As one of the oldest and best-known businesses in Whitley Bay, Nicholson’s Butchers is one of many highlights on the town’s Park View. Now, joint owner Kathryn Meadows has taken up a role on the North Tyneside Business Forum management team and she tells us more about her business, her role and her hopes for North Tyneside.

 

 Tell us a bit more about yourself, Kathryn

I’m Kathryn and I’m joint owner of Nicholson’s the Butchers in Whitley Bay. We’re a fourth-generation business, established in 1914 and still trade from the same premises we had back then. My great grandfather started the business and it’s been well-known in Whitley Bay and the surrounding areas ever since.

I have a degree in food science and have worked for some large food manufacturing businesses. I always knew I’d come back to my family business roots and here I am!

I live locally with my husband, twin five-year-old girls and our border terrier, Wilma. Obviously, I work with members of my family every day and we all love our town and our business.

 

How did you become a member of the management team?

We’ve been members of the Forum for a number of years and I received an email asking for members to put themselves forward for the management team. We’re all passionate about Whitley Bay and North Tyneside as a whole so I decided to put myself forward to be on the management team to be a part of the development of the local business economy.

I had to complete a questionnaire about myself, the business and my background then I attended a few of the management team meetings to get a feel for what the team does and how I might fit in.

I hope to contribute in a really positive way to the team and to the Business Forum as a whole. As an established family business, we have loads of ideas to benefit the local business economy so I want to make sure our voice gets heard. I’m also looking forward to being part of the team that delivers the current plans too.

 

What other business connections do you have as part of your working life?

I’m also vice chair of the Q Guild of Butchers and a member of The Alternative Board (TAB). My membership of TAB helps me keep a finger on the pulse of business in general and gives me a sounding board made up of other business owners for when we’re coming up with new ways to grow and improve our own business.

I hope that my position on the management team at NTBF will provide similar opportunities for me and other businesses who need support and guidance.

 

How do you see the Forum developing in the future?

I’d love to see the North Tyneside Business Forum grow in membership numbers. It already gives members great support, advice and some brilliant events so I’d like to see that expand too. Networking has always been a great activity for our business so, as we come out of Covid restrictions, I’d love to see face-to-face events and meetings appear on calendars again so we can all get out and about to meet fellow business owners in person – there’s no substitute for that.