About

Sunderland Business Festival organised by Sunderland Business Partnership

Rob Lawson OBE

Chair, Sunderland Business Partnership 

Our partnership aims to unlock the vast potential that exists in the city.

It is a business community united, championing the city and challenging Sunderland to be more ambitious, formed by some of the most successful businesses and organisations in and around the city.

Together, we have successfully created and campaigned to re-elect a Business Improvement District, act as a private sector sounding board and champion for projects like Riverside Sunderland and IAMP, played a leading role in developing the Sunderland Enterprise Growth Hub, Hope Street Xchange, and we’re fully behind the rebirth of our seaside offer at Seaburn and Roker beaches.

We are a partnership created for anyone who shares a passion to celebrate and promote everything that can inspire Sunderland to become a vibrant place in which to live, work, study and play… and while we have achieved much, there remains much more to be done.

Partner up

Add your name and that of your business to the growing army of companies and individuals signing up to Sunderland Business Partnership. Become a Platinum, Gold or Silver member of the Partnership scheme, by completing the form below:

Grame Miller

“Sunderland Business Partnership provides a bridge between sectors, public bodies and education and a forum for ideas and ambition to be shared and supported. The partnership puts all members on an equal footing and ensures, more than ever before, that private companies and public bodies are united in their aspirations to enhance Sunderland and help it blossom into a truly modern, prosperous and vibrant city.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council

Try before you buy

Why not come along to Sunderland Business Partnership to see if it’s for you? We meet most months and you’re more than welcome to try a taster session before signing up. Please get in touch if you’d like to arrange attendance.

Meet the board

Phil Moir

Phil Moir

Richard Reed Solicitors

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Phil qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and joined Richard Reed Solicitors in 2008. Phil was made Partner in November 2011 and thereafter became a Director of the firm in November 2012 when Richard Reed Ltd was incorporated. Phil specialises in both Dispute Resolution and Company and Commercial work.

Phil joined the board as a Director of the Sunderland Business Group on the 11th September 2019 with a view of helping and assisting with the promotion of Sunderland Businesses and the City generally.

Paul McEldon OBE

Paul McEldon OBE

North East BIC

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Over the past 29 years, the North East BIC has provided business support and workspace to thousands of businesses across the region, from helping people set up through its fully-funded start-up support to expert workshops, social enterprise support and managing grant funds.

The BIC’s approach to business support provision – which combines expert support with the option of taking up multi-use, flexible business space – has also seen the organisation set up and manage three successful business hubs in the region, which last year reached over 95% occupancy for the first ever time.

Looking ahead to 2023, the BIC is launching its fourth site (it’s second in Tees Valley) and is set to continue expanding its business support offering by reaching out to the most hard-to-reach, as well as going in to the heart of Sunderland’s communities to deliver workshops and advice to help residents set up their own businesses.

Alistair McDonald

Alistair McDonald

Ward Hadaway

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Alistair is marketing and business development specialist with experience in the healthcare, housing and legal sectors, passionate about growth focused strategy.

A former Trustee of Attitude is Everything and ex-festival director at Chase Park Festival, he is determined to improve deaf and disabled people’s access to music festivals and venues. And as former chairman of Headway Tyneside, he is passionate about improving services for people effected by acquired brain injury.

Ward Hadaway is really passionate about Sunderland and has a very long history of acting for major clients in the city, Alistair is working to ensure that continues.

Sharon Appleby

Sharon Appleby

Sunderland Business Improvement District

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Sharon is Chief Executive of Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) and not only works closely with businesses and organisations across the city but is also actively involved in shaping BIDs nationwide as part of the British BIDS Advisory Board.

She has worked in Sunderland for more than 20 years so has an unparalleled understanding of the area, and that experience – coupled with a real passion for her job – means she’s perfectly placed to help drive the city to achieve its aims and fulfil its ambitions.

Patrick Melia

Patrick Melia

Sunderland City Council

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Patrick is chief executive of Sunderland City Council, having previously led the transformation of North Tyneside Council.

