International recruitment specialist, Jackson Hogg Ltd, has pledged a significant cash donation to support the not-for-profit, Open North Foundation, a private sector-led initiative committed to the rebuild of the regional economy ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The funds will be administered via Open North Foundation to eligible businesses suffering as a result of the pandemic and who are considered would deliver long term, positive economic impact and also create high quality jobs, if they were supported.
Newcastle-based, Jackson Hogg Ltd, operates within STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries in the UK, US and Europe, delivering value-driven talent across all disciplines, from professional entry level through to board appointments.
Richard Hogg, CEO, Jackson Hogg Ltd, said: “We were delighted to put our support behind Open North Foundation with a cash donation and we have also offered our time free of charge via mentoring and non-executive support to businesses who are looking for guidance.
“This is an exceptionally tough time and, where we can, we always look to give back to the community. The aims and objectives of Open North Foundation really caught the attention of the team and myself and we were keen to get involved.
“We are fortunate in that, despite a very challenging year, we recently diversified our talent partnership offering to deliver flexible, outsourced, HR support. We identified a gap in the market within our client base, many of whom were in need of HR advice due to the unparalleled trading environment we are now all operating within.
“Now, more than ever, clients require highly responsive, rapid and flexible support, which can be tailored to a range of business requirements, be this transactional, full-service strategic HR management or project work.
“We are looking forward to championing Open North Foundation in what will be a turbulent year ahead and we would encourage other companies across the region to get behind this important campaign. If our contribution assists even just one company in the region to turn the corner and then move forward to create jobs, it would be all worthwhile.”
The Open North Foundation is led by a range of business people from across the North East, each of whom are working pro-bono. They are chair, Richard Swart, global sales director, Berger Group Europe, vice chair is Colin Hewitt, partner, Ward Hadaway solicitors, directors are Teesside entrepreneur, Claire Preston, area business manager for Barclays, David Foreman, director of Wessington Cryogenics, Gill Courtney, director, Stephenson-Mohl Group, Mark Stephenson and MHA Tait Walker, director, Paul Shields. Richard Swart, said: “Since launching mid-summer, we have been greatly inspired by the level of support from across the region, including a rapidly growing army of ambassadors and supporters, such as Jackson Hogg, who are assisting both financially and with in-kind expertise, such as accountancy, management, HR and marketing. We are fighting a battle against time and we need to save as many good companies as we can from going under. For that reason, we urge the business community to rally around Open North Foundation, every contribution, no matter how small, will be most gratefully received.”
