Sunderland best for business

Sunderland has been highlighted as the best city in the UK to do business.

The city has been recognised by influential resource, the Municipal Journal, for the quality of its infrastructure, its ‘can do’ attitude towards manufacturing and its skilled workforce.

The Local Futures report ranks Sunderland as ‘the best city in England in the environment and infrastructure category’.

This category covers: commercial floorspace; connectivity; cost base; quality of life; and growth in commercial and industrial floorspace.

The report describes the city as the largest manufacturing hub in the Tyne and Wear region and a sound operating base for companies with its ‘can do’ attitude.

In the last two years, more than 40 private-sector investment projects have created more than 4,000 jobs and landed the first investment opportunities from the Coalition Government’s new Enterprise Zones.

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “This business and investment success has been achieved because we have set down long-term goals through our Economic Masterplan and we are seeing the results coming through.

“Despite tough times, new jobs are being created, and there are strong levels of public and private sector investment. What Sunderland is good at is getting both the infrastructure and the business environment right.”

In addition to Nissan, the UK’s largest car plant, major employers in the city include Barclays, Lloyds TSB Bank, EDF and Nike.

Councillor Watson added: “The City Council has always forged strong links with the private sector – from property developers to manufacturers – and these links have made the city’s economy far more diversified, far more robust and far more resilient.”