A BUSINESSiQ round-up of the key moves at influential companies around the North East - who’s in and who’s out

 

Advantex

 

A North East network and connectivity company has announced four senior appointments as it invests to improve client support and demand for tech-driven business solutions and services.

Advantex, based at Follingsby Park in Gateshead, has appointed Steve Dobby as account manager and Tony Patterson as business development manager. Both will be working closely with the senior leadership team to leverage their extensive industry knowledge and experience in consultancy and solutions development to create new business opportunities and provide greater support and insights for existing clients.

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Also joining is Raphael Akinkummi as senior project engineer, who brings six years’ experience in routing and security to the position. His wealth of knowledge will enable him to work closely with customers to identify, develop and deliver innovative technical designs and ongoing support for a range of upcoming projects.

The move strengthens Advantex’s offering to existing and new business partners, as does the appointment of Amanda Baxter as marketing manager. She will focus on developing personalised, informative content to engage new audiences and strengthen customer relationships while building greater awareness and affinity for the Advantex brand.

New work for the IG Group, the UK’s largest independent supplier of non-food consumables, paper disposables and janitorial products, has been completed alongside providing connectivity and access control equipment to Teesside waste plastic recycling specialist, ReNew ELP

 

Central Employment

 

Central Employment, the North East-based independent recruitment specialists, has continued its expansion on Teesside with the addition of a new recruitment consultant, Molly Thompson.

Molly, 20, from Redcar, joins the business from the automotive industry and will work closely with both candidates and clients as part of Central Employment’s strategy to support Teesside’s evolving industrial and commercial landscape.

From its office at the Cleveland Business Centre, Middlesbrough, Molly will be responsible for interviewing candidates, carrying out on-site inductions and maintaining client relationships.

Central Employment employs 40 people across the North East, including a team of four based in its Teesside office, which is a key part of its growth ambitions. Having reported strong results for its 2021 financial year, the business is looking to further increase its presence in key sectors and regional hubs.

Predominantly supplying workers to the manufacturing, industrial and pharmaceutical sectors, the business has seen a rise in demand for its permanent employment recruitment services, particularly from growth areas such as clean energy.

Molly said: “Growing up in Redcar I have seen the industrial landscape of the area change and I am keen to play my part in the area’s future. I really enjoyed working in the automotive sector, but I want to help candidates and clients in a range of sectors.”

 

JUMP

 

A leading brand and graphic design consultancy has announced two key appointments.

JUMP, headquartered in Newcastle, has appointed Kasey Murphy as marketing manager and Alana Whenary as marketing assistant as it expands into digital marketing services.

Kasey, who joins with over five years of experience in digital marketing, will lead the marketing arm of the agency, advising clients on digital marketing strategy. She also joins the senior leadership team at JUMP as marketing the business itself becomes a Board priority for the company.

Following a successful digital marketing apprenticeship, Alana has been offered a full-time role as a marketing assistant.

 

RHA

 

Railway Housing Association has appointed Matthew Sugden as its new Chief Executive.

Matthew will officially take up the role in April upon the retirement of Anne Rowlands, who has spent the last 14 years as the Association’s CEO.

He is currently Executive Director for Governance and Strategy at Accent Housing, a national housing association. After working in private practice as a solicitor, Matthew has spent his entire 18-year housing career at Accent, initially joining as a Solicitor before becoming Head of Legal and then Executive Director for Governance and Business Assurance in 2018 before taking up his current role in 2021, with responsibility for the people, strategy, communications, insight, health and safety, legal and governance, procurement and business assurance teams.

The Northern Echo: Matthew SugdenMatthew Sugden (Image: Press release)

During his four years as an Executive Director, Matthew has led on the introduction of Best Companies which resulted in Accent being a two-star organisation and top 100 company to work for in 2022. He has also sat on Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures Steering Group as the Northern Housing Consortium representative and reset Accent’s Governance Framework to ensure a strong resident voice within Accent’s strategic decision-making process.

At Railway Housing Association he will lead a staff team of 38 who are responsible for delivering services to people living in over 1,600 homes in 24 local authority areas.

Matthew said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead Railway Housing Association, an organisation with a proud and rich history. I look forward to building on the great work that Anne has done over the last 14 years and working with colleagues to continue to deliver excellent services for our residents.”

Chris Fawcett, Chair of the Railway Housing Board, said: “We are delighted to have been able to attract someone of Matthew’s calibre to Railway Housing Association.

“His knowledge and experience will prove invaluable as we continue to deliver our business strategy for the benefit of our residents and address the challenges we face in the future, including meeting Government targets on carbon emissions.

“The Board and everyone else at Railway Housing Association would like to thank Anne for her tireless service and the important contribution she has made.”

 

NEAA

 

The North East Automotive Alliance, the cluster supporting the region’s automotive supply chain, has appointed Mark David to a key role.

As Skills Project Manager Mark, who previously worked at Business Durham, will lead on the North East Local Skills Improvement Plan, an employer-led plan that meets future business needs and provides a resilient and responsive supply of the skills needed to drive economic success and investment in the region.

Initially, Mark will be 100% dedicated to the NELSIP, ensuring the plan is managed and delivered, and he will move to support further NEAA membership skills activity later in 2023.

Mark has more than ten years’ experience in the skills and education sector, including over six years at the Construction Industry Training Board, working on current and future training needs, which included digitalisation of the construction sector and developing new qualifications for emerging areas of construction.

Paul Butler, NEAA’s CEO said of Mark’s appointment: “I’m delighted to welcome Mark into the NEAA team. He brings a wealth of experience in skills, training and development having worked at CITB, but in addition to this, he understands the funding landscape and SME business support, which is valuable to a cluster.

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“Mark’s fundamental role from the onset will be to manage the NELSIP project, but we recognise the importance of skills and the ongoing challenges in this area, so Mark will be tasked with supporting further skills initiatives and NEAA working groups later in 2023.”

Mark said: “I look forward to getting to grips with the North East LSIP delivery. I can really see how this programme will make a difference to our region, putting employers in the driving seat for skills provision.

“In addition, I look forward to working with the membership and supporting the automotive sector.”

Mark currently sits on the Internet of Things (IoT) construction steering board, which he will continue in his role at the NEAA.