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Meet the BIC’s close-knit community

When you read the term business park, what comes to mind? Soulless offices, anonymous neighbours and terrible coffee? It’s anything but at the North East BIC!

For almost three decades, this has been the place where real people have come to make real businesses from their ideas and skills. An eclectic community where mature, growing businesses thrive alongside fresh start-ups and ambitious entrepreneurs making their own mark on the world.

With over 140 businesses calling the BIC home, tenants at the riverside site in Sunderland range from will writers to wellness experts and everyone imaginable in between.

We take a look behind the doors of a few of the units across the 14-acre site to meet some of the tenants making a living doing what they love most.

Ceto Swim Training Group

Former international swimmer Constantin Cosmin Petcu aims to ‘revolutionise private swimming instruction’ in the region with his innovative training school.

Inspired by state-of-the-art facilities found in US colleges, the sport science graduate has transformed one of the BIC’s self-contained units – equipping it with a purpose-built endless pool, 360-degree cameras, and a cutting-edge SwimErg machine.

Not only does the facility offer beginners an alternative way to learn to swim, but also places special emphasis on triathletes by leveraging biomechanics to enhance their stroke technique and overall performance.

Reinvented with Friends

Former teacher Ali Williams has combined her love of upcycling, teaching and sustainable living into a business helping people transform their old homeware.

She has adapted one of the BIC’s customisable units into a dedicated workshop where she runs sessions to share her skills.

Sole Guyy

Elliott Usher turned his love of rare Nike Air Jordan trainers into an online success after deciding to start his own business when he completed his GCSEs.

His entrepreneurial journey started at just 13-years-old, using £50 of his birthday money and time he had at home during Covid to research online trends. When he left school at 16, he decided to look beyond traditional routes into education and employment and get serious with his hobby.

From his dedicated office and stock room at the BIC he sells high-end ‘hype trainers’ to business-to-business customers across the globe via an app, with prices reaching £6,000.

Space North East

James Fildes was so dismayed by the lack of support on offer to men grappling with mental health issues he decided to do something about it.

After overcoming his own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, he poured his energy into making a difference for others.

His Community Interest Company runs from the BIC’s coworking space and offers a support network to men facing mental health challenges, hosting group sessions, walks and educational events.

Samuel Phillips Law

One of the region’s longest established law firms now has a dedicated Sunderland office at the BIC as part of plans to support the city’s growth.

Headquartered in Newcastle since its inception in 1919, the firm’s investment in Sunderland demonstrates the potential it sees in regeneration plans and commercial opportunities in the city.

Its range of legal services align well with the current and future needs of neighbouring BIC tenants, as well as start-up businesses in the area.

To find out about other start-up and growing businesses based at the BIC, visit ne-bic.co.uk/customer-stories

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North East BIC .