and our business, but believe the initiative could go further - namely to support apprentices.

“Currently, those undertaking apprenticeships aren’t covered by the standard and receive just £2.73 an hour under the National Minimum Wage.

“For many, earning less than £3 an hour is an insurmountable barrier to taking up these training and employment opportunities with minimum wage salaries, as they wouldn’t be able to meet their existing financial obligations.

"As a business with a strong focus on creating apprenticeships and training opportunities, we are addressing this issue with the ‘Living Wage Plus’."

Rob van Dorp, chief executive, Intertek UK & Eire, said: “Employing skilled and highly qualified scientists and engineers is crucial to the future of our quality and safety business, as many other UK businesses.  

"We want to help students realise that science and engineering can offer a great career with dynamic, commercial and global possibilities above and beyond an academic one.

“We encourage more young people into science and engineering careers through apprenticeships, traineeships and placements.

"We also visit graduate fairs and encourage young people to visit our laboratories to experience first-hand what life as professional laboratory scientist might be like.” 

Ann Beetham, business development manager at Preston’s College, said: “Apprenticeships are age irrelevant with adult learners also able to significantly enhance their career prospects and gain nationally-recognised qualifications in their chosen industry.

“The next generation of leaders are already in work today and it’s crucial that employers recognise the potential of their current workforce as a way to deal with the immediate suitability challenges and help deliver a stronger, more versatile business.”

Mick Hamill, Regional Delivery Manager for the North West at CITB, said: “The skills gap remains a threat to the comeback in the North West.

"During National Apprenticeship Week we want talented young people to consider a rewarding career in construction – as our figures show, brilliant opportunities are out there.

“With our forecast showing that over 200,000 jobs are to be created in construction over the next five years, many more firms need to take on apprentices so that our industry can deliver all of the exciting projects in the pipeline.”

Travis Perkins CEO, John Carter, recently stated: “Every company has a responsibility to start training people for the future.”

Iain Pollock, of Plumbing Trade Supplies Salford, a business within the Travis Perkins Group said:"Based on my current experience with the Travis Perkins plc management apprentices scheme I would have to say it has brought an urgency and willingness into the branch that I never would have believed possible in such a short period of time.

"My own apprentice has grown in stature and has the respect from all his fellow colleagues. He has shown great leadership skills in his current project shadowing the warehouse supervisor, and being directly responsible for eight people.

"He is already an asset to the branch and the scheme."

Liverpool salon owner Melanie Hill said: “A salon is only as good as its staff, and helping apprentices grow and develop is part of investing in the future.

“Apprenticeships are vital for bringing the best and brightest talent into our industry, so I’m delighted so many salons are investing in them.

Jack Bates (18), Barclays Trailblazer Apprentice, commented: “Growing up, I dreamt of a high-flying career - something my family could be really proud of.

"But, after I left college, I didn’t think that was going to be possible anymore. I didn’t think I’d actually get on the Trailblazer programme, so I was really excited when I heard that I’d be joining Corporate Banking.

"It really feels like I’m getting a career at Barclays and it’s amazing that I’ll get a qualification which is the same level as a degree; it’s something I assumed I’d never be able to do.”

Norma Guest, Managing Director at MPloy Solutions, a North West careers advice specialist, comments on apprenticeship opportunities in the region: “We’ve seen a real rise in the number of North West businesses looking for an apprentice to join their ranks.

“The time has never been better to help train the workforce of tomorrow, with the current AGE grant and recent removal of National Insurance payments for under 21s making taking on an apprentice both a positive and cost-effective choice.

“The best advice I can give to businesses considering running an apprenticeship scheme is to ensure that your apprentice’s skills and ambitions are properly matched to your industry.  

"A specialist can help you by ensuring that you receive focused, work-ready candidates who are going to be a true asset to your business whilst hugely benefiting from the training you provide.

“It’s also well worth seeking advice on possible funding options and potential links with colleges and training providers so that your recruit can have access to all the right qualifications for your industry.

“With all of this in place, businesses have the opportunity to provide invaluable training to the region’s workforce of tomorrow whilst themselves reaping the benefits.”

Paul Sweeney, CEO of ANS Group said: “Whilst the option of going to further and higher education is available, the curriculum is often too broad by definition.

"Often, at the end of a three-year course, items and areas studied have been superseded by new technologies or IT concepts, the very nature of IT.  

"The UK has aspirations to be a world digital leader and the North will play a huge part in that.

"Our Apprentice Academy is nurturing young talent and helping develop the next generation of digital leaders.”

UKFast’s CEO Lawrence Jones MBE – launched the company’s own apprenticeship scheme, run entirely in-house, having invested millions into education and training. As well as recruiting two former teachers to head up the department, Jones also created a dedicated training space in the company’s HQ where apprentices receive Ofsted-accredited training and can study for relevant industry qualifications.

He has commented: “National Apprenticeship Week is a nice opportunity to shout about the benefits of apprenticeships; however, there’s still some way to go when it comes to raising the bar across the board and ensuring the relationship between a business and its apprentices is both fair and mutually beneficial.

“One of the things we set out to do when we launched our apprenticeship scheme at UKFast was to reject the idea of apprentices as cheap labour.

"As such, we pay more than double the national average for apprentices, and help them gain the relevant industry accreditations.

"As business owners, it’s our responsibility to pay them the wage they are earning and to help them forge the careers that they want, so it’s always disappointing to hear of companies that still view these young people as a way to get high output for very little input.

“There are some excellent organisations out there empowering and developing young people; Timpson’s and Rolls Royce for example. Yet I fear some apprentices aren’t getting this kind of quality and support.

“In many industries, technology included, people often complain of a skills gap. But, done right, apprenticeships are a solution to this problem, equipping young people with the skills this country needs.

"It’s time for all business owners to see these schemes as an opportunity to help both the apprentices and the business to grow together.

"I have been incredibly proud of our apprentices, whose passion and eagerness has rippled throughout the whole business. Even if you can only take on one, I would highly recommend it!”  

One of the Intertek apprentices, Damien Beesley, 20, who works as an Apprentice Analyst while studying a BTec in Applied Science at Trafford College of Science and Technology explained how he joined the company, which he really enjoys: 

“I had gone to college to do IT and maths and wasn’t sure what to do next and so was working in a bar in Wigan.

"I was pretty sure that I did not want to go to Uni. My brother-in-law had heard about the Apprentice scheme at Intertek and so I submitted my CV and was offered an interview. 

"A few days later I was offered an Apprenticeship.

“I get to use some really exciting bits of kit! Some days I work using an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to test which chemical elements are in a sample and some days I get to work on the ICP-OES instrument (stands for inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy) which can tell the levels of metal elements that are in the sample.

