Working together to make a difference

Tell us a little about Bernicia and its mission

Bernicia is a North East housing association, which owns and manages more than 14,000 homes across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Teesside. We provide homes and services to more than 60,000 residents, employ 600 people and have an annual turnover in excess of £90 million. During the course of our current four-year corporate strategy, we are investing £230 million into homes and communities – £110 million of that alone into building 800 new homes to tackle the urgent need for more quality, affordable housing. We are values driven, progressive and proud of the role we play as an anchor institution in the communities where our homes are and our tenants live. We believe a good home makes lots of other things possible, so we provide great houses and services that do just that. By listening to tenants and customers, working with partners and supporting opportunity across the North East, we believe we can enhance communities and help transform our region. As a significant regional business, we know we are more than just a landlord. We are working closely with partners – including the North East Chamber of Commerce – to influence and help deliver strategic plans to support those championing the North East.

Bernicia is a long-standing North East Chamber of Commerce member. What was the driving force behind your engagement with the Chamber?

We’ve been a member for a number of years. The original catalyst for joining was that we were conscious Bernicia, while respected within the housing sector, was not as widely known across the business community as we would have liked. Part of our strategic priorities as a major stakeholder and employer are to do more to support the regional agenda and in doing so raise our own profile, to explain what Bernicia does and what we stand for.

How do the Chamber’s goals for the North East align with Bernicia’s ambitions for the region?

We value the excellent work of the North East Chamber of Commerce as the region’s largest and most influential business membership network. The Chamber really is the voice of business in the region, and champions its success and potential. This fully aligns with Bernicia’s ambition for the region. We view the North East as the land of opportunity, and focus on supporting individuals, households and communities in closing inequality gaps through, for instance, boosting employment prospects through our team of employability experts, which help people who are out of work upskill into a job. We’re conscious of the pivotal role housing plays in providing solid foundations for people and communities, and in supporting the wider economic growth agenda. The Chamber’s vision and values align closely with ours. We both deliver on what we say we will do.

How has Chamber membership strengthened Bernicia’s support for the residents and communities it serves?

Chamber membership means we can make sure the voice of residents is heard and their needs are reflected in wider influencing of the North East’s bold economic agenda. We are enthusiastic supporters of the Chamber’s campaigns, which improve business prospects and the life chances of people across the North East, including our tenants. Networking opportunities with like-minded organisations, facilitated by the Chamber, provide opportunities that benefit all members.

Bernicia is the headline sponsor of the 2025 Chamber Awards in June. The partnership follows the same role as last year, and previous support for Chamber awards celebrations. Why is backing such events so important to Bernicia?

It’s important because it allows us to take time out of our busy working lives to celebrate the success happening right here and now in our great region. The awards shine a spotlight on our region and our current successes and ambition, showing wider national business markets and the Government the calibre of our business community and the potential of our region. The wider Chamber network, thanks to chief executive John McCabe and his expert team, is invaluable in getting the story of North East success, and the needs of our business community, in front of key decision-makers at regional and national levels. And there’s a real feel-good factor around the Chamber Awards. The strength, depth and sheer resilience of North East businesses is something we can all take great pride in. It’s inspiring to hear stories of how businesses have scaled heights and overcome challenges from right here in the North East. And it’s important too, with our fantastic new North East Combined Authority and North East mayor Kim McGuinness, that we support them to deliver their recently published Local Growth Plan. Celebrating success and recognising and helping unlock the potential of the region is crucial, and these awards play an important part in doing just that.

What advice would you give to other organisations considering becoming a North East Chamber of Commerce member?

Don’t hesitate – join today. Membership brings so many benefits; it can be member-focused support or wider influencing work to make sure the voice of business is heard. The Chamber’s business support services help those on a journey to success, while policy networks help grow influence, networking opportunities and reach. All in all, it is a very wise investment.

www.necc.co.uk
LinkedIn: North East Chamber of Commerce
www.bernicia.com
LinkedIn: Bernicia Group