MARTIN JEFFERSON has joined community investment organisation Accent North East as business development manager.

Mr Jefferson has more than 15 years experience in housing, planning and regeneration and will work on the group's affordable housing strategy.

Accent North East is part of Accent Group, an organisation providing housing, health, regeneration and education services to more than 16,000 people nationwide.

It employs more than 70 staff in Middlesbrough and has 3,500 clients.