WEAR BUSINESS
APPOINTMENTS
THE BANKS GROUP GRADUATES Property and renewable energy firm The Banks Group is making a major investment in its future by bringing 10 new recruits onto its new graduate training programme .
The scheme has been designed to offer the new recruits the chance to take on real workplace responsibilities with the support of an experienced team around them and to learn , develop and deliver across a range of disciplines required to support Banks planned and operational property developments , renewable energy generation and storage projects .
The new graduates , who will work across Banks ’ Durham , Leeds and Hamilton offices , have taken on a range of different roles , including planner , project manager , development surveyor , engineer , graphics technician , geologist and sustainable development coordinator .
Each one will undertake a comprehensive 18-month training programme with the family business which will offer them support in building the key vocational , technical and professional skills required for their respective roles , as well as opportunities to gain hands-on experience on live projects and evolving development plans .
JULIA FOX AND LYNDSEY O ’ LEARY , EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP NORTH EAST Two senior female leaders have stepped into key governance roles at a Wear educational partnership .
Practicing professionals Julia Fox and Lyndsey O ’ Leary have been appointed as chair of finance , resources and projects and chair of audit committee respectively , at Education Partnership North East ( EPNE ).
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The appointments will strengthen the governance of the group – which comprises Sunderland College , Hartlepool Sixth Form and Northumberland College – ensuring that the executive team are both supported and challenged to maintain EPNE ’ s high performance .
Julia Fox has stepped into a group role , having sat on the Sunderland Local Board for more than two years .
Lyndsey O ’ Leary is a chartered accountant who has over 16 years ' experience in risk and audit , including more than 10 years working with Deloitte ' s Risk Advisory Practice .
She is currently group head of risk and audit for Bellway Plc , a housebuilder headquartered in the North-East .
STUART HALL , PACIFICA GROUP Appliance repair and domestic energy services firm Pacifica Group has appointed Stuart Hall as its new chief financial officer ( CFO ).
He succeeds Michael Norden who has been CFO at Pacifica Group since 2019 and has been instrumental in the growth of the business , ensuring financial stability during the pandemic . Michael will be moving on to pursue another exciting opportunity .
With more than 25 years of director level experience in private , public and private equity-backed companies , Stuart will support Pacifica Group ’ s continued growth , particularly in the appliance repair sector .
Joining Washington-based Pacifica Group after two years as CFO at United Living , a construction , utilities and property services group , which was a merger in 2019 between United Living and the Fastflow Group , Stuart brings extensive commercial and strategic expertise to the role .
Stuart has varied experience in a cross section of businesses , ranging from turnaround to high growth in sectors including construction , manufacturing , retail , printing , technology and telecommunications .
APPRENTICES , ZF Global automotive technology leader ZF has announced the recruitment or promotion of 11 apprentices as it starts the new year in the driving seat for growth .
The Peterlee-based company , which produces camera safety equipment found in vehicles across the world , invests heavily in its talent attraction programme and works in partnership with Sunderland College to recruit apprentices in a range of disciplines .
Over the past few months , ZF has brought in several new employees who will undertake learning and development alongside handson training , with the company also looking to recruit two more apprentices – one in HR and one in logistics .
Ronan O ’ Driscoll has been appointed as the new finance apprentice , working under the guidance of accountant Joanne Buswell .
Meanwhile , Michael Dobson has been recruited as a maintenance apprentice . He will spend his first year at college before coming into ZF to begin learning on the job while continuing his studies on a part-time basis .
In addition , three apprentices have transferred to the Peterlee plant from the Sunderland factory . They are Adam Hall from the maintenance department and Jake Richardson and Sam Wright from the engineering department .
JAMES STUART , EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP NORTH EAST Education Partnership North East ( EPNE ) – made up of Sunderland College , Hartlepool Sixth Form College and Northumberland College – has announced that its new group chair is James Stuart , an experienced senior leader who boasts an impressive track record working across a range of sectors .
James , who is founder and director of One Planet Consulting , a Darlington-based business which supports senior leaders to