BDC Group
The Business Design Centre Group (BDC Group), previously City Industrial Ltd, was founded in 1954. Today it is still a majority-owned family business, chaired by Jack Morris, the youngest of five brothers who are the principal shareholders in the business.
The Group's activities include operation of the Business Design Centre (BDC), event organising (Upper Street Events) and property investment (citycentral estates and City North Islington).
During the 1960's and 1970's, the Group's core trading activity was shop fitting and commercial property investment. Following a group re-organisation in 1983 the investment properties were divested into a new company, CIL Securities, now known as citycentral estates. citycentral estates now owns and manages a large investment portfolio ranging from offices, retail, industrial and car parks. Its sister company, City North Islington also owns a 2 and a half acre business park adjacent to Finsbury Park underground and rail network.
In the early 1980's, the Group diversified its business when it acquired the famous Victorian Islington landmark, the Royal Agricultural Hall or 'The Aggie'.
Sam Morris, the founder of the BDC Group, identified the potential of the building and rescued it from demolition in 1981. In 1986, after a dramatic re-development, the building re-opened, combining the American concept of the Trade Mart with the building's traditional role as an exhibition centre.
'The Aggie' was re-branded as the Business Design Centre (BDC) and became Europe's first integrated Trade and Exhibition Centre. In the same year Upper Street Events (formerly BDC Events), was developed to create a portfolio of events to compliment the array of showrooms residing in the building and to drive greater numbers of visitors to the venue. Today Upper Street Events operates as an independent organiser running a number of events in several venues in the UK.
For the next thirteen years, the Group concentrated on developing the BDC, building its reputation as one of the most innovative businesses in the exhibition market by setting new standards in environmental quality and service.
The reputation of the BDC was key to the Morris family's success in acquiring the Earls Court and Olympia Group from P and O in 1999. After 5 successful years the family sold EC and O.
Dominic Jones is Chief Executive of both the BDC Group and the BDC. He started working at the BDC in 1991, went on to become Head of Marketing for Upper Street Events and then Sales Director for the BDC before becoming Chief Executive of the BDC and the Group in 1999 and 2005 respectively.
For more information please visit http://www.businessdesigncentregroup.co.uk/