“I feel proud when I see products in shops that I may have worked on and so have helped the clients who make the products, in some small way, to make sure they are safe and have no harmful chemicals in them.“ 

On Thursday, David Cameron was in Lancashire to announce the launch of new ‘degree apprenticeship’ scheme as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Since coming into power in 2010, The Conservatives have placed great importance on apprenticeships, with plans for 3 million placements to be created to tackle youth unemployment. 

Yorkshire has seen a surge in apprenticeship schemes in recent years. Thanks to the support from Finance Yorkshire and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), small businesses are working alongside to recruit and support young people in apprenticeship roles. 

Finance Yorkshire has recently worked with Rotherham College to launch an apprenticeship scheme with forklift battery provider, Industrial Battery and Charger Services Limited (IBCS). The Rotherham-based business has seen two apprentices already qualify as electrical engineers while a third is six months into his apprenticeship at the company.

Managing Director Jonathan Jones (pictured top) said: “We see apprentices very much as the future of our business – once they are qualified, they have a trade and stay with us while we continue to invest in their training and development. Having an apprenticeship scheme has been very positive for us.”

The company’s latest apprentice Dylan Bartholomew, 18, has already completed a Level 2 Electrical Engineering course, he said: “This is my first job and I’m enjoying it very much. I’m learning a lot while at the same time going to college where I do my course in two-week blocks which works well alongside being at IBCS. Doing an apprenticeship is definitely the right route for me.”

Larger businesses have also benefitted from the boost in apprenticeships, as Barclays announced plans to hire 50 new apprentices in Leeds this week, as part of a nationwide scheme. Lee Desborough, Barclays manager for the Leeds region commented: “The most motivating aspect of our apprenticeship programme is seeing young people, especially those who perhaps didn’t achieve academically, grow in confidence and aspiration. 

"Our 2,000 apprentices have been a real asset to the organisation and I’m incredibly excited to welcome the next intake. Our goal is to help our apprentices grow with us, not just in the skills they learn, but in the confidence they gain as well as to help them build a bright future.”

Here at Bdaily, we were keen to talk to SMEs across the region to find out their opinions on apprenticeships and how they benefit young people, businesses and the economy. 

Doncaster and Sheffield-based law firm Taylor Bracewell has benefited greatly from its apprenticeship scheme, as it currently employs three former office juniors in successful fee-earning positions within the business.  

Practice manager, Remi Stumpenhusen, believes the firm benefits from the scheme on two levels: "We have been fortunate enough to attract the right candidates who believe strongly in our Core Values and we are most appreciative of our employees. With the apprentice scheme, we have also been able to assist with getting people on to the professional ladder in Doncaster and Sheffield; it’s a win-win situation!"

Leeds-based Greens Decorating Contractors also maintain a strong retention rate amongst its apprentices. Managing director, David Green, explained:  "Since working with Leeds College of Building to provide the scheme, we have seen a healthy amount retained as full-time employees once qualification is completed. 

"Growing our staff levels this way is a major benefit to our business, ensuring the quality of our workforce is retained rather than having to delve into the unknown pool of agency workers.

"Yorkshire businesses looking for home grown talent will benefit from the Apprenticeship schemes available. Even with the economy in the position it is in, there is still a wealth of funding and incentives available to businesses to boost employment through offering Apprenticeships. 

"In doing so, businesses are able to positively contribute to the local economy through boosting youth employment and creating strong opportunities to bridge the gap between leaving school and commencing a skilled career."

In past years, apprenticeship schemes were offered mainly in industrial and construction sectors but times are changing. According to recruitment experts Reed, business and administration is the top sector for apprenticeships in Yorkshire, with IT and telecoms coming second and retail and commercial enterprise third. 

Nowadays, schools and colleges work with businesses from a wide range of sectors to promote apprenticeship schemes. Huddersfield entrepreneur David Price-Baghurst’s (pictured above) owns four of the leading stores in Queensgate Market, selling everything from hardware to baking equipment to wigs, and central to the success of his business is apprentices.  

When he started the business, four years ago after deciding retirement wasn’t for him, the 66-year old was initially sceptical about the benefits of an apprenticeship scheme.

However, he was quickly persuaded by talking to Business Brokers from the Kirklees Apprenticeship Hub.  David believes that this advice and support was crucial when making the decision to hire an apprentice: “When they’d been through the details with me, I thought yes - I can see this as an opportunity for us to improve the next generation and to bring people on in our way of selling and our way of doing business.  

“So we took on one apprentice and then the second and then the third. We’ve now got three apprentices working within the business and we teach them everything they need to be a successful shop keeper - selling techniques, buying and stock taking.”

David Anderson, sales and marketing director at Kirklees-based Rixonway Kitchens believes apprenticeship schemes are a great way to keep local talent in the region, he said: “Rixonway is committed to providing employment opportunities for the local community and our apprenticeship scheme is a vital part of delivering these opportunities.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to see so many young people taking up apprenticeships with us and working at our factory alongside their college studies. Apprentices benefit both employers and employees and it is great to have so many enthusiastic young people wanting to learn a trade and establish their career with us.”

Rixonway, which employs more than 500 people at its factory in Dewsbury, has taken on four engineering apprentices (pictured above). Samesh Lad, a 20-year-old maintenance apprentice from Leeds, works at Rixonway alongside studying at Wakefield College. He said: “Doing an apprenticeship means learning, earning and getting hands-on experience. There aren’t many opportunities you will get where companies are willing to educate you whilst paying a wage to allow you to get experience.

“The variety of jobs to do on a daily basis is the most enjoyable thing about working at Rixonway; there is always something new to learn. I’ve picked up a keener interest in engineering as a whole and my apprenticeship has helped me to find ways to make use of any spare time I have by using it to build on my expanding knowledge.”  

What do Bdaily readers think? Are apprenticeships a positive way of nurturing local talent? What are the long term effects from training millions of young people in apprenticeship roles?

Leave your comments below 

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The Wirral Waters Campus of the Wirral Met College will be the first new building on the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone.

Set to open in September, the £8 million facility will provide a pipeline of skills for employers who will be investing in the Wirral by locating into the new Enterprise Zone.

Students have already been given the chance to work on site during the development, giving them an insight into all aspects of a major construction project.

When open there will be places for 600 vocational students including 200 apprentices a year.

Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Enterprise Zones are supporting businesses and giving hard-working people the skills they need to succeed.

“These new colleges and training centres are at the heart of that vision and are helping plug skills gaps across a range of key sectors.

“That’s great news for the economy as it means the UK will have the skills needed to compete on a global stage for years to come.

“It really does show how Enterprise Zones are central to our long-term economic plan.“

Leading electrical wholesaler YESSS Electrical has celebrated the opening of its 86th branch.

The 5,820 sq ft store, with a prime location at 44 Ings Road, Unit B, Wakefield, has created six new jobs following the £500k investment and is the 14th branch within Yorkshire.

With over 4,000 stock lines off the shelf locally, and a stock holding of over £12million held at the nearby distribution centre in Normanton, YESSS is at the forefront of electrical wholesaling in the region.  

