Sunderland 'really well positioned to capitalise on opportunities' post coronavirus - says council boss

“MANY have prophesied about a new world, post covid-19.

How businesses will operate in new and innovative ways. Ways they discovered they could work as a direct result of the global pandemic.

There can be little doubt that this crisis has been a transformational event, and that many organisations have discovered that the systems and processes they had in place can be radically reimagined, allowing them to work more efficiently remotely.

As a local authority, we probably undertook two years of organisational change in the first two weeks of the crisis, as we sprang into action to continue to deliver much-needed services to residents in new, more agile ways.

However, far from a short-term change, there have been new ways of working that it would be counter-intuitive for us not to embed, and we are certain that most companies will share this sentiment. It is a fact that covid-19 has changed business and as we look ahead to the ‘new normal’, Sunderland is really well positioned to capitalise on the opportunities that will arise.

The city is at an important juncture in its regeneration journey. Last November, we announced a £100m deal with Legal & General, that will pave the way for three new state-of-the-art office spaces, including a civic hub in City Hall, rise from the ground in the heart of the city. Given the changing world we are operating in, we have a unique opportunity to design future-proofed office spaces in the heart of the city – spaces that respond to the new needs of businesses that will be operating in very different ways post-covid.

Agile working means many will move towards a home-working model; office spaces are likely to adapt to become collaborative hubs, where teams will come together to work flexibly. The requirements of business will likely move towards open-plan workplaces, where teams can come together to plan – and increasingly, they will feature technology that allows easy virtual link-ups, as we continue to embrace technology including video conferencing, to operate in a more efficient, effective and environmentally-friendly way. It is this major change that means we are well-positioned to exploit the new-found needs of modern businesses, and to ensure that we deliver a highly desirable offer to the market as a city.

Coupled with our efforts around world-class digital connectivity, that will allow us to create workplaces that meet the needs of even the most demanding tech businesses, we really do believe that we are poised to emerge from the pandemic on the front-foot, with an offer that will enable businesses to work in new and innovative ways, reaching their customers – wherever they may be – through superfast connectivity that enables them to achieve more. We know that digital is permeating so many sectors, and that the economic revival of the city and the region will become increasingly reliant on our capabilities in this regard, and that is what we are building to. It’s what – with partners in technology, education and business – we will achieve.

Of course, commercial space is just one part of a programme of work that is transforming the heart of the city into a vibrant economic motor, propelling the city forward. We’re creating exciting new places to live and play in the centre of the city too, and we’ve continued to push ahead with these plans despite the global challenges presented by the coronavirus. We will emerge from this crisis with the same momentum and sense of urgency that we entered it with – fixated on the future.

The incredible natural assets that Sunderland possesses, some of which have come into sharp focus as people explore what is on their doorstep during lockdown, are fantastic and our job now is to build on them. Our seaside is coming to life, with a range of new leisure offerings due to move forward. We’re creating new homes, in open spaces where people can enjoy access to our stunning beaches. Our communities will be anchored by excellent connectivity – soft infrastructure that will deliver world-class internet access that will drive the skills of our young people as well as enabling vulnerable results through the integration of technology into the work and interventions of health colleagues. All of this will create an environment that enriches the lives of residents.

Covid-19 has prompted so many people to rethink the way they live – to reprioritise and refocus. It’s prompted us to do the same as a local authority, and as we stand on the cusp of the most transformational programme of investment in decades – investment that will change the heart of the city, as well as in our surrounding communities – we are looking to the future, with a determination that will catapult the economic revival of a city that has a record of resilience.”