Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce it has agreed a strategic partnership with Sunderland College.
As part of the partnership agreement Sunderland College, a world class provider of education in the North East, will work in conjunction with Sunderland AFC on a number of different projects locally, nationally and internationally.
The partnership will see wider opportunities for Sunderland College students to work with the football club on a variety of placement schemes as well as support Sunderland’s day to day business activity.
It will also see the two organisations work together coherently on its global growth objectives to help secure further partnerships internationally and work with Sunderland AFC on its community activities across the globe.
Gary Hutchinson, Commercial Director at Sunderland AFC, said: “We are delighted to team up with Sunderland College and welcome them into the Sunderland family.
“We share a number of common interests with Sunderland College and have enjoyed a great working relationship over the years. This strategic partnership will not only afford fantastic opportunities for Sunderland College students but will also harness the collective reach and influence that both organisations enjoy to create something extremely unique for the greater good of the club, city and the region.
“We are both committed to sharing our expertise in areas of mutual interest and the partnership will see us working together on a number of commercial and brand development initiatives, which will provide an excellent basis for a long and prosperous partnership.”
Ellen Thinnesen, Principal of Sunderland College said “We are excited to be signing a strategic partnership with Sunderland AFC. Whilst we already work closely with the club on a number of initiatives, this formal agreement will see us cement our relationship into the future.
“The agreement will provide our students with a host of unique opportunities from work placements, and business challenges to getting involved in planning and delivery of the diverse range of events organised by Sunderland Football Club each year. Thanks to initiatives like this, with the club, we are able to add real value to the work-readiness of our students, giving them an employment edge.
“In addition, the agreement will see us work together on a number of local, regional, national and international initiatives aimed at driving brand development for both organisations as well improving the economic prosperity of Sunderland.”
Sunderland College offers one of the region’s largest range of school leaver, adult and higher education courses, as well as programmes for international students and teaches more than 11,000 students each year. The College was rated ‘Good’ with strong features by Ofsted in June 2016.
The College has four campuses in the City including a new £29million City Campus, which opened this month. The new flagship professional and technical campus delivers courses in engineering, manufacturing, construction trades, automotive trades, travel and tourism, hair and beauty, and catering and hospitality.