YESSS Electrical, launched in 2012, is one of the UK’s fastest growing companies, having opened over 85 branches in just 12 months, making it the 4th largest electrical wholesaler creating 800 jobs and achieving turnover of more than £160million.

As well being the only UK Wholesaler to achieve ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001, YESSS has been awarded Wholesaler of The Year for the last two years, in addition to being awarded Best Newcomer at this year’s Business Masters Award.

Branch manager Wayne Pickard said: “YESSS Electrical is a dynamic and forward thinking company that is transforming the electrical wholesale industry by focussing on what YESSS stands for - Your Electrical Supplies, Service and Solutions.

“We’re really keen for local people – both tradesmen and the general public – and those from further afield working in the area, to come down and see what we have to offer. There will be YESSS’s usual combination of product displays, promotions and special offers, and outstanding customer service to ensure that customers get exactly what they are looking for.”

Arch has celebrated the launch of its new Workspace development with an official ceremony at the site in Blyth.

The development, which was due to open earlier this year, is located at Commissioners Quay, on Blyth Quayside is now available for occupation and 5 new businesses have already moved in ahead of the launch.

The new Workspace constructed by Bowmer and Kirkland Limited and managed by Arch has been designed by award-winning architectural practice xsite architecture.

The landmark new development is the first step to regenerate and enhance Blyth Estuary’s reputation as a centre of excellence in energy and research.

The vision for Commissioner’s Quay is an integrated, mixed-use place that is a destination for living, working and visiting.  Blyth Workspace was recently completed and a 40 bedroom Inn and restaurant will start construction shortly.

Blyth Workspace consists of first-class, contemporary managed offices in a striking quayside location.

It is a highly energy efficient building, with state-of-the-art facilities, professional reception, dedicated high speed broadband, free parking, rapid electric car charging points, 24/7 security services including CCTV.  

Cllr Dave Ledger, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council and Chair of Arch said:  “This is a flagship project for Arch, our partners and Blyth, designed to build on key business strengths and to establish facilities which will attract and grow new jobs and high growth enterprises.

"The new workspace is central to the wider regeneration of the Quay. We are offering high-quality serviced office accommodation aimed to attract businesses in the energy sector which will add an exciting new dimension to the site and wider development and regeneration of the Blyth Estuary.“

The Robinson Jackson Group is pleased to announce the opening of its 23rd office, this time a new branch in New Cross. The stunning new office at 159-161 New Cross Road covers the Peckham-Camberwell-Deptford triangle, with New Cross at its centre.

The property market in New Cross is continuing to flourish, with its fast public transport connections, emerging arts scene and varied property stock, which includes some stunning Victorian residences luring buyers from south west, central and east London.

Dan Carlisle, the Senior Branch Manager at the New Cross office, comments: "New Cross has been described as ‘the Shoreditch of the south’ and Robinson Jackson has been quick to realise the area’s potential. A cosmopolitan culture, diverse selection of restaurants and Goldsmiths University gives SE14 and the surrounding neighbourhoods an exciting vibe. Our branch on New Cross Road is dedicated to offering buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords the very best experience."

This latest branch opening from The Robinson Jackson Group marks a period of growth and expansion for the agency, which has over 50 years of trading experience in London and Kent.

The New Cross branch will have a dedicated Sales Progressor, an in-branch mortgage advisor and extended opening hours to deliver a superb service. For all enquiries call 020 7647 7711. The team will be available 8am to 8pm, even on Sundays.

I Sunk Your Battleship (ISYB), a County Durham-based clothing brand, has received an investment totalling £97,500.

The streetwear brand received the majority of the investment (£80,000) from Northstar Ventures, Finance for Business, Proof of Concept Fund. 

The funding will be used to enable the company to ramp-up its production and marketing efforts.

Ross McPhie, managing director of ISYB, said: “With Northstar’s involvement and belief in our brand, we have been able to develop more ambitious collections and products than before. We are excited about the future of our brand and where our journey might take us.“

The clothing products are all designed in-house by ISYB, and currently manufactured and printed in the UK with many of the products created from start to finish in the North East.

The brand is stocked across a number of different shops, including regional outlets Capology in Newcastle and Hotspur1364 in Alnwick.

James Foster, investment manager at Northstar Ventures, added: “ISYB is an interesting company to work with and it has some unique designs which make it stand out from competitors.“ 

Landwood Group, the leading northern chartered surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers have promoted Helen Lee to director.

Helen, who joined Landwood Group from Eddisons in 2013, specialises in property valuation, management and disposal. She is based at Landwood’s Manchester office.

After completing a law degree at the University of Leeds, Helen joined Eddisons where she also took a post-graduate course in surveying and subsequently qualified as a chartered surveyor.

Mark Bailey, director of Landwood Group, said: “Helen’s promotion is richly deserved and reflects the excellent impact Helen has had since joining Landwood in 2013, delivering a highly professional service to our existing clients and building productive relationships with new clients.

Judy Bell, Rachael Barrett, Kate Fletcher, Bromleys

Law firm Bromleys has strengthened its ranks with three appointments.

Judy Bell, a former partner at the Manchester office of Freeths, has joined the family department, while Rachael Barrett and Kate Fletcher have bolstered Bromleys’ Court of Protection and wills, probate and trusts teams respectively.

The new arrivals take staff numbers at Bromleys to 46.

Senior partner Mark Hirst said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of Judy, Rachael and Kate. They each have extensive experience in their chosen fields, a thoroughly professional approach and a sympathetic understanding of the needs of clients.

“They will complement our existing teams well and their arrival demonstrates our firm’s ability to attract solicitors from much larger practices due to the quality of work we are able to offer, balanced with a more personal and client-focused approach.

“We anticipate further recruitment in the coming months in line with our expansion plans.“

Jessica Higgins-Braddock, Weber Shandwick

Jessica Higgins-Braddock’s new role as PR assistant with Weber Shandwick Manchester, has started after she successfully completed her digital and social media apprenticeship.

Jessica, from Middleton, has spent the last 12 months working with the agency while studying towards her Level 3 City & Guilds Social Media for Business diploma through the Juice Academy. She’s had the opportunity to develop skills and excel in creativity, community management, media relations and content writing.

In her new role, Jessica will support each of the agency account teams as well as driving forward the Weber Shandwick Manchester social media channels.

Jo Leah, managing director of Weber Shandwick Manchester and chair of English Regions & Wales, said: “Jessica’s progression over the last 12 months has been fantastic and she’ll continually build on the skills she’s learned so far in her new position. She is working with some of the best talent in the industry which comprises not just traditional PR consultants, but also features strategists, story-tellers, planners and engagement specialists.“

Steve Williamson, Dylan Evans, Nora Jarauta CBRE

CBRE has expanded its North West Building Consultancy team with a trio of appointments which will take the team total to 24. Through the appointment of a senior property figurehead, the team now offers an in-house QS service.

