Our People

I had already embarked on training for a career as a barrister when I was bitten by the journalism bug as a student - and I've never looked back.

I joined Newsquest in 2022 as the Regional Editor for Greater Manchester and Lancashire exactly five years to the day I'd become a trainee reporter. A year later I was asked to take on an expanded role as Regional Editor for the North West where I currently oversee 13 news websites and 11 newspapers.

I am passionate about the importance of local and regional media, and how we are here to inform, educate and entertain the public with the work we do.

I am currently a graphic designer with 25 years of experience. I have worked as point of first contact client liaison, I have produced 100’s (possibly 1000’s) of publications and adverts for a diverse set of clients - from County Councils, to national businesses, to local businesses. All of which had many differing requirements and challenges. I am proud of my profession and my personal accomplishments. I live to be creative and I cannot think of a more satisfying career path than that of a graphic designer.

In my 25 years working in the publishing industry I have witnessed the rise of the digital workflow. When I started it was basic computers / paste-up boards / bromide / negatives / metal plates which all then finally went to a printing press… Now it’s either computer / tablet / online interface which then goes directly to digital printing press / website. I’ve worked with hot-set, cold-set, analogue and digital. I’ve been at the forefront of the design and publishing world during huge transitions and it’s been a truly amazing ride.

I’ve been a journalist for more years than I care to remember, and I still love my job. Every day is different, you meet amazing people and work with a fantastically talented team.

I’m proud to have played a part in changing the law on murder, helped to slash waiting lists for heart patients, organised a charity football match between a tiny non-league outfit facing extinction and the world’s most famous professional team – Manchester United – and campaigned for children to be given better access to NHS dentists.

Along the way I’ve met Royalty, interviewed Prime Ministers and movie stars, but the thing I love most of all is meeting ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.

In fact, it’s the best job in the world.

I’ve enjoyed more than 20 years at LOCALiQ, getting to work with some truly inspirational people in that time.

When I’m not being a dad to my two boys, coaching the next crop of young English football superstars, or pretending to be a competent sportsman myself, I’m hugely motivated and proud to serve my local community (and wider region) with solutions that deliver results.

Beginning as a trainee at The Oxford Mail, I have spent the past 27 years at The Press, York. I also write for our Life magazines in Yorkshire and Cheshire.

From food reviewing (and cocktail drinking) to cold-water swimming with Bear Grylls’ sister, learning how to hit a golf ball (not easy) and documenting the rise of the Pina Colada Festival (yes, really), no two days are the same, although the job has changed significantly (no mobile phones, email or internet when I began!).

Best parts are meeting ordinary folks doing extraordinary things, or people trusting you to tell their story at the hardest time of their lives, such as when a loved one dies.

Still get a buzz from landing a front-page story and from using new technology to bring local stories to our readers.

Got a passion for nostalgia and writing about the York of yesterday.

Having started with the business in 2017 as an Events Executive I have seen first-hand the evolution of our offerings and the digital transformation of our brands. 

The events landscape has also changed. It is exciting to be able to offer a full breadth of events covering everything from Awards Ceremonies to Roundtable Discussions. 

Working with every department across the business to bring to life the people and businesses we report on is a unique role. The events range in size and scale but each one is as special as the next and I know myself and our wider team take great joy in ensuring each guest has the best experience with us. 

I am a Paid Media Team Leader (DMS) at LOCALiQ in York. I joined the team in September 2018. I manage multiple digital campaigns working with businesses of all sizes across digital marketing platforms including Google, Bing and Facebook. Operating alongside Digital Marketing Consultants, we work together to help these businesses grow through Brand Awareness and Lead Generation.

I enjoy speaking with clients across all verticals, learning about their business goals and journeys. Being able to work as part of a team of experts to help these everyday businesses grow is very rewarding, especially when we succeed the client's expectations.

