The Sunderland Adult Skills and Employment Strategy 2026-2030, the city’s first dedicated plan of its kind, has been developed by Sunderland’s Skills, Progression and Employment Board, which includes partners from education, employment, business, and public services. The strategy is backed by detailed research highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing people, communities, and businesses in Sunderland. It comes amid rising demand for job-ready candidates with higher-level skills, while many residents still face obstacles to entering or advancing in employment. During the 2024/25 academic year alone, Sunderland City Council’s Learning, Skills and Employability Service delivered 1,966 learning events through Adult Skills Funding. The strategy is supported by partners including the City Skills Provider Network, employer representative bodies, Education Partnership North East, Sunderland City Council, and the Department for Work and Pensions.