STAFF at Zodiac Training have started seeing double - since the arrival of identical twins.
DIANNE HOPE is the latest recruit to Zodiac's expanding Middlesbrough office. And she has taken her seat next to identical twin sister SUSAN WRIGHT. They are both training advisors.
The pair, who recently celebrated their 27th birthday, have always been extremely close - so close, in fact, that when Dianne was pregnant, it was Susan who suffered from morning sickness, and from labour pains when her son was born.
The sisters are both 5ft tall and size ten, adding to the confusion of boss Pam Smailes.
She said: "They're like peas in a pod, they even have the same mannerisms and sound alike. The hair is slightly different, but that's no real help."
The firm has offices across the North-East and tends to be a family affair, with two mothers and daughters, an aunt and niece, a married couple, and now twins.
l The former chief operating officer of Orange, BOB FULLER, has been appointed a non-executive director of Newcastle telecommunications services specialists Fone Logistics.
The former Newcastle United footballer has been in the telecoms business for more than ten years, including running Hutchison Telecom Cellular Services from 1991, with additional responsibility for the launch of Orange in 1994.
l The North-East Chamber of Commerce has made two appointments. DIANNA MARTIN has been promoted to area manager of the chamber's Northumberland section. The 38-year-old has worked for the chamber for the past five years, having previously been assistant office manager at the Newcastle office and manager of the Northumberland local office. GILL HOLDEN, 31, from Great Lumley is the new account manager at the Northumberland office.
l Barratt Newcastle's expansion into Teesside has meant jobs for three local girls. LEIGH ANDREW, ANDREA WHITE, and ANETTE GIBSON have joined the firm as part-time sales negotiators. All of them have ten years sales experience.
l IT specialist COLIN AUTON has joined chartered accountants Clive Owen & Co. He will work with the firm's expanding IT department, assisting the team in offering IT advice to businesses across the region, including the installation and maintenance of accountancy software and stock control systems. Colin, 32, lives in Mowden, Darlington.
l JOHN YOUNG has been appointed Head of Centre at Darlington College at Catterick. He will oversee the running of the centre and will be responsible for building greater links between the college and the Army.
l After 12-years on Guernsey looking after the affairs of hundreds of owner managers, 38-year-old Geordie KEITH TAYLOR is returning to his roots at Grant Thornton in Newcastle. The specialist small business advisor has returned to Whitley Bay with his wife, son and daughter.
l JONATHAN PRIME the head of Newcastle estate agents Hendersons, has been appointed a director of Adamson Developments (Newcastle). After two years with Norwich Union as a life inspector, Jonathan joined Hendersons as a partner, and has spent the past six years as principal. In his spare time he is a car enthusiast who rates motor racing as his prinicpal interest.
l Trees Park Healthcare has appointed ARTHUR DALLY as its new catering manager. Previously in the catering corps, Arthur left the Army with 22 years experience, having served in Kenya, Canada, the Falklands, the Middle-East and Northern Ireland.
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