University event sparks sustainability drive

A Sunderland-based initiative is helping local businesses embrace sustainability.

The University of Sunderland hosted a networking and development event at Hope Street Xchange on the City Campus, bringing together business leaders from across the city. 

A key focus of the gathering was to showcase how companies can contribute to Sunderland’s sustainability agenda, which targets carbon neutrality by 2040 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. 

Part of the Sunderland City Professionals Network, the event was led by Sunderland-based accountant Brian Logan and featured a panel Q&A with representatives from Sunderland City Council, Durham Wildlife Trust and the Federation of Small Businesses, alongside University of Sunderland sustainability specialists.

Attendees discussed practical support and resources available to help businesses operate more sustainably, including short courses and advisory services provided by the University. 

The session also allowed business leaders to share ideas, develop strategies and strengthen connections within the local business community.

Laura Middlemass, sustainability manager at the University of Sunderland, who was on the Q&A panel, said: “As a growing agenda for the city with increasing demands for the business sector to keep up with, the University is here to support businesses with focused short courses on topics like calculating a carbon footprint and writing a carbon reduction plan.

“The University is making great progress in reducing its own environmental impact, but it is also vital that we look at the areas we can influence to accelerate change even further. 

“By supporting businesses in Sunderland to reduce their environmental impact we also support them to meet the increasing demands of tendering for work in the public sector, as well as reducing the impact of our supply chain on the environment.”

Tim Pain, director of innovation and enterprise at the University, who gave the welcome speech at the event, added: “Sunderland Professionals Network is such a vibrant community of business people, and we are delighted to welcome them to the University, especially to discuss sustainability which is a theme close to our heart.”

Sunderland-based accountant Brian Logan, who hosts the Sunderland City Professionals Network and is a business mentor to The King’s Trust, added: “Sustainability is very current and increasingly discussed. 

“I have seen local businesses closing and struggling to carry on with increasing costs such as energy. 

“A discussion on how businesses can try to be sustainable and to understand the support out there will be of great benefit to the network and I am delighted the University of Sunderland has been able to facilitate this.”

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