Sunderland Echo

Exciting plan to develop creative talents of university’s students

- Chris Cordner chris.cordner@jpimedia.co.uk Twitter: @sunderland­echo

An exciting plan to harness the creative talents of Sunderland students has been revealed.

And the news comes from the University of Sunderland which is a backer of this year’s Portfolio Awards.

The plan will involve a new organisati­on being set up which is called the Sunderland C re at iv es Agency. It is being establishe­dby the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of Sunderland.

Sunderland Creatives Agency will harness the skills and talents of students from the university to create an‘ agile creative agency that supports clients across the North East’.

The exciting new initiative will help clients with everything from brand developmen­t to graphic design.

It will also offer animation and podcast content as well as social media support, copywritin­g, public relations, photograph­y, and illustrati­on.

Its vision is to inspire students with authentic work experience during their time while they' re studying with the University of Sunderland.

It will also back businesses, entreprene­urs, and charities in the region by giving them access to creative resources which will help to propel their brand.

University chiefs said the mission will be to support the region’s economic and skills developmen­t through an innovative partnershi­p that will create opportunit­ies for people and organisati­ons of all background­s.

Professor Arabella Plouviez is the academic dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries and described how the new agency was coming at a perfect time alongside the university’ s support for the Portfolio Awards.

She said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Creative Industries Award, which recognises innovation and resilience during a challengin­g time for the creative economy

“It' s great to see the Portfolio Awards back and face-to-face as we look forward to a bright future.

“This is a wonderful opportunit­y to introduce the business community to the Sunderland Creatives Agency, which is a new venture connecting our talented students with opportunit­ies to make content in the North East.”

As well as the University of Sunderland, we have lots more fantastic backers on board to help make the awards a success.

The short lists in each categoryha­ve now been chosen and the winners will be revealed in a ceremony at the Stadium of Light on Thursday.

Winners will be announced in categories which include

small, medium and large businesses of the year.

Technology of the year, employer of the year, creative industries and city centre business of the year are also among an impressive list of categories.

Now in their 15th year, the Sunderland Echo is proud to present the Portfolio Business 2021 Awards which are a celebratio­n of excellence within the business sector.

Sunderland City Council is once again the headline sponsor and we are also delighted to welcome on board Artventure­rs, Gentoo, the North East Autism Society, Station Taxis, Bradley Hall, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation

Trust, Thompson Waste Management, Sunderland College, University of Sunderland,NHS Sunderland Clinical Commission­ing Group, and the North East Business and Innovation Centre in Sunderland.

 ?? ?? Students in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of Sunderland.
Students in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of Sunderland.
 ?? ?? The television studios for students in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.
The television studios for students in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.
 ?? ?? Students in the Media Hub, St Peter’s Campus.
Students in the Media Hub, St Peter’s Campus.

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