Sunderland announces 1,500 jobs as it welcomes 'Just Eat' among other firms

Sunderland has announced that 1,500 jobs will be created with the arrival of an international company to the region.

Just Eat, the global online food delivery company will create 1,500 new customer service roles as it joins other international companies who have already made the move to the North East.

North East England’s popularity as a ‘northshoring’ destination - which sees businesses move all or part of their operations from the South to more cost effective locations in the North - has helped mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and expand the list of global brands that now call the region home.

Companies such as Barclays, Ocado; and Verisure UK Services Limited see the region as a strategic destination to expand and grow their UK and global operations.

The region is also attracting public sector departments. HM Treasury, Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) have all announced they are relocating substantial operations to the North East, taking advantage of the skills and loyal workforce the region provides.

Guy Currey, director of Invest North East England, said: “More and more businesses are now seeing the benefits of moving out of the congested and over-heated areas of London and South East of England to set up their global operations in North East England.

“Not only can businesses access highly skilled, talented staff in our region, we also have one of lowest staff turnover rates in the UK. Our Grade A office accommodation is more affordable, giving businesses space to grow; and our road, rail, air, and sea links connect the region with the rest of the UK, and the world.

“We also have an enviable work/life balance, something that has become more important for both businesses and employees over the past 18 months.”

To capitalise on the increasing interest in North East England as a leading business destination, Invest North East England – the region’s inward investment body – has launched a new campaign encouraging businesses to ‘move on up’ to North East England.

Guy Currey added: “Our ‘move on up’ campaign is about letting businesses know they can access world-class talent, benefit from academic excellence via our five fantastic universities, and provide employees with an unrivalled quality of life; all whilst accessing the support they need to grow a successful business.”