He is driven by a desire to ensure the delivery of high-quality services that enable residents in Sunderland to access opportunities and live healthy, happy and independently economic lives, safely in their communities.

He is committed to leading a significant change programme within the City Council to make Sunderland a great place for residents to live, business to thrive and for visitors to enjoy, and understands that strong partnerships across the public, business and voluntary and community sectors, with everyone working to a common goal, are fundamental to this.

Rob Lawson OBE

Rob Lawson OBE

Wear Business

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Rob Lawson was born and bred in Sunderland, attending Southmoor School before studying journalism at Darlington College. He started his career as a junior reporter on the Driffield Times before completing his training on the Harrogate Advertiser.

He moved back to his home city to work as a sub-editor on the Sunderland and Washington Times before stints at The Sunderland Echo, the Hartlepool Mail and then back again at the Echo. He was appointed Production Editor, Deputy Editor and then Editor at The Shields Gazette before becoming Editor of the Sunderland Echo and Editorial Director of Northeast Press in 2002.

He left the Echo in 2012 to launch his own PR company, and at the same time became Chair at Sunderland College. Rob served eight years as Chair, overseeing the creation of Education Partnership North East (EPNE) through the merger of Hartlepool Sixth Form and Northumberland College with Sunderland. He became a National Leader in FE Governance in 2019 and was appointed an OBE for services to education in 2021.

Rob is a trustee at the MAC Trust, a board member at Southpaw Dance and Chairs Hull College.

Allison Thompson

Allison Thompson

Ashmore Consulting

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Allison is currently Chair of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust following 10 years as a Non-Executive Director in the NHS.

Over the last 20 years she has sat on and developed best practice for a number of Boards as a Non-Executive Director in a variety of Charitable and Commercial sectors.

She is a passionate supporter of a number of charities especially those supporting the most marginalised and deprived communities in society.

She has worked at a regional and national level on a number of transformation and restructure projects including regeneration and economic development; financial services and health; and she is also an executive coach, working particularly with chief executives, business owners and senior leaders.

Ellen Thinnesen OBE

Ellen Thinnesen OBE

Education Partnership North East

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An inspiring leader who has transformed post-16 education across the North East, Ellen is Chief Executive of Education Partnership North East a partnership between Sunderland College, Hartlepool Sixth Form and Northumberland College.

Beginning her career as a qualified nurse, Ellen has previously held high profile positions within the education sector in Manchester and the Yorkshire and Humber regions.

In her previous role as Principal and Chief Executive of Sunderland College, her ambitious vision led the college through two highly successful mergers, which have produced one of the largest college groups in the country.

Ellen has held numerous board positions in the education and not-for-profit sectors in the North East and beyond. She continues to contribute nationally to influence education policy and reform and is passionate about making a difference and raising aspirations. In 2021, she was awarded an OBE for her outstanding contribution to education in the region.

Mark Catterall

Mark Catterall

Smart Outdoor

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Mark Catterall founded fast-growing OOH advertising business Smart Outdoor in 2019. He has a passion for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this ever-changing industry.

Mark recognised the potential of innovative software to make advertising campaigns highly targeted and extremely effective. Thus, he became an early adopter of this exciting new digital technology.

Mark personally head hunted the best in the business to join his growing team and is passionate about delivering a high level of attention and expertise.

The business is based in Sunderland, a city Mark is proud to call home, and where many of Smart’s digital screens serve.

Professor Lawrence Bellamy

Professor Lawrence Bellamy

University of Sunderland

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Professor Lawrence Bellamy is the Academic Dean for the Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism at the University of Sunderland

His background is as a Chartered Engineer, within the manufacturing and construction industries and involved supply chain activities with composites, thermoplastics and thermosets.

His research interests lie in the area of Strategy, Enterprise, Small Business, International Management and work-based learning. He has extensive international educational experience and has been involved with partnerships in countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Norway, Singapore, Finland, Turkey, Malta, Brunei, Uzbekistan, Trinidad and various parts of Europe.