Nominate Wearside’s best in business
Sunderland’s leading firms have shown their strength during the pandemic – and now they deserve to be heralded at the 2020 Portfolio Awards.
That’s the message from a council leader as this year’s competition launches amid a very different business climate.
The world is living under a pandemic but it hasn’t stopped Wearside firms from showing their strengths, said Cllr Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, which is once again the headline sponsor of the Portfolio Awards.
We are also delighted to welcome on board the partner sponsors for this year’s awards and they are Utillity Alliance, Gentoo, the Autism
Society, Station Taxis and Bradley Hall.
When asked how Sunder land had responded to C ovid -19, Cllr Miller said: “Sunderland’s business community has responded with the resilience, innovation and determination that I knew it would.
“This is a city that has had the strength to overcome adversity for decades. That has faced economic crises headon and come through them with the same steadfast focus and work ethic.
“Businesses have suffered – indeed, most firms will have felt the pain of the pandemic, and many more will in the future, as we continue to fight through this crisis.
"But we have incredible entrepreneurs here, and a committed workforce that will support businesses through this economic storm. This is a crisis that
forces us to physically distance, but has seen us unite to support each other as best we can.
"Businesses have come together – our business investment team has lent its support, and it is this collaboration and collective will that means we’ll emerge from this stronger.”
Cllr Miller urged businesses to enter the awards which will have its delayed final in the summer of 2021.
But the awards will still be a celebration of greatness and Cllr Miller said: “Celebrating success is absolutely vital – not only in recognising the achievements of our businesses, but to challenge and inspire others.
"It’s been a tough year, and we know that a great many companies have had a hard time. We must try to maintain focus, stay positive and showcase the incredible work of firms over the last year.
"The Portfolio Awards are a real focal point in the business calendar, and I always leave the awards feeling in total awe of our businesses and their people.”
Cllr Miller had a message for Sunderland’s firms as this year’s awards began.
He said: “It would be easy to let the challenges of 2020 get us down – to take us into a negative, defensive mode.
“But we have to be positive, we have to continue to recognise achievements and we have to keep on keeping on. That’s why these awards are so important and I urge everyone to get behind them... more this year than ever before and let’s come together to champion and celebrate the magnificent business
community we have in Sunderland.”
Now in their 15th year, the Sunderland Echo is proud to launch the Portfolio Business 2021 Awards across Wearside and East Durham.