Sunderland firms laying plan for post-virus future
Businesses in Sunderland have pledged their support to a new initiative to help get the city centre back on track, post COVID-19.
Set up by Sunderland BID, the Recovery Task Force appealed to companies from all sectors to respond to the current issues and more than 20 took part in a virtual meeting.
Each has pledged their support for the initiative within their area or expertise.
Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at the BID – who will chair the group – says the aim is now to set up a steering board along with a number of smaller groups.
These will be assigned specific tasks, including safety, business support, consumer confidence and city centre access.
Representatives from retail, IT, law, market research, public transport, arts and culture, estate agencies and financial advisors took part in the inaugural meeting along with representatives from Sunderland City Council, the city centre Traders Association, Northumbria Police and Sunderland University.
Sharon said: “It was fantastic to see the number of businesses from every sector that have committed to work together to plan the city centre’s recovery post COVID-19.
“Everyone has been very positive and fully behind the scheme.”
She added: “We can now start to make real plans to look at ways we can ensure that we come out of these unprecedented times in the best shape possible.”
Among the city centre businesses which have already committed to the task force are the Bridges, Richard Reed Solicitors, Pub Culture, the Empire Theatre, Sunderland Software City, Stagecoach, Port independent, Cowell George, MMC Research and Marketing and IT support company DC Services, along with Hope Wealth Management and Martin & Co.
Sharon added: “We have seen an overwhelming amount of support for the task force but we would still welcome any other organisations which would like to be involved.”
For more information about the task force, email sharon.appleby@sunderlandbid.co.uk