A Sunderland-based creative has launched a fast-growing enterprise to take on bigger projects and partnerships.
After a global career, 33 year-old Roker-born entrepreneur Dave Head, has launched Northern Designers to help businesses across the North East stand out, grow, and succeed online with creative and data-driven marketing, branding, and web design.
Dave’s career path took him to Amsterdam before he came home to the North East to work with well known local brands including Gentoo, STACK Leisure, Prima Cheese and Orange Bus.
Launching Northern as a ‘one man band’, Dave has rapidly grown the business after receiving support from the North East BIC’s Enterprising Sunderland programme, which helped him to build his confidence and connections.
He said: “For me, great marketing has a focus on delivering real results for businesses. It’s the positive impact that drives me, so I wanted the opportunity to do this for more than just one brand, and that’s why I launched Northern.
“When I first took the leap, I was introduced to business adviser John Forth from the BIC, who was instrumental in helping me navigate the local business landscape, build key connections, and access the right support. Through the BIC and the Enterprising Sunderland programme, I gained valuable advice and mentorship, as well as help to secure funding for equipment and marketing. All of these things made a huge difference in getting Northern off the ground.”
The Enterprising Sunderland programme is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the aim of helping people across the City take their first steps into self-employment.
Paul McEldon OBE, Chief Executive at the North East BIC said: “It’s stories like Dave’s that really demonstrate the impact of programmes like Enterprising Sunderland, not just on the foundational economy, but on the lives of fledgling entrepreneurs. It’s a great privilege to be able to help people turn their dreams into thriving opportunities and it’s fantastic to see Northern Designers go from strength-to-strength.”
Northern Designers specialises in branding, web design, digital marketing, and conversion rate optimisation (CRO), with the mission of helping clients build memorable brands online.
“Northern has grown faster than I ever imagined”, continued Dave. “I’ve gone from working solo to outsourcing projects to local freelancers, and I’m now collaborating with larger agencies to deliver high-quality design and marketing across Sunderland and the North East.
“The BIC didn’t just give me business support — they gave me the confidence and connections to push Northern forward. Sunderland has an incredible business community, and thanks to the BIC and John’s guidance, I’ve been able to turn an idea into a thriving business.”
John Forth, Business Adviser at the North East BIC said: “There are so many different ways that we can support people to bring their business ideas to life. In Dave’s case, he had a great skill set and a very clear idea about what he wanted to do. With business planning support, advice on available funding opportunities and some critical business connections, we were able to help him take his business further at a pace that works for him.
“Our support offer is entirely flexible and completely bespoke to anyone who wants to explore the possibilities of self-employment. It all starts with a conversation, so I’d encourage anyone – no matter where they are on their journey – to reach out and see how we can help.”
The start-up support from the BIC forms part of the Enterprising Sunderland project which has received £1,271,885 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, Portfolio Holder for Business, Housing and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “The city’s creative community has continued to grow over recent years, creating jobs for local people and providing a major boost to the city’s economy, and programmes such as Enterprising Sunderland have been key to this.
“As well as supporting the Music City bid and helping our indigenous businesses scale, it has also helped hundreds of others to set up, like Dave, who are now forging ahead and putting us on the map as a great place to do business. It is fantastic to see both him and his business thriving, and we’d like to wish him all the best for the future.”