For More Information Call the Business Investment Team on 0191 561 1171 Or Visit: Sunderland Economic Masterplan

For more information call the Business Investment Team on 0191 561 1171 or visit: www.sunderland.gov.uk/economicmasterplan Sunderland Economic Masterplan Contents 1. Purpose and Context .....................................................4 2. The Economic Masterplan Vision and Aims ..................19 3. Aim 1 ‘A new kind of university city’ ........................21 4. Aim 2 ‘A national hub of the low-carbon economy’ ........................................................25 5. Aim 3 ‘A prosperous and well-connected waterfront city centre’ ...................................29 6. Aim 4 ‘An inclusive city economy – for all ages’ .....33 7. Aim 5 ‘A one city approach to economic leadership’ ....................................37 8. How the principal strategies will work together .............40 9. Performance Framework ..............................................41 10. How will Sunderland change? .......................................44 1. Purpose and Context Purpose The city has attracted major international Our Location Our Approach businesses, such as Nissan, Barclays, The purpose of this Economic Masterplan is Nike and Berghaus, to name but a few. Sunderland is a large city on the north east The Economic Masterplan was funded by threefold: It has developed strengths in new industries. coast with a proud heritage and positive Sunderland City Council, with support from Automotive manufacturing, financial and future. The city spans the River Wear, which One North East and delivered by a consortium • to help set the direction for the city’s winds its way to the busy Port of Sunderland of consultants led by GENECON LLP economy over the next 15 years. customer services have led the growth in volume jobs, basing themselves in through working farmland, landscaped parks working with Sunderland partners. The • to establish how Sunderland will earn out-of-town business parks. Other jobs have and thriving urban communities. project was overseen by a Steering Group its living over that period and what that come from the expansion of the University and Management Group comprising will look like on the ground. of Sunderland, shopping in the city centre representatives from the following partner and new software enterprises built on the organisations: • to set out the actions private, public and city’s excellent digital connectivity. voluntary sector partners across the city • Sunderland City Council This success has put Sunderland in a much need to take to ensure Sunderland has • One North East a prosperous and sustainable future. stronger position nationally and internationally. The city’s economic output per resident is • Barclays Sunderland is widely known for its coalmining higher than the North-East average, and has and shipbuilding heritage. But its productive been rising faster than the national average. • Nexus capabilities first became evident 14 centuries However, the gap remains significant. Despite ago with the manufacture of high-quality • Sunderland Arc its recent success, Sunderland suffers from glass. This developed into a hugely successful serious deprivation as well as average wages • SES glass-making industry, with Sunderland glass that are lower than the rest of the UK. • The Leighton Group being shipped across Europe and used in Sunderland The recent UK recession has highlighted the buildings such as Westminster Abbey and • University of Sunderland St Paul’s Cathedral. need to create new economic opportunities 4 for the city. The North East region, especially • Homes and Communities Agency 5 In recent decades these industries have its construction and manufacturing industries, declined, and Sunderland no longer has has been hit hard. Although Sunderland’s • Nissan International SA shipyards, coalmining or glassworks. unemployment rate is now decreasing, the Between 1975 and 1989 the city lost • North East Chamber of Commerce city’s economy will need to become stronger a quarter of its jobs. and more resilient if it is to provide jobs for • Learning and Skills Council Since 1989, however, Sunderland has future generations. The planned reduction in • Gentoo replaced and exceeded the number of jobs public spending provides further impetus for a lost through the decline of those industries. shift towards new forms of wealth generation. • Sunderland Community Network • City of Sunderland College Job Loss and Replacement • Tyne and Wear City Region team 130,000 120,000 110,000 1 in 4 jobs lost 100,000 90,000 80,000 Numbers Employed 70,000 60,000 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year In developing the plan we also involved: election of a new coalition government, this Masterplan. The City’s strategic partners, government will enable the City to target funding to better reflect key priorities identified • Elected Councillors (through briefings context is changing rapidly and therefore we including the business community, will need in the Economic Masterplan. to Cabinet, Sunderland’s five area will review it frequently and adjust our plans to continue to work closely to ensure that committees and the Prosperity and accordingly. local people have the right skills to access The Masterplan has been developed with Economic Development ‘New Industries, New Jobs: Building Britain’s new job opportunities. extensive input from third sector partners. It Scrutiny Committee). Future’ published by the Department for The Coalition is also committed to enterprise, builds on the strong tradition of community action and social enterprise that has been • The Sunderland Partnership (briefings Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with a new programme – Work for Yourself – established in the City, particularly in key to the Board and the Delivery Partnerships). and the Department for Innovation, giving the unemployed access to business Universities and Skills in 2009, identifies Low mentors and start-up loans. Sunderland has areas such as health and social care, the • Representatives of Community Spirit Carbon Industries and Ultra Low Carbon already been doing this through its enterprise environment, community development, (Sunderland’s Citizens Panel). Vehicles as key areas for the region’s programme and the aim of the Masterplan is training and skills development. The Coalition • Representatives of independent advisory economy. There is no indication that the to develop that further to tackle the weakness government’s proposals for the ‘Big Society’ groups (Citywide groups formed to Coalition will change these key areas. the city has in generating new business start will aim to provide support for the creation provide an opportunity for marginalised The Coalition is committed to using more ups and self employment. The Masterplan will and expansion of cooperatives, charities and or hard-to-reach people in the city to renewable energy, including offshore wind. aim to build on the good practice and social enterprises, and encourage contribute their views on public services It wants to improve the energy efficiency of partnership working that has been achieved volunteering and greater involvement in and policy). domestic, business and public-sector to date. community based activities. buildings. • A variety of business forums (including The Coalition has announced that it will The Economic Masterplan provides an the Sunderland Branch of the North East Sunderland, because it is at the heart of the encourage the formation of Local Enterprise important statement of intent, articulating the Chamber of Commerce, businesses Low Carbon Economic Area, has a port, and Partnerships of different scales in different city’s aspirations and potential for economic based at the North East BiC, the because of its manufacturing past, has a vital areas to drive local economic development. development in key areas. By working closely Sunderland Business Network, Hendon role to play in developing these industries. Consideration will need to be given as to the with local, regional and national stakeholders, and East End Business Forum, and the With these assets, Sunderland is best placed potential role of a Local Enterprise Partnership Sunderland will be able to determine the best Sunniside Business Forum). to spearhead the regional low-carbon effort. in assisting the delivery of this Masterplan. ways to achieve the Masterplan’s objectives. 6 7 The city will generate opportunities that will The current uncertainty over the UK’s • Sunderland Youth Parliament. The Economic Masterplan will enable partners benefit the whole region, with other locations to focus on delivering the city’s key priorities in economic prospects and the potentially • Students at the University of Sunderland. developing complementary specialisms. the context of current and future budget disproportionate impact of public spending • Executive teams of various ‘New Industries, New Jobs’ also emphasized constraints. While it is recognised that cuts on the North East present additional partner agencies. high-level skills in science and technology. economic recovery may be slow and public challenges. The next three to four years will prove to be especially difficult. The way in We began by collating evidence about The Regional Economic Strategy identifies expenditure limited, the Economic Masterplan the role of the North East’s universities in will provide a clear economic direction to which the Economic Masterplan’s objectives Sunderland’s economy. After various are achieved and the timescales for the future regional economy.

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