BIC getting geared up for the new way of working
A leading provider of business space and support on Wearside is aiming to help companies embrace ‘the workplace of tomorrow’.
The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) helped hundreds of businesses adjust and adapt during the pandemic and believes a new global business culture – centred on worklife balance and employee wellbeing – will change the way the firms operate for generations to come.
The BIC is revamping its start-up support with the introduction of its Innovate for Good programmes and AMIF – a unique project helping refugees harness their skills to set up in business.
The organisation has also made a commitment to continue investing in wellbeing and wellness by improving its green spaces, embracing and encouraging co-working and hybrid working and developing a Net Zero strategy.
Paul McEldon, chief executive of the North East BIC, said: “The pandemic illuminated so many problems with modern day working cultures and has caused a real momentum shift in how organisations do business.
“Since adopting hybrid working during the pandemic – and despite early predictions of workspaces becoming redundant due to remote working – we’ve seen demand for flexible office space hit a 27-year high.
Established in 1994, the North East BIC has helped over 4,000 entrepreneurs set up in business since it opened its doors.
Its long-standing business start-up and social enterprise programmes have both been revamped as the BIC looks to champion the region’s start-up community and its enterprising philanthropists.
Paul added: “Through our newly launched Flying Start initiative and our expanded
Innovate for Good social enterprise programme, we are confident we will be best positioned to continue helping businesses understand the challenges they’ll face over the coming years and provide the support required to overcome them.
“We will continue to provide the creative communities required that encourage collaborative working and provide the flexible workspaces needed to help our SMEs scale at a sustainable pace.