New headteacher at Hunter Hall School
Cumbria’s only independent school for children aged three to 11, Hunter Hall has welcomed a new headteacher.
Paul Borrows completed his PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge and started his teaching career at an international school in Zambia.
On returning to the UK, he took up a position at an independent day school in Bury St Edmunds, where he completed a master’s degree in education at the University of Cambridge.
Paul also works with the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) where he leads the 11+ maths setting team and writes the 13+ Mental Arithmetic Papers.
Prior to joining Hunter Hall, Paul was deputy head at Vinehall School in East Sussex.
Paul is looking forward to getting involved with the outdoor education programme and will be developing more outdoor learning opportunities by introducing the teaching of horticultural skills into the curriculum.
Paul said:“I feel enormously privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead Hunter Hall. Fundamental to the success of every child is the strength of the relationships that the children enjoy with their teachers, and the staff at Hunter Hall are all incredibly dedicated and focused on supporting and encouraging every child as an individual.”
Hunter Hall’s chair of governors, Natalie Harling, said: “We’re delighted to welcome and Paul and his family to Hunter Hall. He takes over a thriving school community with over 100 pupils on the roll for September 2023.
“With his depth and breadth of experience in school leadership generally, and Maths subject specialism in particular, Paul complements the wider staff body beautifully and I look forward to seeing how he will bring that experience to bear on the school and ultimately benefit the children.”
James Fisher Nuclear staff join Forth
Most of the 300 employees made redundant by JFN Ltd now have a new job within five weeks of the business entering administration, including four mechanical engineers who have been taken on by Forth.
Forth projects director Graham Cartwright was determined to help after joining the rally cry started by Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster’s CEO Dianne Richardson.
Dianne wanted to help the JFN staff find work after the business announced it was no longer able to trade and called in administrators last month.
Graham said: “For most of those 300 employees to have a new job just over a month since the closure of JFN Ltd really is testament to the companies operating in West Cumbria.
“The speed at which help was offered, as a business owner, was humbling, but equally not surprising, to see. It was companies joining forces to see how they can help.
“We are delighted that we’ve been able to take on four engineers, including an apprentice who has been able to continue his work and training with us.
“Our Forth team has fully embraced them and they’ve slotted right in. What they’ve been through can’t be underestimated and we will support them going forwards.”
Mechanical technician Carl Messenger said: “I’m 59. I didn’t expect to find any work so to be here, with members of my previous team, is brilliant.
“Initially I was more concerned about my son, who is an apprentice, and the other young lads who were just starting out. Thankfully they’re all okay.
“When I then started to think about my own future I wondered who would take on a 59-year-old. I do feel really lucky. I wouldn’t want to go through that experience again and I feel I’ve really landed on my feet here.”
Carl worked alongside Luke Faichney, Chris Smale and Max Clements at JFN.
Luke added: “When we were first told we were being let go I wondered how I was going to pay bills, I was a broken man. I was one of those kept on initially to work with the administrators.
“During that time I met Graham from Forth and asked if I could give him my CV and it went from there.
“To go from worrying how you were going to put food on the table to being welcomed into another company has meant the world. I can breathe again now.
“I still miss my other colleagues but there’s a great atmosphere at Forth and I’m enjoying the work.”
Dianne said: “Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster is all about connection, both organisational and individual. Those strong connections in the nuclear sector meant we could put a call out to members to support their colleagues from James Fisher Nuclear confident that they would respond.
“This not only supports the individuals who were facing a worrying future but also the businesses they’ve moved to who will benefit from their experience, skills and contribution hopefully for years to come. I’m absolutely delighted to see the personal stories of these individuals who now face a bright future at Forth.”
Lake District Calvert Trust creates head of income generation role
The Lake District Calvert Trust has appointed Helen Archibald to the newly created post of head of income generation.
Helen joins the Lake District Calvert Trust from the University of Manchester, where she was head of philanthropy.
In a career spanning 20 years, she has also held a range of senior roles in fundraising and communications.
Helen said: “As I have strong family connections to Keswick I have known and admired the Calvert Trust’s work for a long time. It is a real privilege to take on this role leading our fantastic fundraising, sales and marketing and business development teams.
“There is a real feel-good factor around the trust and I am looking forward to building on the great work that’s already been done.”
Sean Day, chief executive of the Lake District Calvert Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Helen to the Lake District Calvert Trust as our first head of income generation.
“Helen will be responsible for building and achieving a sustainable funding base by diversifying our income streams and developing our brand. She has the experience and knowledge to create innovative opportunities by attracting new commercial, fundraising, and strategic corporate partnerships to the Lake District Calvert Trust, in order to achieve long term sustainable income.”
DRS apprentice recognised at prestigious awards ceremony
A Direct Rail Services engineering apprentice has been recognised for her commitment, dedication and outstanding work, at a national awards ceremony.
NTS’s rail division was at the prestigious Rail Freight Group awards, where Molly Cooke was awarded runner-up in the Young Rail Professional category.
Molly, who is in her final year as an apprentice at DRS’s Kingmoor depot in Carlisle, was praised by the judges for her passion, drive and determination. The judges were also impressed with Molly’s commitment to encourage more young people into the rail engineering profession.
Julie Nerney, interim managing director for rail at NTS, said: “We’re very proud of Molly and what she has achieved at DRS, she’s an example to us all.
“It’s not just Molly’s exceptional work and attitude that’s fantastic but she takes time out to visit schools and speak to the next generation about their future career options and to encourage them into taking up STEM vocations.”
Work experience leads to full-time roles for Lake District spa therapists
Two spa therapists have secured permanent full-time jobs at a Lake District hotel resort, thanks to a work experience initiative and the completion of a set of beauty therapy qualifications.
Maya McGregor, of Grasmere, and Rhianna Bland, of Kendal, have joined the team at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa in Windermere, having each attained their
Level 2 technical qualifications and Level 3 diplomas in beauty therapy.
English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, which runs the resort, offered both students the chance to undertake 30 hours of work experience during their two-year courses with Kendal College, which included classroom sessions coupled with in-house training.
Maya said:“The work experience showed us the top-level approaches, product knowledge and service required in our interactions with real clients and helped us to apply the skills we’ve learned and acquired at college in the working environment.”
