A North East-based champion of entrepreneurship has spoken of the pride underpinning her association with a university committed to unlocking potential by supporting disadvantaged communities.

Caroline Theobald CBE is a nationally recognised figure in the business start-up community and co-founder of groundbreaking network group The Bridge Club.

And after accepting an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Northumbria University this week she said: “It’s a privilege to be involved with a university that reaches into under-resourced communities to unlock people’s hidden potential.

“That’s what excites me about the work I’ve done — making the connections that matter to help people get to be the best they can be.

“I’m humbled to have been honoured with this doctorate by an Institution that I so admire.”

Born and raised in London, Caroline’s first major role in business was as news editor of Printing World — the leading technical print magazine based in Fleet Street.

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After a stint as the late Robert Maxwell’s press officer, she then turned to the socially aware architectural movement of the 1990s and co-founded Community Architecture Information Services (CAIS) Ltd.

In 1990 Caroline moved to the North East and, for the past three decades, has made it her mission to mentor business leaders, build networks and forge national and international connections. 

For almost 25 years The Bridge Club has provided early-stage entrepreneurs with access to the money, management, skills, and markets they need to grow their businesses.

That work led to another role as project lead for Connect Northumberland, building a community of Northumberland’s employers to help the county transition to a vibrant post-coal economy.

Caroline is a founding director of the North East Initiative on Business Ethics, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to make the region a good place to do business.

And she is a committed advocate of gender equality: when she moved from London to the North East, she was deeply concerned by the gender imbalance she observed within the regional business community.

This encouraged Caroline to become one of the founders of the Power of Women Campaign — a community interest company dedicated to enhancing the aspirations of young women in the Tees Valley and beyond.

She also became co-owner of enterprise training company, FIRST, which connects young people, start-ups, and professionals to their wider business community.

Caroline is a visiting professor at Northumbria and was chair of the university’s Newcastle Business School Advisory Board for five years from 2018 to 2023.

She played a key role in supporting the Business School’s Small Business Charter accreditation, which is a mark of excellence that recognises the role UK business schools play in supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.

Caroline has also facilitated many of the University’s connections with local businesses in her role as one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum — the largest network of entrepreneurs in the North East.

Elsewhere one of the leading lights of British business has reaffirmed his commitment to the North East after accepting his own honorary degree from Northumbria.

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John Mark Williams is the chief executive of the Institute of Leadership, a professional membership body for leaders and managers.

And after he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law he said: “This is a very special honour from an institution that I value hugely for its dedication and commitment to furthering knowledge and to making higher education a benefit for all.

“I do not take the honour for granted. I very much hope that I can continue to use the knowledge and skills I possess to advance further the aspirations and achievements of Northumbria University.

“I am deeply grateful for the incredible privilege of receiving this award.”

John graduated with an MBA from Northumbria in 2005 and chose to stay in the North East working as international trade director for UK Trade and Investment in the region.

In his role as chief executive of the Institute, John has provided a corporate donation of £12,000 for postgraduate scholarships for Northumbria University students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Since 2019 he has also been a member of the university’s Business School Advisory Board and has delivered guest lectures to students and alumni.

@SimonTheQT