I am honoured to be the Chief Reporter on my hometown paper The Times and Star, reporting on a variety of topics from sport to politics every week. At the heart of my reporting is a desire to provide an invaluable service to our many readers, who look to the Times and Star to provide reliable, accurate and thought-provoking news.

Additionally, I work as the nuclear correspondent on the in-Cumbria magazine reporting on an industry that is so crucial to our Cumbrian economy, and networking with lots of different businesses across the county - which is always my favourite thing to do!

I recently won the Cathryn Nicholl Award at the 2024 Regional Press Awards for my work on the magazine - an achievement I am incredibly proud of.

As a Sales Manager, I thoroughly enjoy the dynamic nature of my role. Working in a positive environment, and witnessing successful client relationships makes every day fulfilling. The constant challenges keep me engaged, and the sense of accomplishment when targets are met is incredibly rewarding. It's a role that combines strategy, leadership, and a touch of excitement, making it a professionally satisfying journey.

I'm part of a close-knit team that fulfil various digital products. We work on a diverse portfolio of campaigns, for clients ranging from new business owners to established and trusted brands around Norfolk and Suffolk. Whether you need social media campaigns, Google Ads, websites or someone to keep your followers up to date with organic social content, we're the team to go to!

Hi! I'm Cerys Rees (yes it is a very Welsh name!). I'm Team Leader of the Service Delivery Team for the Eastern Counties and I joined the business in late 2020.

I thrive on creativity and analysis, two of the biggest factors driving success in my role. Finding and maximising opportunities where clients can improve to meet their campaign and marketing objectives is where I thrive. I oversee a team who specialise in various areas of paid media, including: Website Hosting, Paid Search, Paid Social and Social Media Management. 

We may be a small team, but we make up for it in knowledge, and support those around us where we can, as much as we can. Our attention to detail and customer service skills keep clients coming back to us and staying with us for long periods of time - and we wouldn't have it any other way.

When away from work, my life is controlled by my rescue Alaskan Malamute who does make the occasional appearance on a Teams call chatting to colleagues. I grew up supporting Cardiff City and I'm a big fan of Formula One but my guilty pleasure is American reality TV, especially the Real Housewives franchise.

I joined the Telegraph & Argus back in 2017 and worked as a reporter before becoming a Digital Audience & Content Editor in 2022.

Bradford is a brilliant and busy patch to cover. I've met some wonderful people in my time here and have had many opportunities I will always remember and be grateful for.

In my time at the paper I've covered royal visits, interviewed high-profile politicians, spearheaded a campaign to fight for better access to dental care in Bradford, and shared countless stories of inspirational people doing amazing things.

Every day is different and it's so rewarding to see how the team comes together to respond to major news stories, ensuring the T&A is leading the coverage.

It's a great privilege to be part of the history of such a long-standing newspaper and to work alongside talented colleagues who are adept at adapting to the ever-changing landscape of local news.

“I wanted a year of industry experience. That was over two decades ago and I’m still here!!”

Since starting at Newsquest, I’ve seen the business continue to evolve unrecognisably over those years. I've been with the central Publishing Services team since it began and I'm very proud of the dedicated team of staff I get to work with each day.

In a nutshell, I manage the teams and systems that produce all of our newspapers and gorgeous magazine portfolio (as well as some of the online content).

Every day brings its own unique challenges and so it’s always incredibly fast-paced with a never-ending line of looming deadlines and milestones which always keep us on our toes.

I have been working in the industry for over 30 years, starting as a credit controller before moving onto management roles in finance, litigation, training, customer services, and commercial.

My current role is my favourite yet as I love the interaction. Heading up three fulfilment teams I have the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented people. 

LOCALiQ studio consists of the best designers and videographers in the area. Each day they come to work with imagination and creativity. Their work is always of the highest quality. 

The client and campaign team are the foundation for the commercial teams. Their vast knowledge on all systems and processes, and their ability to prioritise whilst supporting the sales teams is exceptional. 

Finally, the service delivery team are a well-established team who have looked after large numbers of clients for many years. From social media marketing to social display advertising and website management, their customer service skills and attention to detail are why our clients keep coming back to us.

