Changes at Jacksons, Paragon, Seymour, Care Matters and GUH

Jacksons

One of the North-East’s longest-established law firms has announced a hat-trick of new starters and a raft of promotions.

Founded in 1876, Jacksons Law Firm provides a wide range of legal services to businesses and private clients across the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

The three new recruits are:

Deborah Henning: Jacksons’ new head of employment, Deborah has acted for employers and employees during a 20-year specialism in employment law.

Sarah Laird: A litigation solicitor based in Jacksons’ Newcastle office, Sarah previously worked at Winn Solicitors for just under six years, before moving to Pepperells’ dispute resolution department.

Emily Bentley: Emily joined Jacksons in June. Her time will be shared across the North East region as the firm’s marketing and business development manager.

As well as the three new starters, several staff have been promoted.

Helen Milburn, head of the private client team, and has been with Jacksons since 2010 undertaking her training with the firm, has gained a partner role.

Kim Dosanjh successfully completed a solicitor training contract and has now secured a permanent solicitor role in the Residential Property team.

Rebecca Logue, solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial team, was promoted to an associate solicitor role.

Chloe Thompson, who started as a secretary in the Litigation team in 2022, has secured a solicitor training contract and started her first seat in the Employment team on June 1.

Paragon

Paul Reynolds has been appointed Regional Sales Manager for the North East and Yorkshire at Paragon Bank’s SME Lending division.

As Regional Sales Manager, Paul will lead the further development of Paragon’s provision of specialist financial support for SMEs across the region. He will report to SME Lending Regional Director, Ashley Butterfield.

With over a decade of asset finance experience, Paul joins Paragon from Close Brothers, where he was an Area Sales Manager for the North East.

Prior to Close Brothers, Paul was Business Manager for the Lloyd Motor Group.

Paul said: “With plans for investment, businesses are ready to acquire the assets that will take their operations forward – and I looking forward to working with SMEs from across the region to help them reach their full potential.”

Seymour

An established civil engineering company has made four key appointments as part of their ambitious progression plans.

Seymour Civil Engineering, based in Hartlepool, has strengthened its leadership team with the quartet specifically to take the business further forward in its targeted markets.

Simon Reed and Lisa Molloy have both been appointed by Seymour as Water Director and Commercial Manager, respectively speaking.

Victoria Drummond has returned as Contracts Manager, which follows the internal promotion of Marcus Swinburn also as a Contracts Manager after eight years with the company.

Simon said: “Water is an essential part of our daily lives and is at the forefront of environmental, social, and political thoughts.

“The water sector is a central focus of our long-term strategy and growth plan; with the next five-year investment period providing the biggest opportunity to facilitate this growth.”

Care Matters

A NORTH East care company has appointed a new manager to help the business expand.
Michelle Broom has joined Care Matters Darlington as Registered Manager, having moved into the care sector 21 years ago after serving in The Army from being a teenager.

Michelle Broom (Image: Press release)
Michelle’s first task was to oversee a Care Quality Commission inspection which resulted in Care Matters Darlington being rated ‘Good’ to build on previous years’ success.
“It’s a great foundation to build on, and my ultimate aim is for us to be rated as outstanding,” said Michelle.
Shildon-born Michelle joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps at 18, working as a staff clerk at the Ministry of Defence, in London, before being stationed at The Army’s Northern Ireland headquarters, in Lisbon.
She left the military in 1991 to start a family, becoming mum to Danyelle, Ellie, and Charlie, and then took her first step into the care sector in 2002 when she took up a post as officer supervisor in a residential care home in Shildon - based in a building that had been Michelle’s infants and junior school.
“I fell in love with care from that moment and it’s become my passion. I just loved seeing the residents every day, the opportunity arose to become operations manager, and I’ve never looked back,” she said.

GUH

Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the leading trade and development body representing the UK’s £8billion underwater industry has announced the appointment of a new regional manager.
Ricci Boston, who will be based in Newcastle, will be instrumental in increasing engagement among GUH’s members and expanding its membership base in the north of England. He will also be responsible for developing strategic relationships across the region whilst driving GUH’s growth and initiatives for the underwater sectors.

Ricci Boston (Image: Press release)
Prior to his appointment at GUH, Ricci was Director of Strategy and Client Engagement for a major provider of engineering and management services to the energy industry. Over the last decade, Ricci has successfully managed bids, mobilised and project managed large revenue projects in the oil & gas, power generation, renewable energy, construction and engineering sectors.
As a UK-wide organisation, GUH has member companies located across the country. Ricci will be responsible for supporting those business in the north of England, in an area stretching from the Mersey in the west to The Humber in the east and north to the Scottish border.