Member Article

Sunderland's industrial successes showcased to senior government official

Sunderland’s flourishing industrial successes, particularly its automotive industry, were recently showcased to a senior government official visiting hte North East.

Washington Business Centre, at the centre of the Sunderland A19 Low Carbon Enterprise Zone (EZ), was a key stop-off point for Philip Rycroft, head of the UK Governance Group and senior Whitehall sponsor for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Rycroft was invited by the North East LEP to visit a number of sites in North Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham demonstrating the industrial, manufacturing and technical strengths of the region’s economy.

Washington Business Centre is central to Sunderland’s low carbon automotive hub, which is a UK leader in green car manufacture. The A19 Low Carbon EZ is home to Zero Carbon Future’s Future Technology Centre, which houses a number of alternative fuel automotive companies carrying out research and manufacture, including Smith Electric Vehicles, Hyperdrive, Effective Transport Solutions and ELM EV. Production of Nissan’s electric Leaf vehicle and lithium-ion battery plant also takes place at Sunderland’s EZ.

The EZ also includes Turbine Business Park, where logistics and distribution giant Vantec built a huge 421,000 sq ft warehouse in 2013 to provide warehousing space for contracts won from Nissan and another local North East automotive supplier. The project created 230 jobs and was the first new Enterprise Zone development to be completed in England.

Vantec is now building a third 436,000 sq ft warehouse and office building at Hillthorn Business Park for the new Nissan Inifinti model. The £23m development, which will create 120 jobs, is partially funded through the enterprise partnership’s North East Investment Fund.

Philip Rycroft met leaders and chief executives from Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside Councils during his visit to Washington Business Centre.

Sunderland City Council leader, Councillor Paul Watson said: “Washington Business Centre and the wider Sunderland Enterprise Zone are real success stories for the region.

“Sunderland is already on the map for its strong automotive industry, led by the continuing success of Nissan and its thriving supply chain. I’m pleased Philip Rycroft saw for himself the growth of the low-carbon sector in Sunderland, which is set to play a major part in our future growth.

“The confidence of multinationals such as Vantec to invest in the area, creating hundreds of jobs, reinforces the importance of these sectors both to our economy in Sunderland, and the wider North East.”

Philip Rycroft’s visit also included tours of Shepherds Offshore and the North Bank of the Tyne Enterprise Zone, AIS on the North Tyne Tunnel Industrial Estate and NetPark in Sedgefield.

North East LEP chair Paul Woolston said: “We were delighted to take Philip on a tour of some of the highlights of the region’s industrial and technological success stories. These all contribute to the North East’s long term growth, and strengthen its position at the forefront of the low carbon vehicle, technology, oil, gas and offshore sectors.

“The visit also reinforced the region’s partnership approach, with public and private sectors working together to bring about far-reaching change. We appreciate Philip’s continuing involvement, support and time, and look forward to welcoming him again to chart progress of major regional initiatives.”

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