Tech Nation Sunderland

Sunderland has enjoyed steady growth, with employment rising by almost 17% since 2010. In addition to a long-standing specialism in App & software development, it has growing expertise in Hardware, Games and Telecommunications & networking.

The local software scene can be traced back to 1996 with the creation of Domain Names, a company that grew to become the largest domain provider in Europe. Much of the cluster’s recent growth stems from the establishment of Sunderland Software City in 2009. A joint partnership between the private, public, and education sectors, it has already supported over 400 businesses and aims to create more than 2,000 jobs by 2020.

Opening in 2015, the North East & Tees Valley Digital Catapult Centre is helping businesses increase efficiency and productivity. Sunderland has benefited from the presence of companies such as Geek Talent, Epic Games, Technically Compatible and United Software, while the University of Sunderland’s Hatchery acts as a startup incubator for students and graduates.