I love the fact that this company is looking forward rather than back. The future is bright and we are the ones filling it with colour.

I am part of a small but great team that supports editorial departments across Newsquest. We are a creative design department and are leaders in template building. We create commercial and editorial supplements, both bespoke and for use by all titles. Troubleshooting is also a part of our role.

I enjoy working at Newsquest because of the people I work with who are all lovely! I love the challenge of making complicated paragraph styles work with ease. Working on features and supplements is particularly rewarding.

Having been with the company for a whopping 35 years, I must have been hired straight out of the womb! I kicked off my career as the office junior in the marketing department of the Herald & Times newspapers, where my main responsibility was to ensure the coffee was strong and the photocopier didn't jam! Since then, I've embarked on a thrilling rollercoaster ride through various roles across the business.   

Fast forward to today, and I’m the Magazine Publisher for the Scottish Magazine business where we have a portfolio of specialist magazines including our flagship titles The Scottish Farmer and Forestry Journal. I also have an extended remit of Operations Director which sees me oversee Circulation across the Newsquest Scotland region.

Outside of work, I am married to Kathleen and have one son, Cole, aged 15. Despite my body’s frequent objections I enjoy attempting to stay fit. Whether it's hitting the gym, cycling, or playing tennis, I like to keep active. It’s all about balance, after all - burning calories by day, and enjoying a well-earned slice of cake by night.  

Hi, my name is Becky Rodwell and I am a Digital Account Consultant in the Eastern Counties. I joined the company over 8 years ago after 15 years in Retail Management (with a stint in media in the early 2000s).

The main focus in my role is providing the best customer service for each client I deal with. I thoroughly enjoy developing a rapport with new and existing clients, building trust, and growing their businesses with a diverse marketing strategy. 

I focus predominantly on the digital product suite with a smidge of print thrown in. This includes Google Ads, social media, websites, SEO, video, creative design and much more! A normal day for me would be varied and includes client visits, reviewing stats (GA4 mainly) and putting together packages/proposals for new and existing clients. I am fascinated by social media use for businesses and how powerful different wording and creative can be. To be able to help a business attract new customers gives you quite a sense of achievement.

When I am not working, I play badminton, spend time with my husband and son and like to get stuck into a good crime drama. I am also partial to a pub quiz with friends (don’t ask about our success rate please).  

PS: I like to laugh and make people laugh. Laughter is good for the soul.

PPS: We won the pub quiz ONCE.

I joined the business in 1992 having previously spent time in Ukraine working as a croupier in one of the country’s earliest legal casinos. My first taste of regional press found me working as an inbound Advisor in Classified dealing with 200+ calls per day. It was that role that gave me a taste for publishing! I am now responsible for 20 newsbrands and an array of special publications across the South Coast. I work with a talented and driven group of individuals who are experts in delivering market leading solutions to hundreds of SMEs. While our legacy as print publishers remains strong we also deliver a suite of digital products that deliver fantastic results. Having such a broad product range and in some cases historic news brands we are well placed to deliver tailored or off the shelf marketing solutions for the communities in which we operate.

My customer relationship skills were honed in the motor trade and marketing industries. I now find that the experience in those roles has helped me greatly in my current role as client and campaign partner for Newsquest. 

I started in the publishing industry 8 years ago, in a sales support role within the property team. Nowadays my work involves a variety of roles – my favourite being the planning side of things. Nothing like a last minute “stop the press” to make the heart beat!

Outside of work I belong to a local dance school where I attempt to sing and dance. I also have a keen interest in travelling and exploring new cultures and cuisines, with a particular love of sampling and tasting cuisine – please, no cooking.

Better - it’s out there but you have to chase it down. Time to cut the rope. Get stuck in. Switch it up a notch. Turn him… into him. Reaching heights I never thought I’d reach, learning things my teachers couldn’t teach. I’ve changed, grown, jumped in, flown. I’m part of a crew now, never alone. I was born in Blyth, but I was made in Newsquest.

