North East BIC

About North East BIC

The North East Business and Innovation Centre, usually called the North East BIC, is based at Wearfield on Sunderland Enterprise Park, north of the river. It provides a mix of workspace for new and growing businesses, including flexible offices, coworking, industrial units, laboratories and meeting rooms, with an on-site IT team and support for tenants.

The BIC is also a long-standing source of start-up help. People setting up a business in Tyne and Wear, Durham or Northumberland can book one-to-one sessions with business advisers and attend Flying Start workshops, many of which now run online. Other programmes include Veterans RV, a 12-week course of mentoring and training for armed forces veterans starting a business, and Business for Good, which supports social enterprises. It suits anyone at the idea stage who wants structured guidance, as well as small firms looking for affordable premises.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature North East BIC.

Christmas in Sunderland 2026: Lights, Panto, Markets and New Year

Christmas in Sunderland for 2026: the Keel Square lights switch-on, markets, the Empire panto, Santa visits, trees, Christmas Day dining and New Year's Eve fireworks.

Christmas Markets in Sunderland 2026

Christmas markets and fairs in Sunderland for 2026, from the Riverside market at City Hall to the BIC fair, a night market at STACK Seaburn and makers at The Bridges.

Accountants in Sunderland

A guide to chartered accountants in Sunderland, from a long-established Stockton Road practice to a family firm at The Yard and a cloud-based firm on the Enterprise Park.

Business Support in Sunderland

Where to get help starting or growing a business in Sunderland, from the North East BIC and the council's Business Investment Team to the Growth Hub and local networks.