The work of a Bishop Auckland-based Community Interest Company, which in just two years has helped transform the lives of hundreds of local people, has been recognised with a national award.
Hiyed CIC won the Business Hero category at the 2025 National Small Business Awards for demonstrating “a commitment to community development, social responsibility, and initiatives that strengthen the bonds for their customers and the community they serve.”
As well as providing supported intern work for more than 40 young people with additional needs, Hiyed has helped 20 adults launch their own businesses and assisted nearly 150 others – referred to the company by job centres – in securing paid employment.
“A lot of the people that we work with fall into the ‘economically inactive’ group – which means they haven’t been in work or looking for work for more than six months – and within that group the majority have disabilities as well,” said Hiyed founder and managing director Tracy Fee, 55. “We know that the longer you’re inactive the more difficult it is to get started,” she added.
But the one-to-one support provided by Hiyed is helping to change that. It has, for example, been working with a 42-year-old man who was told when he was 18 that he would never got a job.
“Then, if you wind back the clock, that was probably pretty standard for someone with a learning disability. He’s actually got a job now and he’s doing amazingly well,” said Tracy.
“The cohort of people we work with have not had great experiences. You hear it in the voices of their parents. They’re very sceptical when we say what we’re going to do because these are people who have been let down and had to fight for lots of things, such as classroom support, extra time for their exams or benefits.”
Tracy puts the success of Hiyed down to winning people’s trust, word of mouth and the hard work of her team. She also thinks the “autistic tendency to say what you mean and mean what you say” provided a clear vision for the business as it set out to remove barriers to employment for people who might previously have been written off.
Tracy had a successful 30-year career as an NHS mental health nurse but still struggled with anxiety and communication. Five years ago a diagnosis of autism helped explain those struggles and confirmed her determination to finally create Hiyed after a decade of thinking about it.
The company has received commendations at other awards but receiving national recognition was beyond her wildest expectations.
“We took some of our staff team and some of the people we support. For a lot of them this was their first experience of going on a train or staying in a hotel,” said Tracy. Her MP Sam Rushworth even organised a tour of Parliament for them. “We just thought we would have a lovely weekend in London, but never in a million years did I think we were going to win.”
Tracy does not plan to rest on her laurels, despite the award and the impact Hiyed has had in such a short time. She is about to launch a new business – Hiyed Unlimited – which aims to support people to overcome other issues such as transport to work, what to wear in the workplace and whether an employer needs to provide particular equipment.
“In an ideal world there would be no barriers,” said Tracy, “But we’ve inherited those and we’ve got to work with what we have. It’s sad, but it means there are lots opportunities to make a difference.”
Hiyed is one of around 250 new businesses and not for profit organisations which, during the past two years, have been supported by the Durham Startups service. One of the service’s Solutions Advisers, Michelle Brunton, said: “Tracy and the team at Hiyed are a true inspiration” and she described Hiyed Unlimited as a “mission to reduce isolation, promote independence, and open doors to employment, education, and social engagement.”
Hiyed has also received assistance from the North East BIC as well as Point North. Michelle Cooper, CEO of Point North, said: “Poverty can take chances away, but Hiyed helps people take them back, supporting women and others facing complex barriers to move forward through training or self-employment. Their work has already helped spark new businesses across County Durham, and this award is a powerful reminder of the hope and ambition they inspire every day.”
There is more information on Hiyed’s website www.hiyed.co.uk
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
What a great initiative, well done and best of luck for the future!