EMG Solicitors has appointed new Court of Protection (COP) director Rebecca Sparrow. The company, which now has offices in Durham, Newcastle, Darlington, Penrith and Manchester, has appointed Ms Sparrow to be a Southern based director to extend the firm’s national COP offering. It marks its first venture outside of the North and take the director group to a team of 11.
Ms Sparrow, who is based near Reading, has held roles at a number of national law firms and will assume the position of deputy trustee and attorney for a number of EMG’s clients. Her appointment also extends the firm’s brand footprint and client offering across the South, South East and London.
She said: “It’s clear to see that EMG are incredibly passionate about what they do, delivering an outstanding client service and putting their people at the heart of their business. I love their straightforward and transparent approach too, with what they say, being very much what they do.”
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Professional services firm Aon has appointed Dan Hopkinson as managing director North for commercial risk solutions. The firm said Mr Hopkinson will be responsible for leading Aon’s North region, including nine offices covering commercial risk, which provides risk advisory, risk transfer, and structured solutions.
He joined Aon in 2017 as head of office in Newcastle, progressing to head of client strategy 海角视频 in 2021. In the seven years since, he has played a key role in devising and launching tools and strategies and successfully co-led the advised and SME commercial risk department.
Jane Kielty, 海角视频 CEO, Aon, said: “Dan has extensive experience, knowledge and the tenacity to drive Aon’s Commercial Risk solutions across the north. His well-deserved promotion is key to ensuring Aon continues to deliver a first class, added value service for our clients, and the implementation of our growth strategy.”
Mark Sismey-Durrant has been appointed as the new chair of GB Bank. He joins the Middlesbrough-based bank after spending over 40 years in the 海角视频 banking sector and replaces Mike Kirsopp, who has stepped away from the business to return to an executive career.
Mr Sismey-Durrant has spent 23 years operating as CEO at three 海角视频 banks, including Hampshire Trust Bank, Sun Bank and Heritable Bank, where he carried out diversification strategies in the specialist lending arena and grew balance sheets to £1.3bn.
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He said: “I’m delighted to be joining GB Bank at such an exciting time for the business and I’m really looking forward to using my experience in specialist banking to help take GB Bank forward. The bank was founded with a commitment to serving communities which really makes it stand out and I’m looking forward to working with all of the GB Bank team as we take the business through the next stage of its development. There are lots of exciting opportunities in the market which we are looking to tap into as GB Bank matures and develops beyond its highly successful launch phase into an ambitious growth stage.”
Northern Engineering Solutions has welcomed William Colborn as a junior engineer in the engineering department. In his new role he will support the team in several areas, including process engineering design and project management.
He said: “It’s a pleasure to be here. There are so many years of experience to learn from under one roof. The business has a promising future and has a strong interest in helping younger engineers like myself develop the skills to help me through my career.”
William will also be one of the first staff members to benefit from Northern Engineering Solutions’ new in-house mentorship programme, which launches next month. The programme is designed to equip the firm’s junior engineers with the skills needed to progress in the industry.
Mark Davey, founder and managing director, said: “As a business, we are committed to growing and retaining the best engineering talent in the North East of England. We have continually invested in our staff over the years, and see the introduction of the mentorship programme as the natural next step. William is a fantastic addition to our engineering department, and he will have many opportunities to learn directly from colleagues. We look forward to seeing him develop personally and professionally as we embark on exciting projects with new and existing clients.”
County Durham battery tech supplier Alexander Battery Technologies has brought 10 apprentices on board.
The Peterlee firm, which designs and manufactures rechargeable battery packs for a range of industries, has developed apprenticeships in departments including administration, engineering, and marketing. The apprentices work on live projects, working with customers and the firm’s wider supply chain network.
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The training programmes are designed to bridge the current skills gap in the battery technology sector, particularly in electronics engineering. By offering permanent employment opportunities post-apprenticeship, the manufacturer says it is not only investing in the professional development of young, local people but also ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.
Amy Jefferson, HR manager at Alexander Battery Technologies, said: “As a people-led organisation, our apprenticeships are a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to futureproof our workforce in the fast-changing battery technology industry. Each division within the business hosts an apprentice who is given structured development and mentorship support as they progress throughout their training.
"Over 10% of our workforce are actively involved in training programmes - something we’re really proud of. By investing in apprentices, we’re not just filling immediate roles but helping to maintain our competitive edge globally too.”
Hay & Kilner has appointed new solicitor Keir McGovern. She brings more than six years’ legal industry experience to her new role with the Newcastle-based firm and advises on a range of private client matters, including wills, powers of attorney, estate administration, trusts and inheritance tax planning.
She said: “The work that we do helps people during what can often be very challenging situations and I’ve always enjoyed being able to support clients as they get through these difficult times. Everyone’s been really friendly and helpful, and the quality of the work that I’m undertaking here is exactly what I’d been hoping for.”