Living And Working In Sunderland

The port city of Sunderland is situated in Tyne and Wear in the north of England. It is only ten miles from the city of Newcastle where there is an international airport. It 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 and a train to Edinburgh takes a little over two 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 its expertise. 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 - it is the ninth largest football ground in England and also hosts many prestigious events at the venue, including the UK Careers Fair Sunderland Event on March 21st!

Focused and determined, the city has seen employment rates rise recently and both Newcastle and Sunderland are forecast to see elements of growth above the national average, over the next three years. Sunderland has a skilled and dynamic workforce and is renowned for its specialised manufacturing sector with several globally respected names within the city. Sunderland is home to a large range of innovative industry sectors which provide great opportunities for careers, economic growth and business investment. Sectors include health care, finance, professional and business, digital, creative and software. Sunderland was named Smart City of the Year in 2020 and has world class digital infrastructure and an expansion of skills and expertise.

The University of Sunderland is a friendly and inclusive university which excels in world leading research and excellent teaching. It has recently received the Silver award in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework for the very high quality of both the teaching and learning and is ranked as a top 50 university  in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

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 - (my grandfather being one of them!)

The Green Flag Award scheme has recognised Sunderland’s dedication in keeping their city beautiful and no less than five flags have been awarded to their parks in 2023. 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 statistics, the residents of Sunderland seem to be happier and gain more satisfaction from their lives than many others in the UK.

The next event hosted by the UK Careers Fair will be hosted on March 21st between 10am - 2pm. The venue is the above-mentioned Stadium of Light, SR5 1SU.