Newtonian Leyanne Pennington-Foster has been appointed to the important post of Marketing & Recruitment Co-Ordinator at the Aycliffe UTC. She studied Marketing and Business Management at Sunderland University and worked at Woodham Academy in the exams department while  studying. After graduating Leyanne secured a placement with the UK’s largest housing association, based in Gosforth, receiving a promotion and an extended contract as their Marketing Officer. She has managed events for IKEA, Swedish Housing company BoKlok and was involved in bringing the first flat pack housing to the UK.. Leyanne worked for a Stockton company who built, managed and maintained power plants and other energy assets. While working for this company for seven years, she promoted them through marketing and brand management, working on research and tender projects to secure £multi-million worth  of new business. She visited a variety of Power Plants across the UK, UAE and Africa. The experience of working daily alongside a variety of engineers and plant managers gave her real life industry experience which will benefit UTC South Durham students. “Leyanne told Newton News “When the opportunity at the UTC came up, it was simply ideal and I’m excited to be part of the first team to bring a new educational establishment to Newton Aycliffe for students ages 14-19, offering high quality education specialising in Engineering, Maths and Science. I am really passionate about campaigning to get girls into engineering and breaking gender stereo types within industry”. Leyanne is married to Anthony, a Secondary School Teacher, and they have two sons aged one and four. She attended Byerley Park, Greenfield and Darlington Technology College enjoying some rich experiences including recording a song as part of a group of Greenfield students at Abbey Road, where the Beatles recorded their albums. Leyanne interviewed people on Skysports and Soccer FM, presented QTV for Darlington FC and worked on “60 minute Makeover”