TRAIN company GNER has strengthened its corporate affairs team with the appointment of PHIL BUSTARD to the post of public relations manager.

The post has been newly-created to develop closer links with local authorities, development agencies and regional Government offices across GNER's 1,000-mile network.

Mr Bustard, previously head of public relations for Easington District Council, County Durham, will work at GNER headquarters in York, where the company's seven-strong award-winning public relations team is based.

Alan Hyde, GNER's head of corporate affairs, said: "Phil will help to ensure that our many stakeholders are better informed about GNER's service and our contribution to the prosperity of local and regional communities."

* Tees Valley law firm Dickinson Dees has appointed DAVID GAJDA as administration and facilities manager in its rapidly expanding Stockton offices.

Mr Gajda, who spent 22 years in the Coldstream Guards, ended his Army career as Warrant Officer Class 1, Regimental Sergeant Major, training officer cadets, at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. During his time in the Guards, he has travelled the world, but having married a Teesside girl, decided to settle in the Tees Valley.

* JAMES WHITTAKER, 25, from Darlington, has been appointed membership consultant at the Springs health club, in Stockton. He holds a BA honours degree in tourism management, and previously worked at Glenagles.

* Anne Wright Training has appointed GILL KETTELWELL, from Billingham, as office manager to run its offices in Stockton and Leeds.

* CHRIS WRIGHT has joined HLD Kidsons, in Newcastle, as tax manager after 20 years with KPMG in the North-East. He trained as a chartered accountant before moving into owner-manager businesses and predominantly tax.

* Training Dynamix, the workforce development partnership between Gateshead College and Learning Dynamix, has taken on DAVID HARPER as business development manager. The 21-year-old, from Scotland, has worked in the region's business community for the last few years, heading the corporate review division of Business North-East magazine.

* Clive Owen and Company is continuing to expand, with the appointment of a new trainee accountant at its Durham Office. SIMON HOOK, of Gateshead, has joined the team after achieving a honours degree in accountancy and finance at the University of Northumbria.

* The Engineering Employers Federation in the North has appointed SHEILA CHAPMAN as head of external affairs and public relations. She joins the federation from BT, where she was corporate affairs manager