I grew up in Blyth (Northumberland), and went to University in Leeds, before settling down in the Glasgow area. I have worked in a number of Finance roles across a variety of sectors (inc NHS, Local Government, oil & gas and the drinks industry) before embarking on my journey within the publishing industry. I joined Newsquest in 2020 and haven’t looked back since.

I have been with Newsquest just shy of 3 years and it has been the most fulfilling job of my entire career. I work with the most amazing team in the Customer Care Centre which is based in the Basildon Office. We deal with a multitude of customer enquiries and every day I am learning something new. With 10 years retail management experience, specifically in customer facing roles, my most recent job role as the Customer Service Supervisor with Newsquest is one that I thoroughly enjoy and thrive in. Newsquest has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally over the course of the last 3 years and I am excited for what the future has to bring.

I joined LOCALiQ in 2022, bringing with me a wealth of experience from my years in newspaper sales. I started out in telesales, then progressed onto sales development and account management. Most recently I was promoted to Team Leader for the prestigious Life Magazines. 

I thoroughly enjoy working with clients across all industries and I am passionate about helping businesses achieve their marketing goals. I thrive on finding the best solutions, from content marketing and online awareness to bespoke opportunities like the Visit Essex supplement, which bring success to everyone involved. 

Collaborating and supporting my team is a major driving force for my sense of accomplishment. Additionally, my family motivates me in my career, and working for Newsquest provides me with a work-life balance that energises and drives me to succeed

Having started with the business in 2014 as an Events Apprentice, I can confidently say I've experienced every role within the events team, including the role of Head of Events & Promotions for Newsquest Eastern Counties (Oct 2023-2024), of which I’m very proud.

I'm now working as the Engagement & Retention Manager. Every day is different, and I love getting to work with so many amazing people - that’s what has kept me engaged and driven for the last 10 years. After nine years in the events team, I was thrilled to also take on additional responsibility for our promotions department, opening up a whole new world focused on readers, subscribers, engagement, and benefits. I'm very excited to continue working on this area of the business in my current, more focussed role.

My team manages the delivery of our promotion strategy which includes all of our major and secondary promotions, supplements and offers across eleven news titles in the Eastern Counties - not to mention attendance at outdoor events selling our much loved goody bags. We also work on ad hoc projects such as the delivery of glossy magazines. And not forgetting the excellent array of opportunities we create for our loyal subscribers across our newspaper and magazine titles, which enables them to take advantage of and get involved in exclusive competitions, offers, and special events! We are continually planning ahead and finding new ways to engage with our readers and subscribers.

I lead a team in West Yorkshire that are dedicated to helping SMEs grow and develop. We are passionate about the community in which we serve and enjoy having heritage brands to work along emerging digital technologies that are best in class. My role is to be the ambassador for the business in the area, to create opportunities and be the turn to place to do business, making sure we have a team of skilled people internally to make it happen.

I am a media man, I started driving the vans delivering the news, now I lead a team delivering in the virtual digital world, but still get the same buzz of making a difference, helping SME's and being part of a community bringing the buyer and seller together in a connected way. At Newsquest we have the very best tools to do this and this gives us a great point of difference in a complex digital space.

Over 20 years ago, I trained as a beauty therapist, but early on, realised I was better at selling the products, than doing the treatments! So I started my career selling ad space in a sailing Almanac, then progressed into radio and moved into management for Newsquest and I’ve never looked back! My role is about leadership, ensuring our team believe in our vision and goals. Because of this, we are achieving great things, not only for our business, but for our employees development and our loyal customers.

The role is varied from day to day. One day you can be strategising with your team, developing initiatives for growth, building succession plans for the sales team or launching new products, such as digital solution, Living and Prime Magazines. The best part about working for Newsquest are the people, the talent and the innovative marketing solutions we have at our disposal to help local businesses grow.

