IT’S HAPPENINGIN SUNDERLAND
We are creating a vibrant city centre with opportunities for everyone.
Access invaluable business support, learn about how our city is developing, access an array of fantastic events and see everything that’s #HappeningInSunderland city centre – all in one place.
WE’RE IMPROVING
SUNDERLAND
We are working to create a city we can all be proud of. Our priorities ensure our goals are met and we are accountable for the promises we make.
These three priorities represent our driving force to build a safe, clean & attractive environment, to ensure our city centre business voices are heard at the highest levels, and to raise Sunderland’s profile regionally and nationally.
City PRIDE
We are changing perceptions and building civic pride by ensuring our city centre is a welcoming, safe, clean, and attractive environment for everyone.
City VOICE
We provide a robust and collective voice for our businesses at the highest level to make good things happen to improve Sunderland city centre’s trading environment.
City PROMOTION
We raise the profile of Sunderland regionally and nationally and create a year-round programme of city-wide marketing activities, high-profile events, and promotional campaigns.
WE ARE
YOUR BID
Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) is a collaborative effort driven by businesses, united under a single vision: to create a vibrant city centre with opportunities for everyone.
Since our inception in 2014, we have injected over £6 million into enhancing the city centre. Through the backing of our levy payers, business stakeholders, and essential partners, we have formulated a pragmatic and attainable blueprint for the future.
BECOME AN
AFFILIATE MEMBER
All businesses and organisations benefit from the work we do in Sunderland.
Therefore, we have extended many of the benefits our levy payers enjoy to other businesses in the city centre and around Sunderland by creating an Affiliate Scheme.
Find out how we can support your business.
WHAT IS
GOVERNANCE?
Governance might seem a boring and dry subject, but actually, it can be fascinating and hugely dynamic as it consists of the processes, policies and laws which will affect how an organisation is managed.
In the case of Sunderland BID, the processes and policies are directed and controlled by our Board of Directors to ensure that performance and risk are managed effectively.
LATEST EVENTS
SBF: Social Enterprise
in Sunderland16 October 2024
Social enterprises are businesses designed to address social or environmental issues while generating profit.
In Sunderland, a growing community of these enterprises play a crucial role by providing essential services, creating employment opportunities and promoting innovative business practices.
SBF: The Business
of Football16 October 2024
The story that captivated Sunderland this summer was the return of iconic sports brand hummel and delivery of a new retail experience with global leader Fanatics.
This energetic and insightful discussion with senior leaders from Sunderland AFC, Hummel UK and Fanatics, will give a unique glimpse into how the partnership came together and how a common desire to super serve fans and deliver a unique experience is at the core of the new relationship.
SBF: Si King
& Alex Partridge17 October 2024
In Conversation With Si King and Alex Partridge.
Si King and Alex Partridge will participate in a day of inspirational talks from well-known faces discussing their lives and careers, hosted by former Look North newsreader Jeff Brown.
SBF: Reimagining
Our High Street18 October 2024
A collaborative design dash with University of Sunderland students and Sunderland BID
A collaborative, multi-stakeholder workshop, bringing together University of Sunderland students, local retailers and businesses to co-create a futureproofed High Street.
Unity in
The Community19 October 2024
Free food, music, family fun, and support from local organisations are available to everyone in Sunderland.
Festival of
Light25 October 2024
A dazzling laser garden, a giant glitter ball, and stunning new light projections are among the sparkling lighting displays to be seen at this year’s Sunderland Festival of Light.
Get your tickets using your Sunderland Gift Card now!
Conjuring at
The Castle26 October 2024
Step into an immersive experience at this infamous site, where the spirits of the past haunt every room, eager to share the chilling tales of their demise. Enter the twisted world of “The Asylum,” where the walls echo with the whispers of the deranged and the lost. At Hylton Castle, we delve deep into the darkness, summoning the restless souls of the forsaken. Prepare yourself for a night where sanity slips away, and the horrors of the asylum come to life in one HELL of an evening. In partnership with Southpaw Dance Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SUNNISIDE
FOOD MARKET26 October 2024
Pop-up community market supports new and emerging food and drinks businesses across the North East.
From brewers, bakers, and cheesemongers to world-class street food vendors, our north east food and drink traders are delighted to bring themselves to your doorstep.
Halloween
Face Painting28 October 2024
(FROM £4 PER FACE)
Transform yourself into a spooky masterpiece. Our talented artist will bring your Halloween look to life with intricate designs and vibrant colours. Perfect for kids and adults alike, it’s the ultimate way to complete your costume or add seasonal flair to your day.
Guided
Ghost Tours28 October 2024
Happy Deathday!… Join Atlas Theatre Company for your first day in the land of the dead. Step into the shadows and walk with them through Sunderland for a thrilling night with restless spirits.
Come to The Moving Gallery on Fawcett Street for a refreshment and a Spooky Selfie Experience before we set out through the city with our lovely ghost host and learn some of the eerie stories of Sunderland…All while you come to terms with your recent passing! RIP.
OUR CITY
IN NUMBERS
