A training and recruitment specialist which recently marked 15 years in business has announced the appointment of a new director to further boost its training offering.
GEM Partnership, which provides training and recruitment services across the North-East and has an office on Aycliffe Business Park, has appointed Kelly Lee as training director.
Kelly was previously training operations manager, having joined the Peterlee-based company – one of the category sponsors of the 2025 Aycliffe Business Maker Your Mark Awards – in 2017.
Kelly said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of training director, reinforcing GEM Partnership’s commitment to delivering the very best training services to our clients.
“I will be working with the team to drive our strategic priorities and boost operational excellence as we look to further develop and grow the training arm of the business.
“Since joining the business in 2017, specifically to set up and manage GEM’s training division, I have been instrumental in some significant successes, including winning direct adult skills contracts, helping us secure a “Good” rating from Ofsted inspectors and our recent listing in Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 Awards for the North-East.
“My challenge as director is to take the business to the next level, to continue to provide the excellent level of service that we’re known for but in an even better way.
“One of the ways of doing that will be developing transformational partnerships which will help us to grow our footprint and training offering.
“It’s an exciting time for the business and I am delighted to be leading us on this next stage of our development.”
Kelly has worked in the education and training sectors for over 25 years and brings a wealth of business development, operations and senior leadership expertise to the role.
GEM employs 40 members of staff including 12 in their training team, who deliver a range of training and development programmes across sectors including manufacturing, automotive, IT, transport and logistics and professional services.
Maria Miller, director at GEM Partnership, said: “Kelly has proved to be a real asset since joining us seven years ago and has been pivotal in the growth of our training services alongside our recruitment offering which is the foundation of our business.
“We have big ambitions for the business over the coming months and as training director, Kelly will be working alongside myself and the leadership team to help us achieve these.”
GEM Partnership was founded by Maria and fellow directors Rob Dunbar, Ian Miller and Lee Rankin in 2009 following a management buy-out.