Steve Williamson has been appointed as a Director in Manchester, Dylan Evans as a Senior Surveyor in Liverpool and Nora Jarauta as a CAD/ Workplace Designer in the Manchester office. 

The new appointments will further strengthen the existing Building Consultancy team, which demonstrates an impressive track record with a clear market focus and experience servicing all clients from investors to developers, tenants and landlords across a broad range of sectors including offices, retail, leisure, healthcare, and banks/funds. 

Angela Seddon, Head of CBRE’s North West Building Consultancy team, said; "We are delighted to welcome Steve, Dylan and Nora to the team as we enter a new phase of growth as investor and occupier confidence is rising. In particular, Steve’s wealth of experience will now enable CBRE to offer in-house quantity surveying at an outstanding level. The new appointments will strengthen the existing team to reflect the surge in market activity and ensure we are delivering a ‘best in class’ service to all existing clients and maximising all future opportunities." 

Ross Hoare,  Hyperion Executive Search

Ross Hoare has joined Hyperion Executive Search as Associate Partner, following more than six years working in renewable energy project management and procurement for a leading installer.

Hyperion was launched last year by David Hunt with the objective of matching the sector’s most successful businesses with the best talent.

Unlike many other recruiters, Hyperion’s complete focus is on the renewables sector. Liverpool-headquartered Hyperion acts for clients and candidates across a comprehensive range of renewable energy sub-sectors including solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass, wind turbines and fuel cells.

Commenting on Ross’s appointment, David said: “While Ross does not come from a recruitment background, he does have extensive knowledge of the renewables sector. He understands our clients’ market and their requirements.

“Ross’s appointment as an associate partner fits with the Hyperion ethos of wanting to provide our clients and candidates with an unrivalled level of expertise. It is an approach that is already proving popular with clients who are turning to us because of our passion for and understanding of their sector.“ 

Emma Hoyle, AFC Fylde Community Foundation

AFC Fylde Community Foundation has recruited Emma Hoyle to assist with the delivery of its flagship Get On Board programme, which sees the Foundation delivering curriculum and family engagement programmes in 23 local primary schools.

Emma, 30 from Clitheroe, studied exercise physiology at the University of Central Lancashire and has extensive experience in the health and fitness industry, having worked in a gym for many years alongside running her own boot camps for women.

Talking about her appointment, Emma commented: “It’s a very exciting time to be joining the AFC Fylde Community Foundation, following recent funding announcements that are set to expand the reach of its community programmes.

“I’ve seen first-hand how sport can help to turn young people’s lives around and I’m now looking forward to using my coaching experience to benefit people of all ages.“

Tom Hutton, director of community development at AFC Fylde, added “Our mission is to ensure that all communities across the Fylde area have access to sport, health and wellbeing programmes, whether it’s for people aged 6 or 60.

“Emma’s appointment will help us on our way to reaching this goal and we’re extremely lucky to have someone with her knowledge and experience on the team.“

Julian Goode, Exchange Chambers

Exchange Chambers has strengthened its criminal department in Manchester with the arrival of criminal barrister Julian Goode.

Director of Chambers, Tom Handley said: “Julian’s arrival further strengthens our criminal team which now has over seventy members defending and prosecuting at all levels.  We are delighted to welcome him to Chambers.“

Richard Westhead, Peter Preston, Pamela Stokes, Natalie McCluskey, Search Consultancy

Recruitment firm Search Consultancy has seen a strong start to 2015, making four new senior-level appointments across its North West offices.

Manchester-based Peter Preston has joined the company as director and head of the agency’s professional services division in England, leading a national team recruiting across a range of industry sectors including accountancy and finance, financial services, human resources, marketing and communications and legal.

The Manchester office – Search’s regional head office for the North West of England – also saw two of its existing team members scale the ranks.

Pamela Stokes is now director of call and contact centre and office services at Search, taking a step up from her role as associate director of both divisions. She heads up two teams, servicing markets across the region from the Central Street office.

Meanwhile, former senior divisional manager Natalie McCluskey has been appointed as associate director of the agency’s call centre business in the city.

In Liverpool, Richard Westhead has been promoted from associate director to director, working across the agency’s office services, logistics, call and contact centre, hospitality and catering divisions. Richard is now responsible for eight teams across Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.

The directorial appointments have been made alongside a host of other promotions and new hires as the company rolls out its expansion plans for 2015. 

Debbie Caswell, Search Consultancy’s managing director for England, said: “These recent changes will be instrumental in ensuring we have the right structure in place to support what is set to be a very busy year for Search.

“We are delighted to have Peter on board and to reward the efforts of Richard, Pamela and Natalie – all of whom have expertly led their respective divisions. We’re seeing growth across the board and it’s vital we have the right people to lead our client campaigns throughout the year ahead.“  

Jonathan Robinson, Champion Accountants 

An audit and accounts trainee at Champion Accountants in Preston is scaling the ladder of success after passing his industry exams with flying colours.

Jonathan Robinson joined the team in June 2011 to assist with year-end accounts preparation for the firm’s rapidly-growing SME client base.

The 26-year-old from Penwortham will now divide his time between the tax and accounting departments, whilst studying towards gaining chartered tax advisor status.

To achieve the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification, Jonathan passed 14 exams through in-house training at Champion and academic teaching with Kaplan Financial.

Prior to his training, Jonathan studied History and Politics at the University of Liverpool.

Keith Porter, director of the Preston office, added: “Champion is committed to training the accountants of the future. Despite many firms slashing in-house training during the recession, we stayed true to this pledge and are now reaping the rewards by having talented individuals such as Jonathan on board. 

“He’s proven to be such a valuable asset to the team and we’re glad to be giving something back and helping him on his way to achieving further success.“

Tracey Graham,Your Legal Friend

Leading claimant law firm, Your Legal Friend, has announced the appointment of a new Director of Industrial Disease, Tracey Graham.  As head of the firm’s dedicated Industrial Disease team, Tracey will provide vital support to victims who suffer from diseases incurred in the workplace such as deafness, repetitive strain type injuries, VWF/HAVS, and asbestos related illnesses

Colin Gibson, Chief Operating Officer at Your Legal Friend, a trading name of 2020 Legal Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Tracey to the team. Her appointment will enable us to build our Industrial Disease division and increase the support we can provide to clients who are often in sensitive and difficult circumstances. Tracey’s background in this area of law is unrivalled and we are confident that her expertise will enable us to secure the compensation that innocent victims of industrial diseases deserve.

Vicky McLoughlin, Grant Thornton

Business adviser Grant Thornton has appointed Vicky McLoughlin as head of assurance for Yorkshire, based in its Leeds office.

Vicky joined the firm 12 years ago, working as a director in Yorkshire for the last two years having also held the positions of senior manager and audit manager.  

