Commercial law firm Square One Law has promoted several trainees and recruited four more into training contracts and apprenticeships.
Walter Marufu, who joined the trainee programme two years ago, has completed a two-year training contract, having gained experience across all key departments and has qualified into the commercial property team. Kimberly Crossman, who joined as a construction paralegal, has also qualified and has joined the commercial property team as a solicitor.
Three new trainees have been awarded training contracts, including Dominika Cudak and Declan Fahey, who have joined the Newcastle office, and Amelia Smalley, who has been promoted from a paralegal role at the Leeds office. Meanwhile, Kyle Taylor has joined as a paralegal apprentice and Aminur Azad has secured a full time job after completing his business administration apprenticeship.
Gill Hunter, managing partner at Square One Law, said: “We are thrilled that Walter, Kimberley, and Aminur have completed their respective traineeships and apprenticeship. It is testament to their exceptional hard work and diligence. We’re also really pleased to be giving a very warm welcome to Amelia, Declan, Dominika and Kyle. As a firm, we deeply value the importance of diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, which is why we continue to invest heavily in the expansion of our apprenticeships and traineeships to help more people break into the profession.”
Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has appointed Pete Coates as managing director of the forthcoming Newcastle office. The company revealed plans in the summer to launch a Tyneside base creating up to 170 jobs over the next three years. Mr Coates, who joins from iProspect UK, brings over 15 years of experience and will report into Laura Fenton, CEO of Omnicom Media Group UK.
Mr Coates said: “Working with businesses and talent at a regional, national and global level to drive transformational change through innovation in product, process and operations, has provided me with invaluable insight into what’s required to create competitive advantage for clients.
“As a born and bred Geordie and a graduate of the University of Newcastle, I know first-hand the untapped potential here, particularly in the digital sector. Bringing the strength and breadth of capability of OMG to the North East, opening up new opportunities for talent across the region, and leading the development of core digital, data and tech services to deliver this advantage for our clients is beyond exciting.”
PR and content agency McBryde & Co has appointed Kate Gresswell as a new account director. Ms Gresswell brings years of strategic communications and leadership experience, having held roles in large integrated agencies in Newcastle and London. Her past clients include the North East Ambulance Service, Teesside University, Newcastle University, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Protium Green Solutions, Northumberland County Council and Harrogate Spring Water.
At McBryde & Co, she will be leading the strategic direction of clients such as Environment Bank, JK Lifting and Sërios Group, among others. She said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the McBryde & Co team, having admired the work that Rachel McBryde and the team have been delivering for years. We are lucky to have some of the most interesting and innovative clients in the B2B sphere, and I’m delighted to be working with them to create impactful strategies that yield fantastic results.”
Advanced Renewable Power (AR Power) based in Washington, has appointed Phil Armstrong as its operations and maintenance engineer. Mr Armstrong will look after the ongoing maintenance of commercial systems at the firm, which installs commercial and industrial solar energy systems, with a view to growing the capabilities and service offerings in the near future. He will also oversee a growing demand for annual service checks.
The Alnwick Garden has appointed Lauren St Hilaire as senior partnerships manager. The position was created to help drive the charity’s suite of community programmes, strengthen business and community engagement, and promote The Alnwick Garden and its Lilidorei play village franchise to a wider international audience. She brings with her a degree in creative advertising, and eight years of experience as creative director at a North East branding, digital and marketing agency.
She said: “I jumped at the chance to work for a charity with its roots firmly in the region, and one that has amazingly caring and compassionate values at its heart. Many people don’t realise the Alnwick Garden is a charity, so part of my mission is to show corporate and individual sponsors where their money goes, and how our partnership programmes build relationships that benefit the wider community.”
