Cumbrian law firm Burnetts has added two new recruits to its employment and HR team.

Melanie Milne and Natasha Ball will bring an international perspective to the team, having both studied and worked abroad prior to relocating to Carlisle.

Melanie, who went to school in Lancaster, Hong Kong and Dubai, has joined as senior HR consultant.

A chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, she has previously worked in local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

She said: “My skills, qualifications and experience are really valued and I already feel like a key member of the team.

“The variety of my role as is great for me too.

"One minute I can be working in a school and the next in a private company.

"It’s great to meet new clients from different walks of life and to be able to help them resolve their HR and employment issues.”

Originally from New Zealand, Natasha has lived and worked in Cumbria since 2012 and joins Burnetts as an HR adviser.

Natalie Ruane, head of employment and HR at Burnetts, said: “Both Natasha and Mel bring a range of valuable background experience to the team, and we’ve needed to expand in response to a surge of HR-related work in both the education and commercial sectors.

“We need people who understand the challenges of changing employment law as it affects schools and academies as well as higher and further education, but we also need to be able to support a wide range of business clients in the commercial sector.”