She provides audit and assurance services to a range of businesses across the region and has specialist experience in UK GAAP and IFRS.  

Vicky has a strong track record working with both public and private clients including large owner managed businesses, private equity backed entities and listed clients.  

Andy Wood, practice leader for Grant Thornton in Leeds, said: "Having moved to the role of practice leader, I felt it was time to bring some fresh insight and energy to the assurance team.  Vicky has established a reputation as an expert in her field and this appointment is well-deserved recognition of her commitment and hard work, 

“Our firm is becoming a beacon for talented people and for dynamic businesses and I am confident that Vicky will make a real difference.  This is a very exciting time to be part of Grant Thornton locally, nationally and internationally.”

Vicky adds: “Working closely with the rest of the team, I will be looking to build upon the excellent foundations Andy has created by introducing new ideas and continuing to build on our ‘category of one’ status in the market place.  This is a great opportunity to grow with Grant Thornton; the audit team is going from strength to strength and I’m proud to be a part of its success.”

Chris O’Mahony & Patrick McCutcheon, Dacre Son & Hartley

Two property professionals who work for North Yorkshire-based law firm, Dacre Son & Hartley, have been promoted.

Chris O’Mahony, who heads up the firm’s Pateley Bridge and Ripon offices joined the firm nine years ago. 

He has been promoted to senior associate. Mark Kane who joined Dacres three years ago to manage the Baildon office, has been promoted to an associate.

Patrick McCutcheon, Head of Residential Sales at Dacre, Son & Hartley says: "Both Chris and Mark are extremely knowledgeable and professional and have a strong track-record for delivering excellent customer service as well as managing teams really effectively. 

"Both have won our employee of the year award, which recognises members of our team that go above and beyond their everyday role to achieve excellent results, and both thoroughly deserve their promotion."

Ian Darvill, Acorn Brewery

Acorn Brewery has appointed Ian Darvill, a keen amateur brewer with a penchant for international ales, to its growing staff team.

Ian joins the independent Barnsley brewery as assistant brewer, where he will learn all about the individual recipes and techniques used to create its famous range of beers, including Barnsley Bitter.

Ian has been a homebrewer for the past five years and most recently worked for Sematic UK Ltd, a sheet metal fabrication company in Wombwell, making lift doors.  Originally from Lancaster he now lives in West Melton in Rotherham.

Ian said: “I was overjoyed when I found out that I’d got the job at Acorn because I’m passionate about beer and learning how to make it.

“The principals are basically the same as home brewing but obviously on a much larger scale.”

  Acorn Brewery owner David Hughes said: “It’s good to have someone with Ian’s expertise and enthusiasm on board. He brings a fresh approach to our team and we look forward to his input as we are constantly developing new beers and flavours.”

Acorn Brewery currently delivers beer direct to over 400 pubs and bars and 50 retail outlets including delis and farm shops in the north and midlands. It supplies to countless others across the UK via wholesalers.

(L-R) Toby Vernon, Matthew Fitzgerald and Roger Haworth of CPP.

Matthew Fitzgerald, Commercial Property Planners (CPP)

Sheffield-based consultancy Commercial Property Partners (CPP) has appointed Matthew Fitzgerald as head of Property and Asset Management.

Matthew joins from NHS Property Services Ltd, where he was responsible for the NHS’s property portfolio. 

He commented: “The opportunity to join CPP was just too good to miss. The company has made a magnificent start since it was launched just 18 months ago, forging a tremendous reputation and establishing itself as a leading independent consultancy in Yorkshire & the Midlands.

“There is now a need for a bespoke property and asset management offering  as the region moves swiftly out of recession and the property market begins to flourish again. CPP will meet this need.

“I believe I have much to offer CPP, having worked on both sides of property management , looking after the interests of both tenants and landlords during the past 10 years. I have a wealth of experience in a range of different disciplines across all aspects of both the public and private sectors,”

Jenny Bland, Sean Gallagher & Ian Anderson, Ison Harrison

Leeds-based law firm, Ison Harrison, has made three major appointments to its team.

Jenny Bland with 12 years of legal experience in both New Build and Shared Ownership schemes, and  known for her reliable and rapid conclusions for both builders and purchases requirements.

Sean Gallagher brings 10 years specialising in site acquisitions and infrastructure agreements, ancillary contracts, commercial landlord and tenant transactions, lease renewals and placement of bank securities to the extended Commercial Property section.

Ian Anderson joins to establish the new Regulatory Department bringing an expert forensic approach to defending clients facing allegations of professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, false accounting and money laundering in some of the most complex regulatory and criminal investigations conducted nationwide in recent years. 

The Leeds law firm has over 160 staff and 19 partners in 8 offices.  

Its HQ in is Leeds City Centre with offices in Chapel Allerton, Chapeltown, Crossgates, Garforth and Morley; Guiseley and Ilkley.

Caroline Eardley, Bianca Keeble, Rebecca Lax, Shackleton PR

Leeds-based Shackleton PR continues to go from strength to strength, announcing its latest appointments of two senior team members, following a series of new account wins.

Caroline Eardley joins as senior account director, specialising in consumer, lifestyle and FMCG, from RMS PR, where she headed up the B2C team. 

Previous agency roles in Manchester and London over the last decade have seen her devise high profile campaigns for clients including Warburtons, Greggs, Swizzels Matlow, Peroni, Hamleys and SPAR.  

Bianca Keeble joins as account director from a senior in-house role as PR Manager at KCOM Group PLC. 

Prior to that, she held press officer roles at London South Bank University and Essex County Council. Her key areas of expertise include B2B PR, strategic planning and management, and wider corporate communications.

Both new recruits will support client services director Kate Dixon, as Shackleton enters its next stage of growth.

The agency has also appointed Rebecca Lax as account executive. Rebecca joins from Touchdown PR in Farnham, where she spent 18 months working across specialist B2B technology accounts, and is a journalism graduate from Nottingham Trent University.

Robin Skidmore, CEO of Shackleton PR, says: “We’ve more than doubled our team in the last year, and these new additions show how serious our ambition is for the year ahead. We’re focused on building a hugely talented team, and both Caroline and Bianca bring invaluable expertise to our credentials. 

"Their input and experience will help to guarantee we can meet the increasing demand for our creative, strategic and results-driven approach to PR and social media.”

Gina Rhodes, Amy Silverwood, Charlotte Skinner & Lauren Clark, Clarion

Leeds law firm Clarion has appointed Gina Rhodes and Amy Silverwood as associates and Charlotte Skinner and Lauren Clark as paralegals in its growing property team.

Gina has 11 years’ experience having worked as a commercial property solicitor for Squire Patton Boggs.

Amy joins Clarion from DWF where she spent two years after completing her training contract with the firm.  

She also gained experience of working as a paralegal in real estate litigation and property finance after studying for her Legal Practice Course at College of Law, York.

Charlotte completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School Leeds last year and has gained experience as a paralegal.  

Lauren has worked as a legal assistant in a conveyancing firm having qualified with a law degree.

Martin Grange, partner and head of property at Clarion, commented: “As the property market continues to improve, we are seeing increased demand for our services and the arrival of our four new recruits will be a welcome boost to the team.”

Amy adds: “I am delighted to work in a team which has such a good reputation for property in Leeds and further afield.  I enjoy the diverse nature of the work on offer and I’m looking forward to helping the team’s clients achieve their goals.”

Rachel Diver & Jamie Popple, Creative Marketing Services

Creative Marketing Services, the Leeds-based advertising and marketing group, is continuing its expansion with the appointment of Jamie Popple as creative director and Rachel Diver as senior designer.

Prior to joining Creative Marketing Services, Rachel was studio manager with Your Local Link in York and Jamie was creative director at Ashgrove Marketing, the leading agency in the Isle of Man. 

The latest in a series of recruitments made to support several recent account gains, they join three other designers and two copywriters in the Leeds studio based at Hollinthorpe Hall, close to Thorpe Park.

Jamie commented: "I am delighted to join such a well-established and expanding group with an outstanding creative reputation. It is exciting to be part of a full-service agency as Rachel and I will have creative input across a comprehensive range of digital and traditional media and marketing techniques. A new website has just gone live and a number of very interesting new client appointments are likely to be announced soon."

Alison Cowie & Laura Nee, Horizonworks

North East-based full service strategic marketing company Horizonworks has appointed two new members of staff and made a key internal promotion.

Alison Cowie and Laura Nee have joined the firm as client marketing manager and executive assistant/marketing coordinator respectively, while Jen Dugdale has been promoted to head of client marketing.

Alison brings more than 10 years of media experience to her new role of client marketing manager. 

Alison will be using her skills in copywriting, editing and media relations to support her clients in the delivery of their PR and marketing strategies.

She commented: “I have followed the impressive progress of Horizonworks since it was established in 2010 and I’m well aware of the reputation for dedication and excellent service the team have built up among the region’s business community and beyond.

“This new role represents a new direction for me and I am looking forward to using my skill set to the benefit of Horizonworks’ clients and in helping the company to achieve its full potential.”

Meanwhile, Horizonworks’ managing director Samantha Davidson has continued to demonstrate her commitment to nurturing new talent by appointing Laura Nee as an executive assistant/marketing coordinator, following Laura’s internship with the company.

Laura completed a 12-month student placement at Horizonworks while she studied for a degree in Business and Marketing. 

Laura said: “To have been given the chance to begin my career at such a forward-thinking company as Horizonworks is a privilege. I am now keen to put everything I learned during my degree and student placement year into practice - and reward the confidence Sam has placed in me.”

Jen Dugdale, a key member of the Horizonworks team since 2011, has also been promoted to head of client marketing. In her new position, Jen will oversee the quality and delivery of work for Horizonwork’s growing portfolio of clients.

Jen commented: “Having joined Sam three years ago, I’ve greatly enjoyed being part of the Horizonworks journey. I am very excited about this new phase for the company and working with our growing team to ensure our clients have a positive experience that exceeds their expectations.”

Jill Russell, Anthony Woodhouse & Phillipa Donnison, Ramside Hall

The Spa at Ramside Hall near Durham, which is due to open this summer, has appointed Jill Russell, former Spa Revenue Manager at award-winning Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, as spa director.

Jill, has a background in holistic therapy and developed her industry knowledge over four years at Rockliffe Hall, initially working on spa reception before working her way up to spa revenue manager and helping grow the bookings and developed special packages, leading to it becoming one of the best performing departments at the hotel. 

Jill said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Spa Director at the Spa at Ramside Hall,”

“I see it as a fantastic opportunity to create something special in the North East which will take the spa experience to another level. 

“The guest experience will be paramount and I want to ensure that every person entering our spa for the first time will leave planning their next visit.”

Anthony Woodhouse, 36, has taken up the role of general manager for Spa and Leisure at the hotel, coming to Ramside after a career spent working at hotels with leisure facilities, including Newcastle’s Village Hotel and the Copthorne Hotel.

He said: “This is a fantastic development and is going to be a real asset to the region,” he said.

“It’s very exciting to be part of it from the very start and watch it being created from the ground up."

Also joining the new team is Phillipa Donnison, formerly at Rockliffe Hall, has taken up the post of guest services manager at the new spa.

David Cliff with Michelle Pugh

David Cliff, Adept Communications

Growing technology firm Adept Communications and Technology has appointed leading business management expert David Cliff as a non-executive director to support its expansion plans.

The Tyneside company was founded in September 2003, with four staff, and now employs nine people. 

David, Managing Director of Gedanken Ltd, is working with the management team to develop a cohesive corporate strategy as it aims to supplement its organic growth through acquisitions and mergers.

Adept, which has its offices in Newburn, now serves around 450 clients and is also looking to develop young talent through apprenticeships and internships.

Gedanken, which is based at the Evolve Centre, Rainton Bridge, works with individuals and businesses to help support personal and professional development.

Michelle Pugh, managing director of Adept Communications and Technology, said: “We have already grown to more than double the size of staff we started with and it is our plan to continue our expansion.

“However, growth requires strategies and processes to be in place that ensure new people and existing staff work cohesively towards the same goals, and that is where we get real value from appointing David as a non-executive director.

“His experience of working with business owners and managers and supporting them through development and change will help ensure we have the structure and direction we need to grow successfully.”

Hugh Welch, Jason Wainwright & Stephen McNicol, Muckle LLP 

Jason Wainwright, Muckle LLP

Newcastle-based commercial law firm, Muckle LLP, has announced the promotion of Jason Wainwright to managing partner. 

Jason Wainwright, a real estate partner who has been with the firm for ten years, will take up the role on 2nd April from Steve McNicol. 

After more than 10 years at the helm, Steve, who at 34 was one of the youngest managing partners in the country, will take up a new position at Muckle, to focus on client development.  

He said: “I am very proud to have had the opportunity to lead this business, alongside senior partner, Hugh Welch, through so many exciting developments to help make it the modern firm that it is today.

"We have built a Muckle brand with credible market strengths and a leading reputation for excellence – both regionally and nationally. Muckle has transformed itself over the years and today it is a highly engaged business and everyone shares a collective pride in working here."

Duncan Watson, SLR Consulting

Ecologist Duncan Watson has joined SLR Consulting as a technical director in its Newcastle office.

Duncan, who has over 20 years’ experience, is tasked with developing the company’s presence in the North East and helping to further grow SLR’s business in the renewables sector.

Prior to joining SLR, Duncan was Technical Lead for Ecology at SKM Enviros, working across a range of business areas, with particular focus on the power sector. 

His experience includes managing or carrying out assessments on over 60 proposed wind farms, as well as working on proposed coal-fired, gas and biomass power stations.

