Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has strengthened its sector-specific support for education, healthcare, agriculture and manufacturing business in the East of England with three area director appointments.

Lucy Brine, who has 24 years of banking experience, will lead a team of education and healthcare specialists who support local independent and academy schools, as well as healthcare providers including doctors, dentists and vets.

Martin Guildford, who has 28 years’ experience, will lead a team of seven relationship managers and directors as they provide support to more than 900 manufacturers in the East of England.

Ben Makowiecki, who has 18 years of local sector experience, will lead a team of six, which provides support to more than 1,300 farms and agriculture businesses in the area.

Steve Elsom, regional director for SME banking at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking in the East of England, said: “The four sectors where we’ve made senior level hires are essential to our regional economy. The manufacturing sector alone employs 235,000 people in the East of England and works hand in hand with agricultural firms to support the region’s rich food and drink industry.

“Healthcare and education are also at the top of the region’s agenda with Anglia Ruskin University recently announcing exciting plans to open Essex’s first medical school in 2018.

“Lucy, Martin and Ben’s appointments will further strengthen the support we’re able to provide local businesses. We’re committed to supporting sustained growth in our region which will ultimately contribute to the wider UK economy.”

::Ipswich PR firm Genesis PR has welcomed Jack Abbott as senior account executive.

Jack has built up significant experience working on national political campaigns in Suffolk and across the eastern region. He has also spent time in marketing and communications positions in the education sector and the renewable energy industry.

Jack said: “I am delighted to join Genesis PR and I am looking forward to building upon my skills and experience. It is an exciting time to be joining Genesis PR and I hope to contribute to an already strong and successful team.”

Director Penny Arbuthnot said: “After a successful year for Genesis PR, we are delighted to welcome Jack to the team to support our business growth and continue to deliver successful PR campaigns to our clients.”

::A teenager from Suffolk is a step closer to gaining a career in construction thanks to positive partnership working between Flagship Group, youth charity The Prince’s Trust and Easton and Otley College.

Jack Mayhew, 19, completed his work placement with Flagship earlier this month as part of The Princes Trust Get into Construction programme. It aims to give unemployed young people who are work-ready but do not have vocational skills, the opportunity to develop the relevant skills and/or experience to enable them to move into a sustainable job in a specific sector of work.

Jack said: “It’s been great as I’ve learnt a lot which will help with my future employment. I’ve had the chance to prepare doors, fit taps as well as do some painting and decorating. It’s made me realise that this is the type of work I really want to do.”

::East Anglia-based Anglia Ruskin University is celebrating after the Higher Education Academy named Dr Mark Kerrigan as a National Teaching Fellow and shortlisted the Lord Ashcroft International Business School for the new Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE).

Dr Kerrigan, director of learning and teaching at the university’s Faculty of Medical Science, is one of 55 new National Teaching Fellows announced by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

A National Teaching Fellowship is the most prestigious individual award for excellence in teaching in higher education. Successful academics were nominated by their institutions and submissions had to show evidence of three criteria: individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence.

Dr Kerrigan graduated with a PhD from Edinburgh University and has worked as a scientific researcher investigating the cellular mechanisms of osteoarthritis and lecturer in physiology, cellular biology and research methods.

He currently works in the fields of technology-enhanced learning, digital literacy and assessment. Dr Kerrigan is passionate about research and currently supervises numerous postgraduate students. His research interests and publications span science and education.

::Three Suffolk and Essex-based farm machinery apprentices were among 34 to sign up to begin their first year of training in the work-based ag tech, parts tech and turf tech advanced apprenticeship programmes at John Deere.

Tom Hunter of Rea Valley Tractors in Sudbury, Sean Rickwood of Ben Burgess & Co in Newmarket and Ryan Bird of P Tuckwell, Dunmow, were among apprentices registered in the latest intake for its award winning scheme.

The apprentices, their families and sponsoring dealers attended an induction day at John Deere’s Langar headquarters and were given a tour of the branch and a ride & drive session with the latest Gator utility vehicles.

They also visited the new John Deere Apprentice Training Centre at nearby Radcliffe-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, the British agriculture and turf industry’s first and only purpose-built apprentice training facility, designed for John Deere dealer apprentices.

::Experienced family law solicitor Melanie Loxley has returned to Essex law firm Birkett Long after taking a 20-month career break to spend time with her young family. The associate solicitor and mother of two from Colchester says it has been a joy to return to the firm: “Families are more diverse now than they have ever been before and this leads to greater legal complexity when those relationships break down,” she said.