Living And Working In Sunderland

The port city of Sunderland is in the north of England. It is only ten miles from the city of Newcastle and is approximately two hundred and seventy five miles from London. There are excellent road links and there are numerous train services to London which generally take less than four hours.

Sunderland has a proud and significant history incorporating several industries including that of ship building and the city was known throughout the world for this. Like many other northern areas, Sunderland was also prominent in coal mining but both industries rapidly declined  in the latter part of the twentieth century. Sunderlands last two shipyards closed in 1989 and the last colliery in Monkwearmouth closed in 1993 yet the site still has poignant reminders with the colliery wheel and miners statues. The area is now the Stadium of Light which is now home to the city’s popular football club and also hosts many prestigious events at the venue.

Focused and determined, Sunderland has a skilled and dynamic workforce and is renowned for its respected and specialised manufacturing sector with some large and globally respected names within the city. Health care, finance, professional and business, digital, creative and software are all sectors which are also thriving. Sunderland was named Smart City of the Year in 2020 and has world class digital infrastructure and expansion of skills and expertise.

The University of Sunderland is a fantastic and ever popular university which excels in world leading research and excellent teaching and is in the top 50 Uk Universities compiled by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Sunderland lies at the mouth of the River Wear which flows into the North Sea and the beaches here are often described as the most stunning stretches of coastline in the UK. Some of the amazing beaches in the area include Seaburn, Roker (which has a lighthouse and pier!) and Rhyhope with its cliff tops. Within easy access to major towns and cities such as Durham, Newcastle and Jarrow. Incidentally, Jarrow is the place where, in 1936, a group of men left to walk to London on their protest march.

The Green Flag Award scheme have recognised Sunderland’s dedication in keeping their city beautiful and no less than five flags have been awarded to their parks this year. The city is a sustainable city and strives for a greener economy and respect for the environment.

There are countless attractions in Sunderland with many museums and galleries including the famous National Glass Centre and the fascinating Sunderland Museum, Library and Winter Gardens. The Bridges shopping centre offers almost one hundred shops. There are countless places to eat and drink in Sunderland - many being pet friendly but if it is the nightlife that you crave, then look no further. Bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants offer everything from a champagne cocktail to dancing the early hours away.

Sunderland was recently voted the best UK city to live and work and furthermore, according to the statistics, the residents of Sunderland seem to be happier and derive more satisfaction from their lives than many others in the UK. Coupled with a separate survey which found Sunderland to be one of the safest places to live, it is then understandable why it is consistently ranked so highly.

If you’re looking for a new career in Sunderland, we recommend attending our Sunderland Careers Fair! Our career fair will offer candidates from all backgrounds, experience and education levels the opportunity to speak to representatives from an abundance of local employers. Book a ticket today!