Clarion Homes, in Yarm, Teesside, is challenging the building industry's male-dominated image by appointing REBECCA SNOWDON as construction manager. She joins the ten per cent of women making up the UK construction workforce.

She said: "Since leaving school, I have always worked in the construction industry, a typically male environment and I must admit, being a woman in a male dominated industry has never been an issue."

Miss Snowdon's first taste of the industry came while she was still at school.

She said: "During my GCSEs, I did my work experience at Smiths Gore. I was originally tasked with reception work and typing, but after a short time, I was put in the technical drawing department with building surveyors, which gave me first-hand experience of the industry."

After her work experience, Shepherd Construction approached her and offered her a position as a trainee surveyor.

During her five years with Shepherd, Miss Snowdon trained in site management, quantity surveying, project management and estimating.

After completing an HNC in building studies, she decided to specialise in quantity surveying.

Her work has taken her all over the Yorkshire region and she has held the positions of commercial manager, project manager and quantity surveyor, plus time at the National House Building Council as a building inspector.

Miss Snowdon takes up her role as construction manager as Clarion Homes continues to expand in the Yorkshire region. With responsibility for managing building on-site, including co-ordinating sub-contractors and suppliers, she is looking forward to a fresh challenge.

l Law firm Dickinson Dees has appointed LUCY GRAHAM to lead its commercial services team in the Tees Valley. She has joined the firm as an associate to co-ordinate a specialist commercial services team at the Tees Valley office of the top-50 law firm, bringing with her a wealth of experience in commercial contracts gained from working both in house and in private practice.

* Motor retailer Dutton Forshaw has appointed three sales executives to its team. PAUL LUMSDEN, DAVE RODGERS and NICK MATHER are the latest recruits to join the group's £2.7m Jaguar dealership, in Scotswood Road, Newcastle. Mr Lumsden, 26, from Boldon, South Tyneside, joins from the Sunderland Citroen garage, where he worked for more than seven years as an assistant sales manager. Mr Rodgers, 36, from Cleadon Village, South Tyneside, has been selling cars for 16 years. He has spent the past four years working for a German motor company. Mr Mather, 20, from Stannington, near Morpeth, Northumberland, joins the company as a trainee sales executive. He joins from Marks and Spencer, where he was a customer advisor.

* Ward Hadaway has further extended its planning team with the appointment of SCOTT MUNRO, who joins the business as chartered town planner from Castle Morpeth Borough Council, where he worked for more than 12 years. He will work as part of a team of ten planning lawyers and chartered town planners. His responsibilities include working with local authorities on planning applications, appeals and local plan issues. In addition to this, he represents clients at hearings and public inquiries and is involved with site identification and appraisal.

* P+HS Architects has named ANGELA ROSSI, DAVID DELANY and ADRIAN TAYLOR as associates. The three have more than 60 years' experience between them and will be based in the firm's Leeds and Stokesley offices.

* Newcastle games and animation company Mere Mortals has appointed TREVOR ROWLAND as a 3D modeller and animator to help the firm cope with new business. He joins Mere Mortals' rapidly expanding animation and modelling team from Gateshead firm Darkblack.