Duncan, who will be based in the company’s offices on Horatio Street, said: “There were a number of things which attracted me to SLR. After stints at a few large corporations, I particularly liked the idea of working for an independent environmental consultancy, where there is an opportunity for staff to have a share in the business. 

“Within my own technical discipline, I am excited about expanding the ecology team in the North East and being part of SLR’s large, well-established group of ecologists who have a well-deserved reputation for producing high quality work.”

Gordon Brown Law Firm head of Residential Conveyancing Geoff Hall and technical manager Andrea Hanna

Andrea Hanna & Wendy Frame, Gordon Brown Law Firm

Andrea Hanna has been appointed as technical manager at Newcastle and Chester le Street-based Gordon Brown Law Firm.

Andrea, who has almost 12 years’ experience in conveyancing, first joined the leading North East law firm in 2008 after training in criminal defence, property and probate.

Since then, Gordon Brown Law Firm has invested heavily in the personal development and long term performance of its employees which has seen Andrea rise up the ranks three times.

Her previous role as associate solicitor saw Andrea manage a team of five solicitors and legal executives, maintaining relationships with referrers and assisting with the development of the Residential Conveyancing department.

Andrea said: “My new role is very different to what I have been doing – while I will continue to work with clients, I will be overseeing staff development with technical checks and improving standards of training across the whole department to ensure the highest quality service is provided to our clients.

“I will be responsible for implementing new procedures to keep everyone at the top of their game and drive the department forward in 2015 and beyond – a challenge which I am certainly ready to embrace.

“Gordon Brown has significantly invested in my career from day one, so it’ll be rewarding to re-invest that experience into the department with this truly performance-focused approach.”

Wendy Frame has been appointed to replace Andrea as team leader, joining from Whickham-based Bindman & Co Solicitors where she was a residential conveyancer. 

Studying law at Northumbria University, Wendy has also worked at Gateshead’s Butterworths Solicitors.

Wendy said: “The opportunity to progress my career as part of Gordon Brown particularly appealed to me as the firm has such a good reputation in the region – I’ve come across them several times in my previous roles."

Image source: ell brown

A MAJOR retailer is set to leave York city centre after permission was given to turn its rented shop unit into a restaurant.

Laura Ashley’s shop on Davygate will close within two months, leaving the company with only an out-of-town presence in York, at Monks Cross.

The company has confirmed that its landlord’s decision to convert the property into a restaurant means it is losing its city centre location.

A company spokesman said: “It is with regret that the Laura Ashley city centre store in York will close by May 2015 as we have been notified that one of our landlords has obtained permission to convert the store into a restaurant. We are in consultation with all employees affected by this closure and we aim to re-deploy where possible.

“We look forward to welcoming new and existing customers to our newly-opened York store on Julia Avenue, Monks Cross, which showcases our range of fashion, decorating, furniture and accessories.“

The current shop has entrances on Davygate and Little Stonegate, and is made up of two different units with different owners, with the more lucrative home furnishing department run out of Little Stonegate.

Image source: Images_of_Money

Two North West small firms have been scammed out of £100k between them.  

In both cases, which involved firms from Wigan and Manchester, the fraudsters claimed to have a major order from a big company which they were unable to fulfill themselves and offered a share of the profits in return for help to buy stock.

The losses could have been much greater and there may be many more similar cases which have not yet come to light.

An SME finance provider, Ashley Business Finance warns that firms should beware of new business contacts offering to cut them in on lucrative contracts.

Chairman of Ashley Business Finance, Jonathan Cranston, said: “In both these cases the fraudsters had infiltrated networking groups, where people tend to assume they are dealing with bona fide businesses.

“They then cleverly use the conversation to identify firms with access to established factoring or invoice finance facilities, and claim to have won a big contract which they are unable to fund themselves.

“They persuade victims to buy stock and invoice them for it and, to build confidence, may even pay the first invoice.

“These are highly sophisticated fraudsters who catch people off guard, come up with a plausible story and even provide a viable paper trail using the names of real companies and directors who are unaware of what is happening.

“However frauds such as these can be devastating for small firms.

“Our advice is to beware of deals which may appear too good to be true, always check out the companies concerned and never offer to let others take advantage of your finance facility, no matter how good the deal seems.”

Both cases were reported to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service.

Image source: vonzeppelin73

A Huddersfield textile company is creating dozens of new jobs and plans to extend its premises to meet soaring demand.

Contract fabrics manufacturer Wooltex UK, based at Dale Street, Longwood, is part way through a recruitment drive to create 56 jobs and take its total workforce to more than 100 by the end of the year.

The firm, which supplies fabrics for uses including office seating, office dividers and seats in cinemas and theatres, has also tabled plans to extend its Woodland Mill premises onto a neighbouring site.

The move – which is awaiting planning approval – will add 40,000sq ft to its existing 65,000sq ft of space. That will create more space for additional machinery and increase manufacturing capacity in the areas of warping, weaving, fabric finishing and sample making.

The expansion drive represents a multi-million pound investment for the company, which was founded in 1996. and is recognised as a leader in its field.

Managing director Peter Timmins said the company had grown every year since its launch and sales had tripled since 2010. More than 90% of its products are exported, mainly to countries in the European Union, through a major customer in Europe with whom Wooltex has long-standing links.

Mr Timmins said: “Between us – with us concentrating on the manufacturing and them concentrating on the marketing – we have seen a significant increase in demand and that demand is likely to continue over the next few years.

“We have products that the end-users are crying out for but we have got to the point where our current facilities are not big enough to cope with the increasing demand. We have got to the stage where we cannot get one more weaving machine in this building. We are already having to outsource some weaving, which is logistically difficult.“

Mr Timmins said it was hoped to have the new facility up and running by July or August, adding: “Building the new extension and extending the existing manufacturing facility will also allow is to go into new areas of manufacture which we have previously sub-contracted out, such as fabric finishing.“

The Steam and Moorland Garden and Machinery Centre in Pickering is getting ready for a period of new growth with the construction of a major extension, supported by Yorkshire Bank.

The family-run garden centre, which sits at the gateway to the North York Moors National Park, was established in 2001 by husband and wife Charles and Bernadette Hopkinson.

The centre is building a new 7,200 square foot extension which will be home to a new café, retail space and visitor toilets.

The garden centre currently has a 40-cover café; with the new development this will increase to 150 covers.

Steam and Moorland employs around 25 staff from the local area – a mixture of full and part-time – but is expecting to create a further 10 jobs when the new café and retail area is up and running.

Yorkshire Bank has provided a £450k loan to help build the new extension, which is expected to be open in time for Easter.

In total the new extension is costing around £650k to build, with the owners investing around £200k of their own funds to the project.

The funding was arranged by Pete Sumners, business development manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in York.

