Sunderland news
POTTERS WHEEL OPEN NEW STUDIO
Two passionate potters have opened their own studio at the North East Business and Innovation Centre ( BIC ) in Sunderland to give others the chance to throw down some clay and have a spin on the wheel .
Having struggled to find the space at home for all of the equipment they needed for their craft , Alan Dunnighan and Nat Quinn struck upon the idea of creating a solution that could help others practice their pottery too .
A year-long search for the perfect spot finally led them to a riverside unit at the BIC in Sunderland , which they ’ ve converted into Spire Pottery – a fully equipped studio complete with six potter ’ s wheels and a large scale kiln .
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Work placement builds business link with twin city Essen
Sunderland has developed its firstever virtual placement with twin city Essen in Germany - and it could point the way to further business links in the future .
Melanie Thüs , who works as an employer consultant at the Essen Job Centre , was virtually welcomed by the human resources department at Sunderland City Council .
During the three-week-long placement , Melanie was working alongside the HR team to review and draft policies .
IAMP UPDATE
From acorns to hundreds of acres - the giant International Advanced Manufacturing Park is starting to take shape .
Demolition prepares the ground for next stage of development
Two derelict farm buildings are set to be demolished to pave the way for further investment in the giant International Advanced Manufacturing Park ( IAMP ) on the edge of Washington .
Permission has been granted for Elliscope Farm and West Moor Farm to be pulled down , subject to final approval from Natural England , which will clear land on the IAMP – a 150-hectare site spanning Sunderland and South Tyneside .
The buildings , which have fallen into a poor state of repair , will be cleared later this year in a move that will enable the further development of the park , which was announced last month as the preferred location for a £ 450m electric car battery gigafactory .
It is the latest step in freeing up the vast IAMP estate , as the location continues to establish itself as a nationally significant advanced manufacturing base , having already secured three major developments . Envision AESC ’ s facility is set to be the
A £ 34m contract to construct Sunderland ’ s world-class eye hospital has gone out to open tender .
The winning contractor will be given the job of building the new state-of-the-art eye hospital at Riverside Sunderland after a planning application was submitted for the four-storey building in June .
A decision is expected to be made largest yet if it is granted approval later this year , with the planning application proposing a 9GWh plant , creating 750 new green jobs and safeguarding 300 more at the company ’ s existing plant .
Jonathan Tew , chief executive at South Tyneside Council , said : “ This is another significant milestone in bringing forward the IAMP site .
“ Removing these derelict buildings will allow us to rapidly advance development on IAMP .
“ IAMP represents a huge opportunity for South Tyneside and Sunderland , giving us a vast amount of space to develop on , creating more and better jobs for local people .”
IAMP , which was expected to attract £ 450m of private sector investment when South Tyneside and Sunderland City Council formed their legal partnership to convince businesses to locate to the 150- hectare site , has already secured French car parts firm SNOP and Japanese headquartered Faltec .
A third building , currently being used as a Nightingale Centre , also stands on the site .
Tender for £ 34m Sunderland Eye Hospital released
by Sunderland City Council ’ s planning committee later this year .