SunFest 2026

The flagship event of Sunderland Business Week 2026 will bring together inspiring voices, fresh ideas and practical insights from across the business community.

Taking place on Thursday 15 October at The Fire Station and Culture House, this dynamic, festival-style event will feature a full day of engaging talks, interactive workshops and valuable networking opportunities.

Alongside the main programme, attendees can explore a range of breakout sessions, offering additional perspectives, experiences and opportunities to connect.

Our headline speaker will be Spencer Matthews. Spencer is an entrepreneur, endurance athlete and health advocate, who rose to fame for his role on hit TV show Made in Chelsea, and has since appeared on numerous TV shows and podcasts. He is the founder and CEO of CleanCo, the world's leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand, which he launched in 2019. Inspired by his own journey into sobriety, the company offers alcohol-free alternatives to gin, rum, tequila, whiskey and vodka.

Spencer has also achieved remarkable feats as an endurance athlete, holding three Guinness World Records, including completing Ironman-distance triathlons across all seven continents in just 21 days. He also featured in the hit Disney+ documentary Finding Michael which followed Spencer's journey to Everest's treacherous "Death Zone" to recover the body of his older brother, Michael Matthews, the youngest Briton to summit the mountain at age 22, before tragically disappearing on the mountain in 1999.

Spencer will be bringing his insights on resilience, purpose-driven leadership and personal transformation to SunFest, in our opening keynote session.

Also joining the lineup is Jonnie Peacock, two-time paralympic gold medallist and NatWest Ambassador. Aged just five, Jonnie contracted meningitis, which resulted in him having his right leg amputated. Having originally been interested in playing football, Jonnie was directed to a paralympic sports day and shortly after took up athletics.

In a distinguished sprinting career, he won five paralympic medals - including gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – as well as two World and European Championship golds.

Off the track, Jonnie has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, Jonnie’s Blade Camp, Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix and Hollyoaks.

Jonnie will be sharing his insights on reslience, performance under pressure, leadership and embracing opportunity in this compelling fireside chat to close the day.

Further details other sessions will be announced soon.

For group bookings of five or more, please contact [email protected].

Please note: breakout sessions have limited capacity and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Info: 1) SAFC Case Study: Growth and Impact on the City, 2) The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - AI Ethics for Small Businesses Panel, 3) Wellbeing Workshop, 4) Confidence in Leadership Workshop

Info: A panel discussion with regional and national business leaders sharing their thoughts and insight on the macro-economic landscape and what it might mean for businesses in the region. This could include upcoming national political changes, more power being devolved to regions and likely upcoming challenges and opportunities.

Event venue & nearby stays

The Fire Station, 9 High Street West, Sunderland, United Kingdom

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