A NORTH Yorkshire business development manager has become the first female chair of an English building standards association.

Paula Stewart, a boss at Thirsk-based Severfield-Reeve Projects (SRP), will chair the steering committee for the North Yorkshire Constructing Excellence Club during her year-long tenure. She succeeds Colin McNeil, of the Kier Group, Boston Spa, near Wetherby.

North Yorkshire Constructing Excellence Club promotes construction best practice through regular seminars and ensures that members have access to the Constructing Excellence national information services.

Paula, 37, joined SRP in July, 2004, after 12 years' business development experience in construction-related sectors, including plant hire, electrical cable and pipe fixings manufacture and metering and measurement software for the oil and gas industries.

She said: "I am looking forward to progressing the club's development by increasing awareness of the benefits of membership to prospective businesses, including those in more remote areas of the county."

Updated: 09:57 Friday, March 24, 2006