Housing association Bernicia has appointed Jenny Allinson as executive director of communities.
Bernicia chief executive John Johnston said: “The board and I are delighted to welcome Jenny into the executive team. As director of corporate governance at Bernicia, Jenny also led our employability and wider CSR work. She has grown the reach, range and impact of initiatives that have supported thousands of people into training and employment.
"The new role of executive director of communities will combine our housing services and community support ventures, targeting investments and resources in ways that will achieve the greatest impact. We look forward with determination and drive, to create opportunities that improve people’s quality of life."
Ms Allinson added: "I am thrilled to be joining Bernicia’s executive team at such an exciting time of potential and possibility. Our objectives and commitments in the coming years are rightly ambitious and put to work our incredible range of skills and expertise, as well as our financial capacity."
Law firm Jacksons - which has offices in Newcastle and Yarm - has made a series of new appointments.
The new starters include Stephanie Craddock, Yasir Hussain, Louis Dinsdale and Evie Jones who have joined across different departments. Ms Craddock has joined as a trainee legal executive in the conveyancing team; Mr Hussain as a solicitor in commercial property; Mr Dinsdale as a solicitor in the corporate and commercial team and Ms Jones as an apprentice.
Erica Turner, head of legal and partner at Jacksons, said: “Our recent new appointments reflect our ambition to, not only provide legal services of the highest quality across the North East, but also to become an employer of choice. We offer a wide variety of training opportunities and routes into the legal profession for our people, who are the bedrock of our growth plans and determination to retain our status as a first-choice independent law firm.
"I am pleased to hear the new starters have all received a warm welcome from their teams, which is something I also wish to extend to them, as well as my best wishes for their future careers."
Housebuilder Bellway has appointed Daniel Walker as its new regional director in its North East division.
Mr Walker, 35, who began in the housebuilding industry in 2012, joined Bellway in 2021 as construction director. Having grown up in Throckley and now living in Medburn, Northumberland, Mr Walker said he is especially proud to be running the division that covers Bellway’s heartland in the North East, where the company began in 1946.
He said: “If you work in housebuilding in the North East, Bellway is a prominent name in the area. To be given this role and have the opportunity to run Bellway North East is a very proud moment and the magnitude of it is not lost on me.”
Mr Walker said he will focus on driving a strong and successful future for the division, including seeking out opportunities for land acquisition for new developments.
Housing developer Lovell has promoted Phil Jones to director of Land and Partnerships in its North East division.
It follows three successful years in the business for Mr Jones, who has more than 26 years’ experience of housing and development in the public and private sector in the North East of England. Previously as head of land and partnerships, Mr Jones led on land acquisitions and has been involved in key partnerships, including with developer Placefirst and homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing.
He said: “I feel privileged to be working for a company as progressive and proactive as Lovell and am delighted by the decision of the senior management team to make me a director. I joined the business whilst the North East region was in its infancy and feel a great sense of pride and belonging with this excellent team.
"The principal function of my role is to manage the land acquisition strategy for the region which encompasses acquiring sites for residential development and guiding projects through complex planning processes. Partnerships and collaborations have been prominent in my career and this is a major part of my role at Lovell where I get to explore, develop and implement strategic partnerships and joint ventures."
Law firm Muckle LLP's corporate team has a newly qualified solicitor, Jordon Goodman.
Mr Goodman, who joined the Newcastle firm in 2023 on its graduate training programme, had initially worked in digital marketing for several years before deciding to retrain in law, studying for both his undergraduate and LPC at the University of Law.
He said: “From day one of my training contract, I always knew I wanted to qualify into corporate law. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know a wide range of businesses and developing my commercial awareness across companies in the North East and beyond.
Mr Goodman is also said to have played an active role in the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, helping to shape Muckle’s approach to building a more inclusive and welcoming workplace as part of its broader commitment as a certified B Corp law firm.
