Sunderland 2018 Host City Bid

Global engineering and manufacturing giant Caterpillar is backing Sunderland’s bid to be a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The firm, which currently employs 600 people at its Peterlee plant and has 230 suppliers, many of which are local businesses, is keen to support the bid, which could result in a major boost to the region’s economy and the creation of thousands of new jobs across the North East.

Phil Handley, managing director at Caterpillar Peterlee, said:

Caterpillar is thrilled at the prospect of the World Cup coming to the region.

Not only will our employees be able to enjoy some of the best football in the world right here on their doorstep, there will also be immense benefits to the region’s economy and international profile as well as improvements in infrastructure which is something Caterpillar is firmly engaged in on a global scale.

As a key employer in County Durham, it is important for us and other businesses to offer our support to really drive the bid on so we’re only too pleased to welcome the bid team and players to Caterpillar Peterlee.

With a number of cities competing to host World Cup football in 2018, the England 2018 bid team has indicated that levels of public support for individual host city bids will be an important factor when it comes to selecting the final cities that will form an integral part of its proposal to FIFA.

Caterpillar welcomed Darren Bent and Andy Reid to its Peterlee plant on Tuesday 1st September as its employees were given the opportunity to add their signatures to the official back the bid support books.

Darren and Andy were on hand to pass the Back the Bid book around the vast 28-acre site, obtaining signatures and good luck messages to demonstrate the immense public support that is behind the campaign.

Niall Quinn adds:

Caterpillar Peterlee is a major employer not only across Wearside, but also across Tyneside, County Durham and Teesside, and it is this region-wide support that we really want to demonstrate to the England 2018 team.

We have had a fantastic response from businesses across the North East looking to get involved. Each one adds that little bit more momentum to the bid process so I’d welcome more and more to come forward and help us to bring the World Cup to England and the region.