Building business success since 1994

This is our story

The North East BIC offers the perfect environment for you to start and grow a business.

Established in 1994 with the aim of encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship, we have created a unique community which fosters business success and inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Our unique package of workspace, business support, events and a community spirit that champions business success has been at the heart of our ethos from day one and continues to be the golden thread that weaves our services together.

And it doesn’t stop there. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, we continually reinvest the money we make into launching new services and facilities to ensure the region’s businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs have the tools they need to succeed.

North East BIC Sunderland

4000+
Businesses Launched

75%
Still trading after 3 years

326
Businesses currently housed

7500+
Jobs created

1100+
Businesses housed since we opened

1080
People working at businesses across 3 sites

Our values

Customer success drives our service. We just want to help you to achieve your goals.

Working together for good. We love nothing more than collaborating with our customers and colleagues for the good of our communities.

We respect difference and value the contribution of every member of the team in achieving our success.

Down to earth and practical, helping business owners navigate the ups and downs.

Expert business advice for entrepreneurs, as they embark on their journey and at every step along the way.

Proud of our strong roots in the North East and our longstanding international partnerships.

Our site

Today we own or manage 240,000 sq ft of workspace and are home to 326 businesses across our four business centres in Sunderland, Darlington and Washington.

More interestingly… the design of our first building was inspired by a Klingon warship from the Star Trek series. Can you see it?!

North East BIC Sunderland

Feel better, work better

Outdoor Spaces at the BIC

Outdoor spaces

We have an abundance of breakout and seating areas to eat, meet or relax along the banks of the River Wear, including our café terrace, which provides the perfect spot for a coffee, make a few calls or even host a breakout meeting.

North East BIC Sunderland

Protecting our environment

The investments we make to create new wildlife habitats, like our Pollinator Park and planting trees, are carefully considered. BIC staff take pride in hand making the tubs, planters and birdboxes you see across our site.
BIC EV Point

A green BIC

Our aim is to build a business that operates in ways which are greener and kinder to the environment, hence our investment in a solar tracker, LED lighting and other initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint.

Meet the team

Paul McEldon

Paul McEldon

Chief Executive

Donna Surtees

Donna Surtees

Centre Manager Sunderland

Gillian Middleton

Gillian Middleton

Innovation & Enterprise Manager

Lilla Preston

Lilla Preston

Marketing & Special Projects Manager

Kevin Marquis

Kevin Marquis

Social Enterprise Manager

Michelle Booth

Michelle Booth

I4G Project Manager

Debbie Simpson

Debbie Simpson

Tenant Business Adviser

Colin Turnbull

Colin Turnbull

Finance & IT Manager

John Hodgson

John Hodgson

Facilities Team Leader

Sarah Ahmadi

Sarah Ahmadi

AMIF Project Lead

Vanessa Wood

Vanessa Wood

Centre Manager Darlington

Vanessa Brown

Vanessa Shee

Head Receptionist

Our partners

Our work is powered by partnerships and collaboration.

North East Growth Hub Logo
NEEA Logo
Newcastle University Logo
Sunderland Partnership Logo
Sunderland Software City Logo
Sunderland University Logo
Tedco Business Support Logo

Tender opportunities

Tenders available from the North East BIC and Partners. As opportunities arise, we will detail them here.

Job vacancies

Job opportunities at the BIC and from our Tenants and Partners are listed here.