Kate Welch OBE

Kate Welch OBE is founder and Chief Executive of Acumen Development Trust which works to achieve social and economic regeneration through learning, employment and enterprise.  Acumen works across the North East and Cumbria engaging people in disadvantaged communities and supporting them to achieve their potential.  Kate founded Acumen in 2003 having previously worked for JobCentre Plus and County Durham Training & Enterprise Council.

Acumen won the Enterprising North East England title for their work in Easington in 2006. The following year, Kate was chosen as a BT Essence of the Entrepreneur winner and the North East Woman Social Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2008 she was awarded an OBE for services to Social Enterprise in the North East and was the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Social award winner for the North. She was chosen as one of the 100 most entrepreneurial women in the UK this year and is a finalist in the Women in Ethical Business Awards 2009.

Kate has an MA from the Department of Social Policy at the University of York.  She sits on the Learning and Skills Council for the region and chairs the Mature and Working Lives Regional Advisory Group for the Public Health Board. She supports a number of small social enterprises and social entrepreneurs as a Director or mentor and is active in the Methodist Church and Girlguiding UK.

Email Kate at onesecretariat@onenortheast.co.uk