Business & Economy Officer Hambleton District Council Claire Lowe has recently joined the C4DI team and is helping us to build and support the new community at C4DI Northallerton, an exciting new campus, focused on helping tech companies grow and traditional businesses innovate within the agriculture and food processing sectors. 

We caught up with Claire to find out more about her and her role.

“As Business & Economy Officer, my primary role is to assist with the development and implementation of the Economic Strategy and Investment Plan to develop effective partnership working with businesses across the Hambleton District addressing the local needs and priorities,” Claire tells us.

She is currently working on two specific projects, a Digital Hub and a Skills Village, alongside working on a Graduate Programme and the Apprenticeship Scheme.

Claire’s career started at Middlesbrough Borough Council where she became a Housing Officer, achieving qualifications from Northumbria University in Housing Management along the way. Since then, she has worked for several Housing Associations, working with local authorities and rural communities, providing advice and information to those who needed it.

Outside of this work, she also has experience running her own business in Interiors: 

“I am proud of many aspects of my career to date, I have taken opportunities when they have arisen embracing each new experience and given each and every one of my roles all my knowledge, enthusiasm and passion from being a team player to working independently in my own business for seven years.” 

This experience has given Claire the empathy and ability to work with diverse groups of people and she’s enjoying a new challenge at C4DI Northallerton. 

“I have really enjoyed getting to know the team at C4DI, they have made me feel so welcome and part of the team; our daily catch up meetings, the events, the development of the Steering Group, the work creating the buzz around C4DI Northallerton, working alongside Louise Cooke and John Connolly, as well as meeting potential new members of C4DI,” Claire adds.

While most of this work has been done remotely, Claire has still been kept company by her home working co-worker Bertie (her dog) who – according to Claire – is a brilliant listener!

To find out more about C4DI Northallerton, click here.