Why Sunderland?

There are plenty of fantastic reasons to invest in Sunderland, or grow your business within our city. Sunderland is a city of achievements and potential; a great place to work, live and invest. Discover why you should choose Sunderland.

A City of Ambition

Sunderland is transforming; a young city by the sea embracing pioneering urban development and enhancing its glorious natural assets. It is a dynamic place to live, work and play, with hundreds of millions of pounds in investment pouring into key development sites across the city. This is creating thousands of new homes, workplaces and jobs within the region, cultivating a sustainable and vibrant hub for businesses to grow.

Sunderland currently attracts international businesses from around the world employing over 25,940 people. Our city is still growing and, having been named Smart City of the Year in 2020, the future of Sunderland is brighter than ever.

What Makes Sunderland Great?

Sunderland is a key player in multiple innovative sectors, with a culture that makes it ideal for businesses, partnerships, start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors want to lay down roots and grow their opportunities within the region.

Our status

Well connected by rail, and an international airport
Among the highest real wages in country
Part of a region with some of the lowest attrition rates in the UK
A Smart City
A University City

Our key sectors

Manufacturing powerhouse with global presence
Home to the UK's biggest and most productive car plant
European centre for electric vehicle research and production
Industries in advanced manufacturing. production, technology, digital, comms and media
Home to key sectors in financial, customer services, retail and gaming

Our workforce

277,700 city residents - 173,600 of working age
15.7% of Sunderland's population are fully qualified professionals
2.67 million people within 60-minute commute
£27,394 median pay in Sunderland

Our future

14,700 students at the lifechanging University of Sunderland
106,000 students attend the region's five universities, two of which are Russell Group
£160m combined investment from institutional investor Legal & General
£350m worth of live city centre development projects underway right now

A Great Place To Live

Naturally blessed with miles of coastline and green space, Sunderland is leading the way when it comes to digital infrastructure, sustainable living and a transformed landscape thanks to an unparalleled programme of investment.

Find out why Sunderland is a great place to live

A Great Place To Invest

The North East is known for its friendly, hard-working culture, making it a productive place for business. Sunderland welcomes people, talent and businesses from all corners of the globe, and our 'can-do' attitude makes our workforce both loyal and efficient. We attract the world's biggest brands with our exceptional infrastructure.

Find out why Sunderland is a great place to invest

A Great Place To Network

Networking in Sunderland is easy thanks to the broad range of businesses that set up shop here. Support organisations and resources allow individuals and industries to connect in the right way, for a city that attracts, encourages and nurtures successful enterprises across all sectors.

Find out why Sunderland is a great place to meet

Explore why you should invest in Sunderland with our most recent case studies.