I am the editor of The Scottish Farmer at Newsquest. I am part of a team which produces articles for our Scottish Farmer website and our weekly newspaper.

The Scottish Farmer team is the best in the world at producing the news, insights, and reports from every corner of our sector.

We work hard to ensure we continue the legacy of 130 years of reporting what matters to Scottish Farmer readers. I believe that media is critical to farming communities, supporting our readers whether they are from family farms or international businesses.  I know the team and myself take great pleasure in being able to support the farming sector through The Scottish Farmer.

As a Client & Campaign Partner, I help with planning local papers and provide support to the wonderful sales teams in the Eastern Counties. I started out in sales, but quickly realised my true passion is in planning, organising, and being a helping hand to others.

I love my role because it pushes me to grow and learn every day, so no day is the same. But it's the lovely people that make this job extra special. Whether it's the people I work with or the customers I speak to as part of my support role, they make every day a joy to come into work.

When I’m not at work, you’ll either find me dancing and singing, or getting lost in music and history - especially fashion history.

I started work with Newsquest in 2005 as a Marketing Executive in the Lancashire market.  Over almost two decades, I progressed my career to work as a Marketing Manager for the North West and North & Mid Wales regions as well as covering Yorkshire, Cumbria and the North East during that time.  In November 2021 I was delighted to be asked to work for the business as Group Local Solutions Marketing Manager covering the whole of the country and supporting more than 200+ newsbrands. I absolutely love my job. The media industry has always been an extremely fun place to work and every day is different. One of the things I love most, because I see its direct impact, is my responsibility for managing all of our sales and marketing collateral on our MiQ. These tools and resources are used by our sales teams to create compelling customer engagement about our audience, solutions and how they help businesses to achieve their goals.   I also provide research, analysis and intelligence for our customers using CACI's acorn segmentation tool to effectively identify a target audience, providing our advertisers with minimum waste, maximum reach for their advertising campaigns and a better ROI for their advertising spend.

I believe there's no 'I' in team and I'm super proud to work collaboratively with some incredibly talented individuals across the UK at Newsquest to accomplish our business goals.  

“Passionate about helping people and businesses grow.”

Hi I’m Brandon! I joined Gannett in 2017 and have worked in various capacities including becoming one of the company’s first Regional Digital Marketing Experts, and a Client Success Manager on the first team ever dedicated to national brand support for print and digital advertising services in the United States.

In 2020, I joined Newsquest’s Digital Marketing Solutions Premium Account Services Team as a Client Success Manager and was appointed Head of B2B Marketing for LOCALiQ UK in 2021.

My favourite word is progress. I’m passionate about helping people and businesses grow to realise their fullest potential.

I am the Lead Designer for the Magazines team in Newsquest. I'm one of the members of the team that helps make all your products look the best they can! Hopefully, I'm as helpful as you need me to be with all your magazines related questions.

The team here is fantastic, the environment is fast paced and incredibly busy but our team works like a well oiled machine to meet deadlines, work fast, and produce the highest quality magazines possible. I love digital design but nothing every compares to a physical copy of your own designs, that's why I enjoy this role.

I’m Digital Audience Content Editor for The Press in York and the Gazette & Herald in North Yorkshire.

I’ve been a journalist for 24 years and recently celebrated 20 years working at The York Press. In that time, I’ve been a senior reporter, education reporter, deputy news editor, live news editor, and now digital ACE. Despite it all, I still love the job and enjoy working with the team in Walmgate.

It’s true to say that no one day is the same as the next in the newsroom here, and I still get a kick out of getting the splash.

Another rewarding part of my job is mentoring five trainees, working closely with Darlington College to help them get through their NCTJ qualifications.

If you’ve got a decent York story you know where to come!

I'm Josh Holmes, Head of Digital for the Cumbria region. I'm responsible for promoting a digital-first culture across our region, working with a talented team of salespeople, digital marketers, writers and industry-leading experts. I'm also fantastic at bringing an array of biscuits & other such treats to meetings.

