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Your Future Expo 2025

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Your Future Expo is part of Expo Sunderland, a ground-breaking program aimed at showcasing the city’s amazing transformation to residents and businesses and proof that our city is a fantastic place to live, work, learn, and do business.

On the 18-20 March 2025, we’re planning on turning the Beacon of Light into an immersive, interactive exhibition space, featuring industry zones led by top employers and opportunities for others to join in.

Outside, a vibrant festival-style area will feature hands-on activities and competitions, drawing even more attention to this exciting spectacular.

Over three days, more than 2,000 visitors, including employers, industry, students, graduates, and job seekers, will be invited to attend for FREE.

This isn’t just another careers fair - it’s an exciting, interactive launchpad for innovation that aims to inspire and connect people and celebrate the success of our educators and employers and ultimately improve the prospects for our entrepreneurs, businesses and residents.

BOOK YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS

A new way of thinking

In February 2024, our Expo pilot event, Come & Play for 14-18 year olds showed that learning interactively sparks interest far better than conventional careers fairs. Trials included:-

  • Arts and crafts

  • Digital and immersive equipment

  • Electric driving sessions

  • Fitness equipment

  • Hair & Beauty

  • Holographic tables and digital/ drone projections

  • Interactive gaming

  • Medical prep training, reaction walls

  • Music and staging

The aim for 18-20 March 2025 is to showcase the pathways and career choices on offer to all age groups with immersive, interactive and exciting exhibits borne out of the pilot to demonstrate real opportunities, inspire career destinations and highlight transferrable skills in Sunderland.

Free to attend

Schools & colleges

Dedicated school visiting hours during term time and other opening times for adults, older teens, college students, working parents and carers:-

  • Divert your limited resources from your own open days and bring your pupils and students by volume to something bigger.
  • Pre-event tools to capture interests to help tailor your trips to the event.
  • Employer-led insight to outline the challenges and solutions to help address barriers to entry.

School Application Form

Students 16-18?

This isn’t just booths and brochures. Your Future Expo is an interactive event designed to inspire and connect. Discover innovations, meet industry leaders, and explore real opportunities that could change your future.

  • Experience cool technologies and activities in a different atmosphere at scale.
  • Attend coaching, mentoring and further education readiness sessions.
  • Hear from real students and early career ambassadors about their own journeys to success that you can relate to.
  • Discover tech experts and creative industries to understand the variety of practical skillsets to inspire your career path.

BOOK YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS

Not another careers fair

Whether you’re a student, graduate, or adult seeking a new career, this is your opportunity to find inspiration, guidance, and connections.

  • Meet over 100 top employers from Sunderland and beyond.
  • Explore industry zones showcasing exciting careers and the future of work.
  • Get hands-on with activities, competitions, and interactive exhibits.
  • Learn about training opportunities and courses to boost your skills.

BOOK YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS

Industry Zones - inspiring career paths

We’re turning the Beacon of Light into an immersive, interactive exhibition space, featuring industry zones led by top employers and opportunities for others to join in. Over 2,000 visitors, from students to adults, will attend, exploring future skills and careers.

The show floor is not just a platform for Sunderland's exciting career and education opportunities—it’s also a chance to promote employee health and wellbeing, mental health awareness, encourage physical fitness, and support the diverse communities served by the local authority.

Event Advisory Group

Get involved

Can you inspire the next generation, broaden horizons, and spotlight the variety of career paths in our region? Together, we’ll showcase the talent, innovation, and opportunities that Sunderland and the Northeast have to offer.

  • Empower your team: Let apprentices or ambassadors design, staff your stand or deliver TED-style talks.
  • Go green: Use sustainable, modern materials for your displays.
  • Think local: Source affordable, recyclable goods for your setup.
  • Get creative: Offer prizes or giveaways repurposed from your industry.

Become an Event Partner

View the Event Floor Plan

Enterprise & Innovation Zone

UKSPF Funding

UKSPF Funding

Are you a small business or entrepreneur with an innovative idea or technology?

To support Sunderland’s innovators and help local businesses grow, Expo Sunderland has received funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the Expo Sunderland Innovation Challenge which will be showcased at Your Future Expo in the Enterprise & Innovation Zone.

Innovation Challenge

Innovation Challenge

Delivered in partnership with Innovation SuperNetwork, this program offers start-ups and scale-ups on Wearside the chance to co-develop new solutions around Expo's 3 core themes, attend a pre-event skills bootcamp and showcase their progress at the event for FREE.

Click here for more information

What’s in It for You?

What’s in It for You?

This is your chance to shine at Your Future Expo. Show Sunderland and beyond why our city is a fantastic place to live, work, learn, and do business.

  • Promote your ideas and talent amongst other innovators in the local community.
  • Get free exposure and networking opportunities to grow your business.
  • Inspire career paths linked to your innovation.

Join the Expo Sunderland Innovation Challenge today, and let’s showcase your progress and the exciting opportunities your business brings to Sunderland.

Get in touch

Why this matters

Why this matters

  • Supporting high-potential businesses and emerging technologies.
  • Connects local businesses directly with innovators shaping the future of Sunderland’s economy.
  • Supports regional growth by partnering with entrepreneurs to drive sustainable success.

BOOK YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS

Event Advisory Board and Supporting Partners

Enquire about opportunities at this event

Let's talk

Exhibit

Support

Industry Zone Leads

Activation sponsors

Sustainable giveaways

 

Do

Exhibit

Take part in one of our industry zones

Table Top and exhibition shell scheme packages

Outside activities and concessions

Act

Do

Live talks

Seminar sessions

Fringe events

Bring

Attend

Schools and colleges

Charities and communities

Parents and carers

 

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