n NETCONSTRUCT has made two key appointments to its senior management team.

Ben Greeves has joined the Wetherby-based company as Commercial Manager after spending more than eight years as a leading IT consultant. He will be responsible for commercial and project management of NetConstruct’s clients helping each one strengthen their own business offerings.

Technical Manager Jonathan Healey joins NetConstruct after a number of years in software development for internet and mobile technologies. Jonathan has a number of year's experience in the South African IT and telecoms software sector, where he was responsible for one of Africa's largest online portals.

David Bentley, Managing Director of NetConstruct, said: “NetConstruct not only has the technical expertise needed to develop websites and back end systems, but it has a senior team which has considerable commercial experience. These appointments strengthen the business skills putting us in a unique position to help our clients get the most out of their online projects.”

n THIRSK cheesemaker Shepherds Purse has secured a six figure contract with Makro, the leading cash and carry distributor, to supply speciality cheeses for its network of 33 cash and carry outlets nationwide, serving the UK's major cities.

The company will supply five of its traditional handmade cheeses for Makro's Fresh Food department, which now boasts 350 cheeses from the UK and Europe. Products supplied include the best selling cow's milk cheese, Yorkshire Blue and ewe's milk cheeses, including Mrs Bells Blue, Olde York and Fine Fettle Yorkshire Cheese, as well as Monk's Folly, the traditional mould rinded soft cow's milk cheese originating from Middle Age monks.

n A NEW computer service aimed at home users, small business and charities launched in Harrogate last week.

SmartFixIT is now recruiting information technology specialists to help consumers and businesses with all makes and models of computer, hardware and software to offer cost effective IT support.

Phil Willis MP attended last week’s launch at the Cedar Court Hotel.

n CODA Group, the finance systems specialist, has won a prestigious industry award for its new on-demand accounting system, CODA 2go. It was awarded for best instructional documentation in this year’s UK Technical Communication Awards, organised by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, for its CODA 2go Online Help facility.

n INVESTINPOTENTIAL is a new firm in Wetherby that teams up sixth formers with local employers.

The aim of the company is to find them a holiday job in their chosen career area.

Rob Woodcock of Investinpotential said: “For employers, they then have an extended assessment as the students do real jobs.