North East
North East Region
The North East Region of the Institute of Licensing covers a very large geographical area, bordering Scotland in the North, and Scarborough on the North East Coast and down to Grimsby in the South of the region , including the major cities of Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford York, Sheffield and Kingston upon Hull.
The region covers an area of England which is deeply diverse, ranging from cities to small country villages to areas of outstanding natural beauty and bustling seaside towns.
The North East Region has a Committee of 5 officers, all of whom are from different backgrounds within the field of licensing and our officers are on hand to support and share their knowledge with our members. The committee consists of a regional chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and training officer, and we are always looking for new people to join us and continue to grow our team.
As a region, we host three training sessions per year. Two of our meetings are virtual and one in person. For these training sessions we cover a broad range of licensing topics which we hope will benefit our members, and we have speakers from all sectors which include Local Authorities, Government Departments, Private Practice and other highly qualified professionals.
If you are a licensing practitioner or professional living or working in the North East, you can join the Institute to become a regional member.
IoL members have access to a range of resources online, and can join their regional groups, register their interest in specific areas of licensing law via our Special Interest Groups, engage in discussions via the IoL members’ forum and more.
Counties in the Region
- North Yorkshire
- East Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- Durham
- Northumberland
North East Committee
Alan Fane
Regional Officer
Tim Briton
Treasurer
Gareth Bentley
Vice Chair
Heidi Lawrance
Vice Chair
Chris Rees-Gay
Regional Officer
Tim Shield
Regional Chair & Advisory Council Representative
Regional & National News
Gambling Commission newsletter – 3 August 2026
The latest fortnightly update highlights enforcement action, regulatory developments, industry consultations and operational news from across the gambling sector.
Read MoreGovernment takes action to crack down on rogue funeral operators
Proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector to be developed following the case in Hull.
Read MoreCourt of Appeal refuses TNLC permission to appeal
The Court of Appeal has refused The New Lottery Company Limited (TNLC) and Northern & Shell PLC’s application to appeal...
Read MoreInstitute of Licensing backs extended closure powers but warns of risks and calls for stronger safeguards
The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has submitted its formal response to the Home Office consultation on proposals to increase the...
Read MoreGambling Commission rejects claims of poor engagement in horse racing sector row
Growing concern about the Gambling Commission’s forthcoming financial risk assessments (FRAs) has prompted renewed scrutiny from both government and the...
Read MoreLicensed drivers urged to meet new digital reporting duty
For licensed taxi and private hire drivers, this typically includes fares, platform‑derived income, cash takings, tips, and allowable operating costs...
Read MoreYoung people and gambling harm debated in the Lords
Peers in the House of Lords have raised concerns about rising gambling harm among young people.
Read MoreDeadline extended for IoL award nominations to 1 September
The Institute of Licensing has extended the nomination deadline for its three annual awards.
Read More