THERE could soon be more women than men working at Faithful & Gould's Newcastle office.

The international project and cost consultancy, established just over a year ago, already employs 19 staff.

They include JUSTINE PLATT, 29, senior surveyor and project manager; CLARE TURNER, 25, a quantity surveyor; ALEX HUDSON, 30, senior building surveyor and trainee building surveyor EMMA JONES, 21.

All have chosen Faithful & Gould because of the good career prospects it offers them.

Clare graduated in May 1999, joining Faithful & Gould in November last year. She said: "The great thing about Faithful & Gould is that the company is very supportive of the lifelong learning concept and gives every encouragement to employees who wish to gain further qualifications."

Pride Valley Foods, ethnic and speciality bread manufacturer, has appointed STEPHEN PAUL as commercial director. Mr Paul will be responsible for directing the procurement, sales, marketing and export departments of the County Durham company.

CHRIS STOREY has been appointed as a consultant by Sunderland-based solicitors Hodgson Maggiore. Mr Storey has acted as a director of a number of large companies in the region, including Vaux Group. He qualified as a solicitor in 1969.

Financial advisor MARK SCOTT has succeeded Darlington's Peter Armitage as president of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants. Mr Scott, 49, is managing director of Mark Scott Financial Planning in Newcastle.

Newcastle architects Coulson Swinburne Moses (CSM) has appointed DEAN WALKER as architectural technician and CAD manager and REBECCA DAGLISH as administration assistant. Mr Walker has worked for a number of North-East local authorities and private practice in London before taking a further BSc qualification in building surveying at Northumbria University.

For 20-year-old Ms Daglish, the appointment marks a change in career having worked previously in leisure and tourism.

Northern Select Foods, based in Catterick Village, has appointed ENID MORGAN as marketing coordinator and ADRIAN ELLERTON as accounts manager. Ms Morgan, from Stockton, has worked in the cheese wholesaling business for the past 14 years, following 13 years at St Ivel. Mr Ellerton has worked for Forte Hotel and Compass Catering, before taking over the running of a Keswick Guest House.

The Food Weighouse has appointed MARGARET BRIGGS as manageress of its store in Bondgate, Darlington. She was promoted following the previous incumbent's move to the Stockton store. Mrs Briggs has been with the company for the past two years, Before then she was manager of the Travellers Rest pub in Cockerton, Darlington.