A business festival in the North East is to return for a second time.
The Sunderland Business Festival, which ran for the first-time last year, will take place between October 12 and 14 at a range of venues around the city. Featuring a jobs fair, expert presentations and panel discussions, the event will mostly be free to attend.
It is being organisations by the Sunderland Business Parntership and aims to promote the city as a good place in which to do business. It comes at a time of major activity in the city, including the development of the Riverside Sunderland and IAMP sites.
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Ellen Thinnesen, chair of Sunderland Business Partnership and chief executive of Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College, said: “It’s great to be able to bring Sunderland Business Festival back for a second year. Last year’s event was the first of its kind in the city and the feedback was very positive. We are sure that this year’s event – which will be in-person, rather than the virtual format of last year - will build on the success of the first festival and, we’re sure, have an even greater impact.
“Sunderland and the wider area has a vibrant business community and events like this shine a spotlight on that. We hope this is an event that will grow and grow as the city transforms and becomes home to more and more ambitious businesses.”
Due to the pandemic, the first festival last year had a mix of in-person and virtual events. This year’s festival will be all in-person and take place at venues across the city. Topics that will be covered will include film and media; leisure and hospitality; start up and scale up; export; automotive and advanced manufacturing.
Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s a hugely exciting time for Sunderland, with huge levels of investment being attracted to the city, all of which is going to have a hugely positive impact. We’re keen to showcase the great things that are already happening in Sunderland and also highlight the opportunities there are going to be in the future.”
More details of the line-up of the festival will be released over the coming weeks, with organisers saying that “nationally significant business leaders” are set to take part.
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