BUSINESSES across Sunderland are coming together for a special event designed to stimulate growth.
Sunderland City Centre Traders Association – a collective made up for retailers and small businesses from the heart of the city – are holding their first ever Biz FAN Friday (Free Advice and Networking), that will see them share ideas and aim for growth.
The first Biz FAN Friday, which will be held at city’s showcase business base Sunderland Software Centre, has been organised to coincide with national initiative Small Business Saturday – an occasion that celebrates the diversity that small independent firms add to the streets of the UK.
The event, which takes place on Friday, December 4, is expected to attract businesses from beyond the boundaries of the city centre, keen to tap into support and information sharing that will stimulate growth. Among them are traders from the seafront.
Brian Jackson, acting chair of the City Centre Traders Association, said: “The aim of the BIZ FAN Friday is to support Small Business Saturday by encouraging Sunderland’s local businesses to shout out and share advice and ideas to promote businesses where they have received good advice or service.
“It’s is a free, informal event where businesses across the city, as well as those in the city centre, are encouraged to come together and obtain free impartial advice from business experts including solicitors, accountants and marketing experts. There’ll also be the opportunity to find out about business improvement funding that’s available, seek one-to-one advice and of course lots of networking opportunities.”
The event is supported by Sunderland City Council, Sunderland Business Network and Sunderland Software Centre.
Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council: “It’s great to see the city’s businesses supporting each other and Sunderland City Centre Traders delivering an event that encourages businesses from right across the city to get together and share ideas. It’s also a timely reminder as we move towards Christmas to encourage everyone to shop local and support our city businesses at this busy time of the year.
“Sunderland is awash with great independent traders, and we need to not only celebrate them but support them to ensure they grow and develop to provide the home-grown heartbeat to our vibrancy to the city.”
Any business in Sunderland, however large or small, can attend the event. Refreshments and a breakfast buffet will be provided and registration is available at http://bit.ly/1N5NJ21T or to find out more call 0191 375 5773. The event will be held at Sunderland Software Centre, Tavistock Place on December 4 from 8.30am until 10.30am.