I enjoy my role as I get to work with brilliant people every day. I love talking about the digital future to our clients & staff. LOCALiQ/Newsquest is such a forward-thinking company with a brilliant array of digital solutions, I thrive off opportunities to meet our client's goals with un-rivalled marketing campaigns.

I joined Newsquest in 2013, looking for a fresh new challenge following ten years experience working in software and web development in the public sector. At Newsquest I play about with code all day and assist with the design, development, and maintenance of the main custom-built web framework that is used for the online presence of all of Newsquest's local and regional newspapers, helping to keep the websites running smoothly and efficiently, whilst also helping to make them engaging and pretty to look at.

I enjoy my role at Newsquest due to the freedom and diversity that web development offers, allowing me to apply some creativity to the design and styling of the front-end interface as well as the more logical aspect of writing the underlying back-end code. Growing up I had both a creative, artistic mind, and a thoughtful, analytical mind, and so web design provides a great way in which to challenge myself in both of these areas. I enjoy working at Newsquest because it not only allows me to continue developing my skill set whilst learning new technologies, but it also allows me to work in a great team of friendly and like-minded individuals.

I've been with LOCALiQ for 21 years, and I still love my job! My journey started with sales and services. I very quickly got approached to work on the Recruitment section which was the busiest and most fast paced section you could work on at that time. I ended up staying in Recruitment for 10+ years, achieving high targets and organising job fairs which I absolutely loved.

After having my twins, I came back to work with Motors for a short while, and then specialised in education which then led to me becoming a Digital Advertising Consultant!

I am very fortunate to be a part of a supportive team, and I love the fact that everyone is always so encouraging no matter what stage you’re at. The longevity of my career at LOCALiQ speaks to the company's commitment to employee growth, development and success.

I feel very fortunate to be part of such a great company that completely understands and appreciates how important it is to have a work life balance.

I started working for Newsquest in July 2021 after starting my career in a well-known perfume shop. I have worked on the classified section covering the North London market ever since. I have recently completed my DAC training - which has been fantastic for developing my knowledge of digital marketing - and have become a Team Leader for my department. I love the fast-paced deadline driven nature of the business and have built a great rapport with my clients over the last 3 years. I have recently made the big step of buying my first house with my boyfriend and welcomed our new puppy.

It’s a privilege to be chief reporter of my hometown paper The Stourbridge News – reporting on the important and sometimes extraordinary goings on in the Black Country. In addition to covering breaking stories – I have experience and a keen interest in investigations, data, and solutions journalism.

I have a particular passion for seeing justice done, democracy in action, holding power to account and helping to right the wrongs that are sometimes inflicted on unsuspecting members of the public who have nowhere else to turn.

My journalism has been recognised at the Midlands Media Awards and by the national Anthony Nolan charity.

I am editor for the Comet, Herts Advertiser and Welwyn Hatfield Times based in Hertfordshire. The day the trainee job at the Comet came up in my job search, I was so excited at the thought of working for a local paper I had grown up reading. As luck would have it, I got the job and worked my way up over the last seven years, seeing the paper and wider media landscape change. While I now manage a small team of reporters across a number of weekly titles, I still enjoy getting stuck into a good story, whether it's by being on the ground covering it myself or guiding a reporter through it. Having a byline in print never gets old. My time outside of work is spent usually friends and family, good wine, and good food. 

I started out with LOCALiQ not really knowing what to expect but ready for a change after working in hospitality from a young age. As someone who has never really known what I wanted to do in terms of a career, I found a passion in sales.

Over the years I have had many roles within the company that have helped me upskill and grow as a salesperson. The last several years have been spent working in the education sector. This is where my passion and strengths grew.

I have built strong relationships with the schools and educators in the Cheshire area and that trust and knowledge of the local marketplace has helped me to become the salesperson that I am today.

I enjoy every aspect of my role: every day is different and there is always something new and exciting to share with my customers!

