Affordable house builder Adderstone Living has appointed Rick Long as a new senior executive to help deliver growth beyond its North East heartland.
Mr Long joins as the regional director for Yorkshire, with a brief to build and raise the brand across the region as the developer of choice for social housing providers and the supply chain. He brings more than 30 years’ experience and expertise in the residential house building sector to the role, working for a number of well-known names, including until recently the Urban Group in York, where he was head of its housing division.
His appointment follows this month’s opening of a Adderstone Living Yorkshire regional office on the outskirts of Leeds, where he will be based. He said: “I am absolutely delighted and proud to be appointed to this role and look forward to leading the business in Yorkshire, where there is a huge opportunity to develop the quality of the Adderstone Living product. I believe strongly in the power of collaboration and will be working closely with all our stakeholders to ensure we continue to deliver for our customers.”
Jacksons Law Firm has promoted Rachael Arbon, Daniel Tumilty and Ellie Honeyman from solicitor to associate solicitor. All three now have their sights set on one day becoming partners. Ms Arbon joined the firm in April 2022 as assistant head of the residential conveyancing department, while Mr Tumilty is a team leader in residential conveyancing having started his career in a summer role carrying out archiving with the firm, before going to university. He worked as a paralegal at the firm before completing his training elsewhere and returning once qualified.
Ms Honeyman, who works in the litigation and insolvency team at the firm’s Preston Farm Industrial Estate office, was also promoted to associate solicitor. She has been with the firm just over two years and previously worked with Richard Flounders, the litigation team partner.
Tony Wentworth, managing partner at Jacksons Law Firm, said: “It is so pleasing to have so many ambitious young people working with us. Achieving a promotion from solicitor to associate solicitor is not an easy feat and all three have demonstrated a strong work ethic and a dedication to promoting Jacksons as an award-winning law firm in the North East.”
Bishop Auckland’s regeneration charity The Auckland Project has appointed David Land as an interim CEO as it moves into a new phase. Mr Land’s appointment comes as Edward Perry steps down as CEO after two years and comes as the project embarks on a five-year plan focussed on the town’s regeneration, community engagement and tourism.
He said: “I’m delighted to join such an aspiring team and very much look forward to helping propel The Auckland Project into a buoyant future. It’s rewarding to see the near completion of regeneration projects, including Kingsway Square and Durham Dales Gateway, which are already taking steps to improve the town’s facilities and infrastructure.”
Rob Yorke, chair of trustees at The Auckland Project, added: “David is born and bred in Bishop Auckland, and has led large businesses here, as well as setting up learning and employment projects locally. We look forward to drawing on David’s extensive commercial experience, as we continue to focus on regeneration projects and community engagement. Edward Perry’s commitment and contribution as CEO during the past two years is much appreciated and valued, and we wish Edward all the very best for the future.”
Durham construction specialist Esh Group has welcomed 13 new apprentices into the business. The new arrivals take the total number of Esh employees currently taking on apprenticeship opportunities to 62, representing more than 8% of the group’s workforce. Qualifications range from Level 2 through to Higher National Certificates and degree apprenticeship courses, and Esh has apprentices in a subject areas including quantity surveying, plastering, business and administration, data analysis, site management and construction engineering.
HR director Chris Watson said: “Across Esh Group we have many stories of long-serving colleagues who joined us as apprentices and have developed their career pathway with the business. Within our latest cohort of apprentices, we welcome some people whose families have always worked in construction, others who have been encouraged to work in the industry through their time in education, and we also have one apprentice who is following in her brother’s footsteps.
“At Esh, we are committed to helping apprentices build their career with us and I’m looking forward to seeing this group prosper into more senior roles in years to come.”
Procurement specialist Prosper has given Heidi Molloy a permanent position after impressing during her business apprenticeship. Ms Molloy, 19, joined Prosper in November 2022 as a business administrator learning the fundamental aspects of the business including systems and structures, reporting and invoicing and payroll.
She was referred to Prosper through EN:able Futures, which specialise in finding apprentices for roles within the built environment, employment and education sectors. After completing various modules over an 18-month period, she graduated with a level 3 qualification in business administration and has been appointed as a procurement administrator at the firm’s office at Cobalt Business Exchange in Wallsend.
Rod Brasington, CEO, said: “Heidi has proven to be a valuable asset to the team and excelled during her two-year apprenticeship here at Prosper. As she was coming to the end of her apprenticeship, I had no hesitation in offering her a full-time position to support our procurement and contracts managers. It proves that hard work pays off and apprenticeships are a great pathway to a career.”
Newcastle industrial equipment specialist Nixon Hire has welcomed three new people to its senior team after a switch in strategy. The company has now completed a pivot away from being a generalist provider of large plant hire equipment to being a provider of sustainable sites.
As a result, Brian Cornett, Andrew Shaw and Simon Gibbs have been brough on board. Mr Cornett, previously Ƶ operations director at Cross Rental Services and, before that, co-founder of Speedy Hire’s power division, has been appointed to the newly-created chief operating officer role.
Mr Shaw, formerly of Procomm, has been appointed head of modular buildings, and Mr Gibbs, formerly of Hybrid Power Hire and, before that, Speedy Hire, heads up the renewable power division.
