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North East MP hails “vital” Software City

Local MP Sharon Hodgson has spoken of her hopes Sunderland will increasingly known for its growing software industry and described the work done by Sunderland Software City to support and drive the growth of the software industry across the North East as “vital”.

Speaking in an online interview, the Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West said:

“In the past Sunderland was synonymous with heavy industry, shipbuilding and things like that. In the future I hope that when people think of Sunderland they’ll think of software and we’ll be famous the innovation of our software industry.

“Sunderland Software City is the hub which supports people when they come in with ideas but they don’t know where to go, or to do things like find funding. Sunderland Software City gives them that support and its vital, because somebody might have great ideas but not have a clue how to take them forward.

“The work Sunderland Software City does is vital in that regard.”

Sunderland Software City is the regional initiative driving and supporting the growth of the North East software industry, making sure the region has the right skills and facilities to grow, attract and retain world class software businesses – including the £10m Sunderland Software Centre set to open on Tavistock Place this Autumn - and giving local firms the advice and support they need to thrive.

David Dunn, Chief Executive Officer for Sunderland Software City welcomed Sharon’s comments.

He said:“We very much share Sharon’s s vision of Sunderland being synonymous with world class software and will do everything we can to make that ambition a reality.

“There’s a huge amount of support throughout the region and beyond for what Sunderland Software City is trying to achieve and recognition of the progress we’ve made to date and we’re grateful for Sharon’s support.”

The Sunderland Software City project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Hart .