2024 marks my 10th year with the company. I look forward to what the future may bring!

I have been with Newsquest for over 20 years. I have been hugely fortunate to learn from great people which has enabled me to progress in this forward-thinking company. My passion is people and I’m surrounded by amazing talent that deliver results and response, every day for our customers.

I joined Newsquest in 2022 and soon took over our editorial operation in London. I have really enjoyed the autonomy I have as an editor to set my team up the way I want to and love the fast-paced news cycle in the capital. Covering news in London is nothing like I had experienced before taking on the role, having spent my formative years working on various titles in East Anglia. There is so much going on in London, but we are fully committed to providing hyperlocal news for our loyal readers. It is incredibly rewarding when you see the work you do having a positive impact on the communities we serve

As an Events Coordinator for Eastern Counties for several years, I've had the privilege of working with a fantastic team of internal staff and external stakeholders to deliver some of our most prestigious events. I lead on the EDP Business Awards - our flagship event with nearly 600 attendees - along with the EADT Business Awards, and Community Awards. In 2024 we are proud to launch a brand-new awards, our Clean & Green Awards, which I am looking forward to working on. I also assist our Food & Drink awards and magazine events for our subscribers.

In addition to these key projects, I manage our quarterly partner updates for the Clean & Green campaign and assist with outdoor events, ensuring that every detail is meticulously planned and executed. It’s incredibly rewarding to collaborate with such dedicated colleagues and partners.

I am part of the Sales Enablement Team at LOCALiQ and have been with the company for 8 years. My passion lies in coaching our sales team across the group, witnessing their efforts pay off and their confidence grow. We primarily focus on assisting in the digital selling of our solutions and ensuring our clients are on the right digital journey. With 25 years in the industry, I've seen a wealth of change, but the solutions LOCALiQ offers are genuinely best in class. I'm fortunate to work within a team that supports each other no matter what, making working from home still feel like being part of a cohesive team. 

I started working in finance nearly 20 years ago, starting as a bookkeeper for a small business and working my way through across an array of roles and industries, finally settling into the Media industry 13 years ago.

I joined Newsquest in 2017 and it was apparent from the start that they were a company technologically more advanced than any previous company I had worked for. This has given me the opportunity to grow and develop my skills and expertise in my field of work.

My role can be sometimes challenging, but I thrive on this. Never knowing what’s going to land on my desk from one week to the next. I could be analysing out potential projects one minute, then benchmarking profitability of titles across the region the next; you never know what curve ball could be thrown at you.

The industry is always developing, so there is undoubtedly always going to be numbers to crunch somewhere.

I started at Newsquest not long after graduating over 16 years ago and have had several roles within the Central Digital Team, from voicing the in-paper competitions to my current role as SME Solutions Development Manager.

I enjoy working in the ever changing world of Digital Media. Evolving new solutions as part of a close team but with all the advantages of a large company, which gives us access to world class technology helping us deliver top quality solutions.

I sit, metaphysically, somewhere between a bunch of techy geeks and journalists, so we can build better websites and CMS functions for our local news brands.

There is never a dull moment when trying to meet the challenge of the fast-changing world of digital publishing. Every day is different, and I get to solve problems creatively, make meaningful decisions and see their impact on the vital function that is journalism in our local communities.

I'm Jade Smith, Group Sales Support Manager for Sales Support North. I joined the business after the lockdown in 2021 and have never looked back.

I love my role providing administration and sales support to my team and the wider business, as well as assisting clients from initial booking to artwork completion. This role has helped me develop my skills and understanding of the wide range of products and services we offer at Newsquest, allowing me to better support those around me.

When I'm not at work, I enjoy a variety of hobbies, including 16 years of playing roller derby both locally and internationally. Currently, I skate with my local team, the Norfolk Brawds. Additionally, I am passionate about CrossFit, hiking, and traveling as much as I can.

‘I have been involved in publishing for 25 years. I may tire of it one day but not just yet.’