NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) has bolstered its Invest Newcastle team with the appointment of two key roles. Ciara Small and Matt Bratton, have joined Inward Investment Director Catherine Walker, in promoting Newcastle nationally and internationally to attract and secure new investment into the city.
Ciara took up her new role as Senior Investment Manager in January 2016 and Matt, the newest member of the team, joined on the 1 February as Senior Inward Investment Executive.
Catherine Walker said: “I’m delighted to welcome both Matt and Ciara to the team. Their expertise and variety of experience will bring new and fresh ideas to the team, supporting the work we do to attract corporate occupiers and investors into the city.”
Born in Belfast Ciara moved to Newcastle to study International Business Management and Spanish at Newcastle University. Following university Ciara worked as a Development Consultant within an international leadership training company based in Cambridge but the draw of Newcastle brought Ciara back to the city in 2015.
Ciara Small said: “Ever since moving to Newcastle to study I have always wanted to return. Last year I made the move back to the city with an ambition to pursue a career actively contributing to the economic development of Newcastle, so joining the Invest Newcastle team at NGI was the perfect fit.”
Matt joins NGI following two years with Creative Space Management where he actively targeted and attracted SMEs to The Core, based on Newcastle Science Central. Prior to this Matt was a key driver in attracting students to Newcastle University as part of the Marketing and Student Recruitment Directorate. Matt studied Mathematics at Newcastle University.
Matt Bratton said: “I’m thrilled to join the Invest Newcastle team. Following my previous roles at The Core and Newcastle University it is a natural transition where I can broaden my focus and demonstrate what the whole of Newcastle has to offer.”
Invest Newcastle is a service delivered by NGI on behalf of Newcastle to attract and secure new investment and jobs for the city.
The team help businesses to locate, expand and flourish in Newcastle. They provide a range of bespoke, client led, support services for existing businesses and potential investors, enabling businesses to reach their ambitions for growth. Since Invest Newcastle’s inception in 2012 it has delivered significant results including 68 new investments; creating or safeguarding 2,711 jobs and they are actively working with a further 180 businesses to bring investment to the area.
NewcastleGateshead Initiative is a destination marketing agency charged with marketing NewcastleGateshead on a national and international stage to attract visitors, major conferences and events, new investment and jobs. A not-for-profit organisation, supported by 170 private sector partners, Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council, NGI’s focus is on delivering economic growth for NewcastleGateshead and the wider region.
