British Esports to represent Great Britain at inaugural Esports Nations Cup
British Esports, the national esports federation for the United Kingdom, has been selected – along with several partners – to represent Great Britain at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 – 29 November, 2026. British Esports will work alongside fellow UK-based organisations Esports Wales, Fnatic, Scottish Esports, […]
Venture Sunderland – Why it’s smart to base a £16m fund in the UK’s smartest city
Northstar Ventures has been embedded in the North East’s innovation ecosystem for over twenty years. In 2024, Northstar launched the Venture Sunderland Fund, to back ambitious, scalable businesses at all stages in and around the Sunderland area and therefore play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the city. In 2025, the fund received […]
Sunderland medical school named as a finalist by Northern England education awards
The School of Medicine at the University of Sunderland has been named a finalist at the Educate North Awards (ENAs). Highlighting excellence across the North of England in education, the University has been shortlisted to win the Medical School of the Year by the ENAs. The results will be announced alongside a range of other […]
Advertising specialists invest in new Sunderland office
One of the UK’s fastest growing independent digital outdoor advertising agencies has moved to a new North East HQ. Smart Outdoor, experts in out-of-home advertising, has moved to a new 2,300 sq ft office at The Yard at Riverside Sunderland in the city centre. Founded in 2019, the firm has grown its network of live […]
University of Sunderland student to perform at Big Weekend alongside Swindled bandmates
A talented drummer studying at the University of Sunderland has described being on the line-up for the upcoming BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend as “surreal”. The annual music festival will take place in Sunderland’s Herrington Country Park from 22 to 24 May and will be headlined by Zara Larsson, Fat Boy Slim and Olivia Dean. Felix […]
Award-winning restauranteurs to serve up two new city venues
The owners of two much-loved Sunderland restaurants are set to serve up two new venues for the city. Vittorio Farigu and Tamer Hassan, owners of Vito’s Osteria and Ember, have signed leases on two ground floor units in The Beam at Riverside Sunderland. Fit-out works are expected to be delivered over the coming months and […]
University library undergoes major transformation
The University of Sunderland’s Library at Murray has reopened after a £2.4 million transformation to enhance students’ experience during their studies. Over the past six months, this space has been transformed to create a peaceful, comfortable, and focused study environment. Now open, the Library at Murray within the Murray Heath building was reimagined in consultation with students. […]
Further Government support for ambitious Vaux Housing scheme
Sunderland City Council has secured over £680,000 of grant funding from the UK Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) to support the provision of infrastructure and utilities for the 133-home Vaux Housing development. Situated on the site of the former Vaux brewery, which is rapidly becoming a vibrant business and residential neighbourhood, the scheme will […]
International Women’s Day Event featuring Sheridan Smith raises funds for local charity Wearside Women In Need
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026, award winning actress Sheridan Smith, accompanied by her fellow cast and crew of the dark psychological comedy, Woman In Mind, came together for a special Q&A event at Sunderland Empire to raise money for local women’s charity, Wearside Women In Need. The successful event on Thursday 5 March which raised […]
Ward Hadaway ranked North East’s most active dealmaker
Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway has been ranked as the most active legal adviser for corporate transactions in the North East in Experian MarketIQ’s latest UK and Republic of Ireland M&A Review. The annual report ranks legal advisers by volume of completed transactions. Advising on 119 qualifying deals across 2025, Ward Hadaway also […]