Coun Paul Watson, leader, Sunderland City Council

SUNDERLAND has a long history of manufacturing excellence stretching from ships to cars, which over the years has provided tens of thousands of jobs for people in the region. In Sunderland alone more than17,000 people work in the sector, many for world-leading companies.

The industry operates in a truly global environment and the most successful companies thrive by harnessing the talents of their workforce to develop new and improved products, while at the same time finding ever more efficient ways of producing them.

In the nebusiness awards we have a platform on which to recognise these talents, and the council is delighted to sponsor the Manufacturing Award. I wish those entering the very best of luck.