It’s been ten years since our CEO, Karen, arrived at the Barking Enterprise Centre for what was meant to be a six-week secondment. We’re glad to say she never left. A temporary assignment blossomed into a decade-long mission to transform a council-run building into the thriving, independent community hub it is today.
Karen’s journey is in many ways, the story of the BEC itself: a story of survival, adaptation, and unwavering purpose. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary with the theme Ten Years Of Impact, we sat down with Karen to reflect on the pivotal moments and core philosophies that have shaped this incredible decade.
It started with a leap of Faith
Rewind to 2015, the BEC was a very different place than it is today. A council-run entity, facing dwindling budgets and an uncertain future. Occupancy was low, and its purpose wasn’t clear to the wider community. The spark for change, Karen explains, came from a simple question: what could we do differently if we had autonomy?
The answer resulted in her taking a large leap of faith. The transformation to a Community Interest Company (CIC), meant the BEC could access funding streams previously unavailable to the council and operate with the agility of a small business. It was a power move designed to give the centre its own legs and maximise the support it could offer to entrepreneurs in the borough.
All this happened as Barking and Dagenham was in an era of grappling with its own identity. In an era that saw the decline of local manufacturing, the borough emerged as a space reinventing itself, with the need for a major push for regeneration. The newly independent BEC leaned into these needs, carving out a role as a key partner to support the ecosystem of small, local businesses that are the backbone of any community.
We found our feet (and our voice)
Becoming independent was no easy process. It took time to build a new identity, one that was neither a traditional council service nor a commercial co-working space. It was something in between, a gap that needed to be filled, and with community at its heart. This new season meant navigating new challenges, like helping people understand that while the BEC’s advice was free to access, it wasn’t free to deliver, and we discovered the balance needed to achieve a work space that would serve community needs.
This also meant building a new, healthier relationship with the local authority. Karen recalls being warned not to “bite the hand that feeds you,” but she also knew that asking tough questions and offering constructive challenges was an essential ingredient for the betterment of the borough. She approached this with the spirit and mindset to become a true partner, and not just a recipient of support.
Survival is an art: our pivot had to have purpose
If one lesson defines the BEC’s ten-year journey, it’s the need to adapt. “If the BEC was still doing what it was doing ten years ago,” Karen states plainly, “it wouldn’t be here.” Survival has depended on the ability to pivot as the community has evolved.
This philosophy is woven into everything the BEC does. It’s in the big things, like the creation of the Amplify programme, which was created from lessons learned supporting retail and hospitality businesses to get back on their feet after the pandemic.
“We realised that one-to-one, tailored support was what our community truly needed, and that became our model.”
It’s not just the big stuff that matters, it’s also in the small things. Karen gives a simple but powerful example: “The original building had tiny hand basins in the toilets. As our community grew and changed, we recognised that people needed proper facilities to wash before prayer. A tiny basin just wouldn’t do. Being able to listen to feedback and respond to the evolving needs of our members;from the physical layout of the building to the programmes we offer, has been the key to our longevity.”
A team that feels like family
Through every challenge faced, one thing has remained constant: the team. The stability of the leadership, with Karen and BEC Operations Director, Donna, forming an “unbreakable bond,” has been the bedrock of the organisation's success. It has fostered a level of trust that permeates the entire organisation.
Donna calls it the “BEC family,” and this sentiment extends beyond the staff to our members and the businesses we support. BEC is a place where, even after years have passed, entrepreneurs know they can pick up the phone and find a helping hand. It was this spirit that saw the team through the darkest days of the pandemic, working from 7 am to 10 pm to get vital support out to businesses facing an unprecedented crisis.
Karen’s journey with the BEC reminds us that walking through a door can change the trajectory of your life, your growth and your success. From a six-week assignment ten years ago BEC became a decade-long mission she’s still on. Karen’s story is a powerful reminder that true community building isn’t about grand plans; it’s about listening, adapting, and having the courage to pivot for a purpose. Sometimes it's just about walking through the door, and being open to an opportunity. Today, we celebrate this thriving community.
