A BUSINESSiQ round-up of key appointments at firms around the North East 

 

North East architects and interior designers Studio Anyo has announced two new appointments as it continues to develop its regional and national operations.

Michelle Tang joins as a Part 1 architectural assistant while Alannah Lyons comes in as an interior designer. With a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Edinburgh, Michelle will be supporting the architectural project team and undertaking a range of duties including client briefings, preparing drawings, schedules and reports, undertaking site visits, and completing surveys.

Alannah Lyons will be involved in Studio Anyo’s expanding range of commercial and residential interior design work, as well as supporting the senior management team in project management and development work.

Currently employing 18 people across its Stockton and London studios and targeting revenues in excess of £5 million in the next three years, the company is continuing to recruit skilled people for several roles to support new business wins and growth.

Stockton office-based director Craig Kipling said the commercial and residential building and construction sector continues to require access to high quality technical expertise and resources as the economy recovers post pandemic.

Studio Anyo merged with Create Architecture in 2021 to form a multi discipline practice encompassing interior design, modular construction and bespoke building products.

 

Burnetts Solicitors, one of the largest law firms in the North, has announced promotions across its teams in Cumbria and Newcastle.

In its Medical Negligence and Serious Injury team Michelle Armstrong, former midwife now specialising in birth injury cases and Paul Brown, brain injury specialist, are both being promoted to Salaried Partners.

In its Agribusiness team Diane Barnes, who is from Cumbrian farming stock herself and specialises in agricultural land, tenancies and property sales, is being promoted to the role of Legal Director and Rachel Johnstone, who supports agricultural clients buying and selling farms and land, is being promoted to Paralegal.

Johnny Coulthard, who is part of Burnett’s Dispute Resolution team, is being promoted to Senior Associate, as is Vikki Porthouse of the Family Team.

Alex McAll from Burnetts’ Wills, Trusts and Probate team specialises in estate administration and lasting powers of attorney and has been promoted to Associate, while Sara Riddlesden who supports the Banking team on all their deals, is being promoted to Paralegal.

Managing Partner Nick Gutteridge said: “We are proud to announce this year’s promotions and to demonstrate that hard work is always rewarded here. We are privileged to work alongside such fantastic people and are very pleased to recognise their talent, commitment and genuine care for our clients.”

 

A FORMER trainee has risen through the ranks to become Head of Operations at an independent insurance brokers.

Kally Shane leads the team of account handlers, administrators and apprentices at H&H Insurance Brokers, which operates from an office in Durham as well as working across the Scottish Borders and Wales.

Kally, who joined H&H Insurance Brokers as trainee account handler 12 years ago, is now part of the firm’s leadership team, reporting to Managing Director, Paul Graham.

Kally, who is from Carlisle, said: “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to further my career as the business has grown and evolved.

“I work with the team on their personal development and training to ensure they continue to improve, both as individuals but also as a business."

 

Smart Works Newcastle, a charity that gives women the confidence they need to secure employment, has appointed North East marketing professional and creative agency owner, Lisa Eaton, as Deputy Chair.

Lisa has been a member of the charity’s board of trustees since 2021 and is now stepping up to provide more strategic support to the organisation as it aims to double the number of women it helps back into employment.

With over 20 years’ industry experience, Lisa is a leading figure in the North East marketing sector, having founded the award-winning creative agency, Unwritten, and, most recently, launching a marketing academy, Fabric, that has attracted learners from all over the world.

Working closely with Smart Works Newcastle’s Chair, Sophie Milliken, Managing Director of Moja, and its ambassador, Sara Davies MBE of Dragon’s Den fame, Lisa is looking forward to the next phase of her association with the charity.

She said: “Over the last six months I’ve seen first hand just what an incredible job Smart Works does for women in this region. Supporting women into work and helping them to build confidence and reach their full potential is something I am hugely passionate about.”

 

International real estate consultancy Hollis has welcomed three new starters to its Newcastle office.

James Dixon joins the Newcastle office as an associate supporting the building surveying team.

James is a Chartered Surveyor with 15 years’ experience in the commercial property sector, specialising in technical due diligence, dilapidations and project management with a focus on sustainability. James also has experience in Schedules of Condition surveys, development monitoring and heritage buildings.

Jade Hadden joins as a Senior Chartered Building Surveyor in the building surveying team.

After graduating with a BSc in Building Surveying from Northumbria University in 2013, Jade spent eight years at Sanderson Weatherall. She has experience in building surveying disciplines including Pre-acquisition Surveys, Dilapidations, Schedules of Condition, Planned Maintenance, Project Management, and Party Wall Matters. Chloe Cummings joins as an administrator in the business support team. She graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning in 2019.

 

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