Constructing Excellence North East has recently appointed Darush Dodds, from Esh Group, as chair of its People Group. Supported by Angela Carney, the vice chair and managing director of Carney Consultancy, the People Group aims to enhance skills across the construction sector, making it a more inclusive place to work since its establishment in 2021.
Mr Dodds remarked, “The People Group is a conduit between employers, colleges, universities, schools, the people who work within our sector and those considering a construction and built environment career. We want to attract people of all ages and backgrounds to our sector, train, develop and most importantly retain the talented people within our workforce. We are facing a huge skills gap and to combat this we need to continue to raise awareness and change the dated perception of the sector. We need to highlight the broad range of jobs available and equip students with the technical skills they need when entering the workforce.”
Meanwhile, UNW, a Newcastle-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm, has announced the addition of Parm Bhachoo as Senior Employment Taxes Specialist to its Employment Taxes Team. Mr Bhachoo brings 15 years of experience, having worked both in-house and at senior levels within practice. His expertise will assist UNW clients in various areas, including National Minimum Wage issues and HMRC queries. Mr Bhachoo expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted to be joining UNW. It is a firm that is very passionate about delivering an exceptional service to its clients and it’s great to be a part of that.”
In another significant move, Pulman, a North East car dealership group, has promoted Michael Lines to Managing Director. Mr Lines has been with the business since 2008, initially joining as a brand manager at Pulman Volkswagen Durham. He expressed his gratitude, “I’m very thankful for this fantastic opportunity and I’m very excited to get stuck into this new role and continue to provide a fantastic customer experience.” Mike Pulman, the owner, affirmed, “Michael was the perfect choice for this role and this is a well-deserved promotion.”
Moreover, business advisory firm Azets has recruited 57 new graduates and school leavers across its North East network in the past year, highlighting its commitment to nurturing young talent. These recruits are part of Azets’ comprehensive training programmes aiming to equip the next generation with professional qualifications. Damien Russell, Azets UK Chief People Officer, emphasised, “At Azets, we believe that nurturing young talent is fundamental to the future of our business and the success of our clients.”
These appointments and promotions signify a robust commitment to professional growth and addressing skills gaps across various sectors in the North East. They reflect a concerted effort to attract and retain talent, thereby strengthening the region’s business landscape.