Sunderland City Council is giving local businesses the chance to give their opinion on future skills investment.

The Council will survey hundreds of local companies to find out what training and skills are most important to them for the future. The survey aims to build a profile of the local workforce, identifying key strengths, skills gaps and potential areas for job growth over the next two years.

The findings of the survey will be used as a basis for planning future skills provision in Sunderland.

Councillor Bryan Charlton, portfolio holder for Prosperous City at Sunderland City Council said: “This is a hugely important exercise. Budgets of colleges and universities have had to be tightened and we will be able to provide guidance on the courses which are most needed from our businesses’ viewpoints.”

The Prosperous City Delivery Partnership (PDCP) manages the long-term economic regeneration of the city. It aims are to improve Sunderland’s economy by improving the skills of the workforce, attracting new investors and encouraging business growth.