BUSINESS
Line-up – Wear Business sales manager Richard Jobling ( left ) and executive editor Rob Lawson ( right ) with Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia , Sunderland BID chief executive Sharon Appleby , University of Sunderland vice-chancellor Sir David Bell and Sunderland Culture chief executive Rebecca Ball .
BUZZ
Sunderland ’ s ongoing regeneration was top of the agenda as public sector leaders led a discussion at a high-powered Wear Business Live event at the Stadium of Light .
Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia and University of Sunderland vice-chancellor Sir David Bell were joined by Sunderland Culture ’ s chief executive Rebecca Ball and Sunderland BID chief executive Sharon Appleby for the event , which was sponsored by the University of Sunderland .
Hosted by Wear Business executive editor Rob Lawson , the Q & A was attended by around 70 local business leaders in an event that coincided with the launch of the year ’ s first issue of Wear Business – the voice for business in the region .
“ We have a vision statement with a plan that ’ s deliverable – that ’ s what ’ s changed ,” said Patrick , explaining what was different about recent announcements compared to some of the unfulfilled promises made by others in the past .
He admitted it ’ s a challenge to change perceptions in Sunderland as people have become jaded and cynical after previous city ‘ visions ’ failed to come to fruition .
But he assured attendees at the event the council and its partners are already
Regeneration top of agenda at highpowered Wear Business Live event
delivering on a number of projects , with firm plans and funding going well beyond ideas on paper when it comes to projects that have yet to come out of the ground .
“ The only way to change people ’ s perceptions is to actually deliver something – and that ’ s what we ’ re doing ,” added Patrick .
Sunderland BID chief executive Sharon Appleby said people ’ s cynical attitudes were already changing , as she has witnessed people excitedly sharing other positive news stories and challenging negative attitudes in the comments sections of the local press .
She added work is about to start on redeveloping the ground floor of the Elephant Tea Rooms , where a number of businesses have already expressed an interest in locating in approximately 18 months ’ time , when the library has moved to the new Culture House .
Speaking of the Mackie ’ s Corner development that was brought back into use last year after a major restoration project , she added : “ It ’ s a beautiful building with some really lively businesses in it – and it ’ s not finished yet , but the people who own it have got a waiting list as long as their arm of people who want to go into the upper floors .” She added the creative businesses there were creating a positive community and “ working together as a collective ” to promote one another and organise events .
Rebecca Ball , Sunderland Culture ’ s chief executive also joined the event , where she talked about the success of Sunderland ’ s brand new live music and performance venue The Fire Station , where Emeli Sande MBE enjoyed her homecoming gig in January .
She said a city the size of Sunderland needed more than one cultural quarter , but with the positive partnership working that has enabled the development of myriad projects in the city , plus the arts and creative industries courses on offer in St Peter ’ s Campus , the city is moving towards that .
Rob Lawson added : “ It was a fantastic event that gave just a taste of the exciting developments and future plans for Sunderland .
“ We ’ re grateful to Sharon , Rebecca , Patrick and Sir David for giving up their valuable time to give us such a positive , honest update on their view on what ’ s happening in the city right now .”
See page 6 for more pictures from the Wear Business Live event .
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