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Stadium sheds light on Sunderland businesses

A NEW exhibition is set to lift the lid on what Sunderland firms have to offer.

The Exposure Exhibition is taking place at the Stadium of Light on March 6 and is an opportunity for Wearside-based businesses to promote themselves to hundreds of potential new customers and celebrate what the city has to offer.

The Sunderland showcase is a spin off from the successful North East Expo event which attracted more than 2000 visitors from across the region to Newcastle Racecourse last November.

The plan is to grow Exposure Sunderland into a similar event with exhibition space for businesses, as well as seminars, talks and demonstrations from companies in the city,

More than 80 firms will be exhibiting at the event with high profile names like SAFC, Albany Office Group and Results Network PR already signed up to attend.

Based on previous North East Expos, companies can expect to mingle with delegates from across the region who are all looking to generate new business and promote their services.

The Exposure Sunderland event is free to attend and runs from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday March 6. Visitors can turn up on the day although booking is advised. Meanwhile businesses can book a stand for the event for only £75.

Event organiser Lorraine Gordon said: “It was through networking at North East Expo that we got talking to the hospitality and events team at Sunderland football club who said they would love to host something similar in the city.

“The club have bent over backwards to accommodate the event which already looks like it is going to be a winner. There are hundreds of free car parking spaces and visitors can also come by Metro as the ground is served by two stations nearby.”

As well as businesses promoting their services, there will be series of talks and seminars running throughout the day. Speakers include Nevil Tynemouth, Tony Green and Sarah Raad and topics covered will include social media, sales techniques, leadership and creating impact.

SAFC director Gary Hutchinson believes the stadium is the perfect venue for Sunderland businesses to come together and promote the wide diversity of what the city offers, from large multi-nationals to smaller internet businesses.

Gary said: “The stadium is the perfect venue to host events of this calibre and we are very proud to be able to support the business community on wearside and across the region.”

National think tank Centre for Cities said in its latest report this month (JAN) that Sunderland is shaking off the worst effects of the recession, at a time when many other cities are suffering badly. The report claims that Sunderland felt the recession most keenly in 2008-09 and is now on the road to recovery.

City council leader Paul Watson said: “Our reputation as the UK’s automotive centre continues to be bolstered, new jobs are being created, educational attainment continues to improve, and there are strong levels of public and private sector investment.

“We have continued to attract significant new investment with more than 40 private-sector investment projects in the last two years creating more than 4,000 jobs and we have one of the country’s first new Enterprise Zones.”

To find out more, hire exhibition space or to book free tickets and a place on one of the many seminars, email Lorraine@northeastexpo.co.uk