Charles Hopkinson said the development of the new extension should pave the way for more visitors all-year round. He said: “Since we opened Steam and Moorland 15 years ago, we’ve enjoyed tremendous support from our customers – both locals and the passing tourist trade.

"We are seeing increasing numbers of people coming through our doors and we felt now was the right time to invest to help deliver an even better experience.

“During the summer months we can be very busy, particularly with coach parties. On several occasions we have had to turn groups away but when we open this new extension we will be able to cater for larger numbers.

“We spent a lot of time looking around and speaking to a large number of local banks who could help us. We felt Yorkshire Bank was the perfect fit for us. The team has worked hard to really understand our business and provided us with the right support quickly.“

London-based personal development and wellbeing start-up has expanded following enterprise mentoring support from Lloyds Bank.

Located in Kentish Town, Orange Moon provides a number of holistic products and services including advice on health, leisure and general wellbeing.

The business’ aim is to educate, inspire and motivate busy adults through interactive games and activities, helping them achieve well-rounded and balanced lifestyles.

Having previously worked as an analyst for a large UK charity, founder of Orange Moon, Naomi Davidson, launched the business last January after she decided to turn her passion for holistics into a career.

Since then, she has run numerous workshops with businesses across London, helping staff manage stress levels in fast-paced environments.

Following a local business exhibition, Naomi was introduced to the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE), through which she was able to sign up for additional business support from a qualified enterprise mentor.

The IOEE partnered Naomi with Wayne Mills, a qualified enterprise mentor and director of Global Trade and Receivables at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Through a series of regular meetings, Wayne helped Naomi develop her business strategy and refine new ideas for the business.

As a result of the support, Naomi is preparing to introduce new IT and marketing departments after taking her business idea from paper to reality, as well as investing in full-time staff for her wellbeing sessions, after previously having to use freelancers.

Naomi said: “Wayne has been immensely useful and if it hadn’t had been for his mentoring, I wouldn’t have been able to progress Orange Moon as much as I have. Being a mentee means that I always have someone to call if I have any questions, and with Wayne’s 20 years of professional experience, I know that there’s very little he hasn’t seen or dealt with before.

“Through the mentoring scheme, I have been able to network with other mentees and gain insights from them too. I also recently gave a talk at a British Bankers Association conference about my mentee experiences, which enabled me to take away new presentation skills and contacts.“

Wayne Mills said: “Lloyds Bank has played an important role in the development and launch of this Government-backed mentoring scheme, and I was keen to volunteer myself so I could share my insights with others.

"It has always been a passion of mine to help nurture and develop people’s strengths, so mentoring gave me a great opportunity to do more of this outside of my normal day job which involves supporting multi-national corporate clients.

“Naomi is very ambitious and has some fantastic ideas that can benefit the lives of many people. It’s encouraging to see that entrepreneurialism is very much alive in the UK and schemes like this are available to help small businesses prosper.“

Alloy wheel refurbishment provider R S Alloy, established in 2010 by North East entrepreneur Ray Smith, is set to expand after securing funding from Barclays to invest in new equipment.

The Hartlepool-based business specialises in wheel straightening and polishing together with the refurbishment of alloy wheels.

The new equipment enables the business to undertake hydrographics work to an industrial standard and customers include motor enthusiasts and local motor trade organisations.

Ray Smith, Managing Director, R S Alloy said: "An opportunity arose to grow the business and with interest rates at an all-time low I decided the time was right to invest for growth and expand the services we provide.

“Purchasing the new equipment has been a big commitment but as we’ve doubled in size since our launch I’m confident that we can continue to grow in this niche market."

Ian Kirk, Business Banking Manager at Barclays put together the funding package for the deal, said: "Ray spotted an opportunity to fill a gap in the market and operates a quality business which is contributing to the North East economy.

“Barclays has been able to support the business and its growth plans with a suite of products which will provide the flexibility for medium term expansion and we look forward to seeing the business develop of the coming year."

The company reportedly expect to hire additional staff throughout this year to support their expansion plans.

Neomi Bennett, registered nurse and inventor of the multi award-winning Neo-Slip anti-embolism stocking aid, has seen sales dramatically increase since her appearance on BBC’s Dragon’s Den this week.

Neomi, who studied at Kingston University, was seeking investment to help save lives and reduce the number of people developing hospital and travel acquired deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Through the huge increase in her customer base following her pitch to the investors, Neomi has supplied private and NHS hospitals and is taking steps to have Neo-Slip available on prescription.

Building on its successful launch, Neomi won a funding award from UnLtd (a charity which supports social enterprises) and began supplying hospitals, independent pharmacies and nursing homes.   

With several distribution deals agreed with pharmacies in the UK, Neo-Slip is now making significant inroads in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Despite not winning over the Dragons, Neomi was upbeat: “The experience has helped me enormously and the response I have received since the show aired has been fantastic. It was unfortunate not get investment from the Dragons due to issues with the patent, but it is definitely still pending and I am very excited to see the application get accepted.

"I have taken all the right steps to do so, using a patent attorney significantly increases my chances of a successful application.

Now that the dust has settled with Dragon’s Den, I am looking forward to focusing on my position as a nurse and bringing Neo-Slip to as many patients as possible.“

Manchester-based online ticketing platform, Fatsoma, has secured new funding facilities from NatWest to support its business growth.

NatWest relationship director Mike Malone obtained a six-figure loan to support Fatsoma on its growth ambitions.

Fatsoma has been a NatWest customer for six years.

Founded in 2007 by three University friends Ben Taylor, Chris Pearson and Paul Stacey, Fatsoma has grown to over 30 staff and is rapidly expanding following consecutive high revenue growth year on year in 2013 and 2014, and similar results are expected for 2015.

Co-founder Ben Taylor said: “There’s a massive amount of effort put into hiring people who contribute towards a positive atmosphere and it has resulted in a working environment that’s extremely healthy for everyone involved.

“Whilst we’ve broadened our horizons now our primary customers for a long time were students.

“Students are a complicated market because they don’t respond as well to traditional approaches, instead relying on their friends as their primary source of information and influence.

“We built our product with this in mind, and offer features that allow events organisers to mobilise large teams of reps that act as a distributed sales and promotions team recommending events to their friends and family.”

“This funding from Mike and NatWest allows us to keep ahead of the curve with innovation and overcoming threats from well-funded US companies.

“There’s a huge amount of demand and the market has been validated as a billion-pound-plus opportunity.

“It’s competitive, but our growth has shown no signs of slowing down as we continue to develop our offering to match the broader market.

“Mike and NatWest understand the demands of the market and do what they can to support us.”

NatWest relationship director Mike Malone said: “I was delighted to support Fatsoma as the business embarks on a series of activities to support its business growth aspirations.

“It’s a fantastic business that continues to go from strength to strength, and I wish the business every success for the future.”

Fatsoma operates one of the UK’s fastest-growing event ticketing platforms, which uses social media to help events organisers, venue owners and performers promote their events.