Cornerstone make trio of new signings

Oldham-based agency Cornerstone Design and Marketing has appointed three new recruits amid strong growth, taking its current number of staff to 12.

Cornerstone has appointed Zuzana Alstockova, Steven MacDonald and Harriet Donoghue, who have links to Manchester and Stockport, Cheshire and Oldham respectively.

Zuzana (aged 34) is the company’s new Account Manager. Her role involves liaising with clients and Cornerstone’s multi-disciplinary team on services including graphic design, website development, digital marketing, social media, video, photography, signage, copy-writing and PR.

Originally from Slovakia, Zuzana has worked in Greater Manchester for over 10 years.

Her CV includes extensive experience of working for a small design agency in Stockport, where she began in business administration as a director’s PA before moving up to operations manager.

She later joined a large Manchester city centre agency as an account manager on global brands before joining Cornerstone.

Steven MacDonald has joined Cornerstone as a Junior Website Developer.

He works with developer Mubarak Panti on the agency’s fast-growing services for bespoke website development and integrations.

His daily role involves crafting precise HTML, CSS and PHP to ensure user-friendly websites that delivers on clients’ marketing objectives.

From Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, Steven attended Whitby High School and then the University of Cheshire, in Warrington and Chester, where he studied computer science.

He then worked for a digital agency and then as a freelance developer before joining Cornerstone, where he turns clients’ briefs into bespoke, fully-functional websites.

Harriet Donoghue (17) from Springhead, is Cornerstone’s new administration assistant and plays a key role in the office.

She works on a range of tasks including accounting and invoices, and works closely with managing director David Wadsworth.

A former Saddleworth School pupil, Harriet began studying A-levels at Oldham Sixth Form College in business, finance and sociology but then decided she wanted to follow an apprenticeship training route.

She is now on a business administration apprenticeship programme with Cornerstone and Oldham College.

She said: “The marketing and digital industry is really interesting. Cornerstone works across a wide range of activities so there is lots of variety, which is great.”

Cornerstone Design and Marketing was founded in 2007 by David Wadsworth in Oldham.

Launched from his parents’ attic, Cornerstone has grown steadily over the years.

Last year, Cornerstone appointed three new staff – Jess Buckley, Kat Thomson and Robbie MacDonald.

Now the business employs 12 staff and also regularly works with two consultants.

Andy Sweeting, of El Capitan, works on digital marketing while Alison Taylor specialises in business development.

Alison previously ran her own telecoms business and later volunteered and then worked for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Oldham.

Cornerstone has become one of the largest, full-service design, digital and marketing agencies in the Oldham area.

It works with private, public and charity businesses and organisations in sectors including leisure, health, manufacturing, engineering, scientific, textiles, property, construction, arts, retail and recycling.

Regional and national clients include furniture components manufacturer and distributor Hills Panel Products (HPP), Fineline Interiors, Oldham Community Leisure, Age UK Oldham, Dr Kershaw's Hospice, North West Ambulance Service, Cancer Research UK, medicine manufacturer Covonia and visual art events organiser Wild In Art.

David attended Our Lady’s RC High School in Royton, Oldham, then graduated from Huddersfield University with a marketing degree.

He worked for an agency in Leeds before setting up his own business.

The agency was first based at Woodend Mills, Oldham, and then to its’ current base nearby on Lees High Street. 

Now the company is again looking for a new, bigger home in Oldham to accommodate its growing portfolio of work and employee numbers.

Cornerstone recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a reception attended by guests including the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shadab Qumer.

The agency has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the 2018 Oldham Business Awards - for Business of the Year (turnover under £1million) and Employer of the Year.

Winners will be announced at the black-tie awards dinner on Friday week, May 11, at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham.