Regional business leaders bolster BIC board

A North East business support organisation has strengthened its leadership as it looks ahead to further growth across the region.

The North East BIC, which operates business centres in Sunderland, Washington and Darlington, has appointed Andrew Marsh, Kevin Howell, Laura Middleton and Sophie Milliken MBE as directors to its board.

They join existing board members John Anderson CBE, David Howell, Paul McEldon OBE and Kevan Carrick, who has been a director of the BIC for the past eight years.

Kevan also steps into the role of chair, replacing John, who becomes the BIC’s first Life President in recognition of his long-standing services to the organisation.

Paul McEldon OBE, chief executive of the BIC, said: “We are thrilled that Andrew, Kevin, Laura and Sophie have agreed to join the BIC board.

“They will bring a fresh new perspective to our thinking and ensure that, as new opportunities and challenges are presented, we are best placed as an organisation to ensure the region’s businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs have the support and tools required to succeed.

“We would also like to thank John for all of his work over recent years in his role as chair. 

“The Life President award is testament to the incredible role he has played in our growth in recent years, and I have every confidence that Kevan will continue to pick up where he left off.”

Kevan added: “Our job now is to help grow the number of successful SMEs in the North East, encourage more people to set up and help meet the challenges facing local and combined authorities and I have every confidence that our new board members will play a huge role in helping us do just that.”

The BIC, which has recently opened a new centre in Darlington, has delivered a wide range of support programmes for startups, social enterprises and veterans, with further initiatives planned for the year ahead.

Kevan added: “Over the past three decades, the BIC’s workspace and business support has generated over £2.5billion for the North East economy, providing a home for over 1000 businesses while helping over 6000 more to set up and grow.

“Looking ahead, our aim is to continue building on this success and we see the four new directors, who bring a wealth of experience in marketing, recruitment, business development and digital/AI transformation, as being key to achieving this.”

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