What started as a conversation between father and daughter has, in less than a year, developed into a growing creative business with ambitions to make professional video and podcast production more accessible to businesses across the North East.
Howell Studios, founded by Chris and Issy Howell in December 2025, has expanded into a larger space at the North East BIC in Sunderland after just nine months in business, responding to growing demand from both regional and national clients.
The studio was born out of Chris and Issy’s own podcast, Looks Like We Made It, which sparked a conversation about the challenges businesses face when trying to create consistent, professional content. That idea has since evolved into a specialist podcast-focused TV studio designed to make content creation quicker, simpler and more affordable.
Using broadcast-grade technology and live vision mixing systems similar to those used by broadcasters including the BBC, Sky and ITV, Howell Studios gives businesses the opportunity to step into a fully equipped, custom-branded environment and create professional podcasts, videos and digital content without the usual complexity associated with production.
The larger studio is now opening up opportunities for businesses and professions that may not previously have considered using video or podcasts as part of their marketing or communications strategy.
Issy Howell, Director of Howell Studios, said: “The bigger studio space isn’t just opening doors for us, it’s also opening doors for industries that have never considered doing podcasts or videos before, like lawyers, business coaches, HR professionals and consultants. The opportunity wasn’t there before, but it is now.”
Efficiency is at the heart of the studio’s approach. Clients can batch-produce several months’ worth of podcasts, social media content or online training during a single visit, with content edited as it is filmed and delivered within 24 hours.
The offering has also expanded to include photography, with Howell associate Martin Newham providing professional photography from the new space. This means clients can record their content and refresh their headshots in the same visit, creating a more streamlined experience for busy business owners.
For Chris, the support of the BIC has played an important role in allowing the business to grow at its own pace.
“The BIC has given us the ability to test the waters and know we are supported as we scale. It genuinely feels like a community here. Over the next 12 months our goal is steady and sustainable growth, helping clients make studio content a seamless, recurring part of their yearly strategy.”
Howell Studios is also part of a wider creative story at the BIC. Sister company Howell Media moved to the centre 18 months ago and has since expanded across multiple spaces as the business has grown.
Doreen Howard, Centre Manager at the North East BIC, said: “Watching Howell Studios expand into a bigger space just nine months after launching is fantastic. Chris and Issy bring incredible energy to our community, and their growth is a testament to the demand for what they offer. We’re delighted to support them as they continue to grow.”
With its larger studio now open, Howell Studios is inviting businesses to drop in, explore the possibilities and see the facilities in action, continuing the journey that began with a simple conversation between a father and daughter.
www.ne-bic.co.uk