A leading business figure who became the first chief executive of an organisation as it grappled with the aftershocks of Covid has marked five years in the role.
Dianne Richardson was appointed as CEO of BECBC in June 2021 and has overseen an increase in the organisation’s membership base and events programme, whilst refining its position and strategy.
Now she is looking ahead to another five years – with a focus on collaboration, growth and strengthening Cumbria’s wider industrial voice.
Dianne, who was a member of the BECBC board before taking the CEO position, said: “I genuinely loved the organisation before I took the role, but I could also see the difference it could make with a full-time team behind it.
“Five years on, we’ve transformed what we deliver and how we work – and it still feels like there’s more we can do.”
From its formation in 2003, BECBC had been wholly volunteer-led and contractor delivered.
In 2021, an opportunity arose to consider whether a different operating model might be appropriate.
A problem statement was issued – with Dianne withdrawing from the process of creating it – ‘because she might want to be part of the solution.’
“The role was advertised, I applied, and they absolutely grilled me – rightly so. My view was that we needed a CEO-led model with a team behind it, and that’s how I saw the organisation moving forward,” she said.
Since Dianne’s appointment, BECBC has evolved from a nuclear supply chain-focused network into a broader organisation with deeper supply chain links and relationships.
It has a more diverse membership – sitting at 253 businesses and organisations at the most recent count – and a portfolio of sector groups which cover professional services, nuclear, social value, green energy and organisational performance.
There is also a vibrant calendar of events, with upwards of 50 meaningful opportunities to collaborate, connect and do business every year.
“There’s a much sharper sense of what each group is for and what each event is trying to achieve. It’s about offering variety to different parts of the membership.
“There’s a real energy in the room, and that reflects a much higher level of engagement from members,” she said.
One of the achievements Dianne is most proud of is building a stronger sense of togetherness across what remains a largely volunteer-led organisation.
“People were giving their time, but it didn’t necessarily feel like a team. Now there’s a real shared sense of purpose, and volunteers feel empowered to shape what they deliver.”
Looking ahead, Dianne said her ambition is for BECBC to play a central role in connecting businesses across Cumbria’s industrial arc from Carlisle to Barrow.
“I see us as part of the glue that connects the supply chain across Cumbria. If you can bring businesses into the same space, having the right conversations about common challenges, you can drive real change.
“We’re not just a network anymore – we’re part of the wider conversation about how Cumbria works together and delivers.”
BECBC was originally established to build and nurture links between Sellafield and its supply chain – and although the organisation has evolved over two decades, those relationships remain central to its work today.
Euan Hutton, Sellafield Ltd chief executive officer, said: “Dianne has built on the work of her predecessors to drive the cluster to new heights as the engine of supply chain growth in the county.
“Her energy, passion, and enthusiasm have created a powerful platform for co-operation and collaboration among local businesses which powers jobs, skills, and economic growth in our region every day.
“At Sellafield, we’re proud of our role as a national strategic asset, providing solutions for some of the most challenging and complex decommissioning and waste management programmes in the world. Our supply chain is at the heart of that, delivering alongside us every day.
“When we need to engage with the companies who work with us, or those who want to, our first stop is BECBC.
“That’s because of the vibrant, welcoming, and positive environment Dianne has created.”
