Friday, July 27, 2018 Commercial supplement Sunderland focusfocus 2 THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 SUNDERLAND FOCUS Louise Bradford, Sunderland Council A city on the move... a city on the march > Sunderland Airshow AS each of the 50 magnificent Tall And with a series of major Ships that visited Sunderland glided infrastructure projects now under through the waters of the Wear, to way, including the awe-inspir- take up position on its historic ing Northern Spire bridge, it is clear docks, their sails billowed with a to see why Sunderland is catching wind of change blowing through this the eye of investors. proud seaside city. The bridge is the first to be built Suddenly, and very definitely, a across the River Wear for more than giant had awoken. Sunderland is 40 years and is part of the city’s alive. Sunderland is on the move. ambitious 3,6,9 Vision – which will Sunderland is a city awash with see more than £1.5bn pumped into confidence. A city that is realising all the city in the three, six, and nine of its promise. year-period between 2015 and 2024. Like many industrial cities in the Just three years in to its nine-year North of England, Sunderland has plan, it feels like the city is continu- reinvented itself and now there is ing to make big strides towards its genuine social and economic ambitions. And more than that... it is change happening in Sunderland - a city full of belief - and that’s and at a rapid pace. fuelling its transformation. Industries of old have been Much-needed housing develop- replaced by thriving new sectors. ments are planned, from Seaburn - From arts, culture, and creative the stunning seaside resort - industries to Financial Professional to Chapelgarth, in the south of the Business Services (FPBS), innovative city. And those houses will be small businesses and automotive needed. Thousands of jobs are set to > Keel Square and advanced manufacturers, the be created by businesses locating in fountain city is now attracting interest from Sunderland- not least on the across the globe. former Vaux brewery site, which is THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 3 SUNDERLAND FOCUS Louise Bradford, Sunderland Council > Uni of Sunderland > Tall ship at the Wearmouth Bridge being transformed in partnership engineers as the first phase of the with the city council by regeneration 150-hectare International Advanced organisation Siglion. Manufacturing Park (IAMP) starts to With work due to complete by bear fruit. It will be a game-chang- March 2019 on the first building on ing development – one that creates the Vaux site, waves of development many thousands of new jobs. will follow, creating a stunning new And the city will be ready to mixed-use business district for welcome the professionals these the city centre - that means attract- developments bring. From the ing more high value positions and Bridges shopping centre, home to with them more pedestrian traffic scores of high-street favourites, to reputation as a place for art and days earlier this month – and the and development partner Siglion is that will flow into the city centre, the city’s fast-changing food and culture. 30th anniversary Sunderland driving transformation in Sunder- bringing wealth to Sunderland. drink scene – there will be some- And creative city-quarters are Airshow which takes place from land. The BID (Business Improve- The University of Sunderland too, thing to offer people working in emerging. Sunderland’s music, arts Friday to Sunday this week - the city ment District) and the Bridges are is doing its bit to bring more Sunderland. and cultural (MAC) quarter, which is showing it is ready and able to driving through initiatives and high-value jobs to Sunderland. Its Just like its economy, Sunder- has come to life following the shine. developments that are delivering a bid to open a new medical school land’s cultural scene is undergoing creation of Keel Square and the Add to that a host of events and city centre we can all be proud of. A was approved last year by the a renaissance. A bid to become UK regeneration of the old Fire Station. activities that will excite and inspire, nd positive, cohesive communi- Department of Health and Social City of Culture 2021, though Soon, an auditorium will create a and now is a great time to be living, ties are being borne out of invest- Care and the first cohort of stu- unsuccessful, has brought momen- home for music, comedy and live working and doing business in ment from Gentoo, which is creating dents are expected to join in tum that will spur on change in the performance in Sunderland, Sunderland. a city that supports its people – a city September 2019. It will bring more city. From the bid came Sunderland complementing the historic Empire The city is working together. that has strong neighbourhoods. talented young professionals to the Culture, an organisation that will Theatre. Sunderland College is producing the Sunderland is a city built on the city, and with them, spending power leverage the city’s partners to create Through spectacular events like talented young people needed to resilience, pride and passion of its that will inject further vibrancy into a stronger cultural programme. the Tall Ships Races, which fuel industry. The university is people, and it is this determination a fast-changing city. Already, it has successfully bid for saw around 1.2 million people flock bringing an international cohort to and desire that is fuelling the fire And as medical professionals £60m worth of funding, which will to the Port of Sunderland and Sunderland, showing off all that behind its economic and cultural move into Sunderland, so too will be used to grow Sunderland’s subsequent event zones over four makes us special. The City Council growth…. it’s a city on the march! THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 5 SUNDERLAND FOCUS In association with BIC Growing recruitment firm scoops major award SUNDERLAND firm Adkins and and Melika Cheurfi and three other Cheurfi are celebrating a double members of staff, also recently triumph after winning a regional acquired a larger office space within 2018 Newcomer of the Year award Sunderland’s North East Business and taking on new staff. and Innovation Centre (BIC) and Established in 2016, the hospital- have recruited new staff as a result of ity recruitment firm whose clients their expansion and success. include Michelin-starred restaurants And the duo are delighted with and hotels, beat nine other short- the firm’s growth so far, with the listed companies to win the award being the icing on the cake for Durham, Sunderland and South Mr Adkins. Tyneside regional award as part of He said: “It’s an honour to receive the Journal’s North East Business the award and it filled all of our team Awards. with absolute pride – it means so > From left, Melika Cheurfi, Dean Adkins, The category of best newcomer much to us. Christine Vibrans, Liam Hogg and Susan Walton was open to companies in the region “We were told we received the that have been in operation for a award because of our brand which chefs across the North East and Ms Cheurfi added: “As a young to house more staff shows how far maximum of three years, with judges involves providing a service that beyond to help them find work in business we were fortunate to start we’ve come. paying attention to potential for places candidates with only the top hotels and restaurants. at the BIC as we could expand “We’ve recently hired a trainee growth, the company’s brand and best employers in the hospitality “And there’s a lot of top chefs here within the centre. recruitment consultant and we’re other criteria. sector. in the North East and we’re looking “We started out in one of the BIC’s currently looking to bring in an Adkins and Cheurfi, run by its “What we do means so much to a forward to working with even more small incubator units and the fact experienced recruitment consultant managing directors Dean Adkins lot of people – we work with lots of of them.” we’ve expanded into a larger office in the near future.” TV show has had a Canny big impact A NORTH East entrepreneur has featured on ITV’s Give it a Year, a factual series featuring business leader Baroness Brady, who follows ambitious new companies in their first year of trading. Canny Drinks Ltd was founded by Liam Watson and Simon Bishop after they recognised a gap in the market for milkshakes containing natural ingredients. During their first meeting, Mr Watson explained to Baroness Brady that Canny Drinks were selling over 20,000 cartons of milkshakes per month, in four different flavours and he was aiming to double those figures in the first year. Customers included Virgin Trains as well as 300 independents stocking their range. One year on, and the company had temporarily stopped production to concentrate their efforts on their best-selling flavour, chocolate. Mr Watson decided to work on a new recipe and felt it imperative to develop a sugar-free version of the drink without any artificial sweeten- ers. Talking of his appearance on the programme, Mr Watson said: “It was a fantastic opportunity and I’m > Liam Watson and Simon Bishop thankful for the experience. The exposure it has created for us has Foodservice who can supply any Programme grant funding, we were achieve our ambitions and get the Programme has been able to been great and hopefully we can store around the North East.” able to access expert food consult- product to market.” support a truly committed, forward continue to build on that.