Footballer turned successful entrepreneur Gary Neville is to be the headline speaker at  Sunderland Business Festival.

The conversation with the former Manchester United and England fullback will be part of the three-day festival, comprising a programme of business events, sessions and seminars taking place across the city.

Neville will discuss his business career and how the leadership skills that led him to being captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world helped him become one of the UK’s most high profile business people.

After a glittering 20-year career, he is working for Sky Sports as one of the nation’s favourite pundits – and an extremely successful businessman.

Having started out as a property developer while playing for United in his early 20s, Gary has continued with an entrepreneurial passion, building a business empire with a portfolio that spans property, hospitality, education, media and sport.

His Stock Exchange Hotel is one of the top hotels in Manchester; his University (UA92), is disrupting a traditional model; his £400m St Michael’s project is one of the landmark property developments in Manchester City Centre; and he will appearing as guest star on the upcoming series of Dragons’ Den.

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Gary said: “I’m hugely passionate about the North. All the businesses I run are based here, and I believe we’ve got a thriving business community and I’m really pleased to be part of a brilliant line-up of events in a Northern city that demonstrates such ambition and vision.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the experiences and stories from across my career and in business.”

Sunderland Business Festival, which is running for a third successive year, aims to inspire enterprises from across the region, with a host of engaging speeches and sessions from high-profile business leaders.  The event will take place from October 10–12 at venues across Sunderland, including Sunderland AFC offering a unique insight when Chief Operating Officer Steve Davison and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman host a talk-in at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, October 10.

In Conversation with Gary Neville will take place at the Auditorium at The Fire Station on Wednesday 11 October at 10.30am. It is part of a day being sponsored by the University of Sunderland.

Professor Lawrence Bellamy, Academic Dean for the Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism at the University of Sunderland, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring this fantastic Festival, and supporting a packed programme of business events to the city, including what will be a fascinating talk with Gary Neville. As well as being a leader during his playing days, Gary has proven to be a shrewd businessman, with an ever-growing portfolio. 

“Add to that his energetic and engaging style of communication, I’m sure this will be a brilliant event with plenty of take-aways for business people from the city and beyond. 

“Sunderland Business Festival is a fantastic showcase of this area as a place to do business and we’re delighted to be at the heart of that.”

The full festival line-up will be announced at www.sbfestival.co.uk   

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The festival is being organised by Sunderland Business Partnership, a collective of organisations – large and small – all with an interest in the city’s development, creating opportunities for members to collaborate and grow, which in turn helps Sunderland to be a more dynamic destination for business.

Rob Lawson, chair of Sunderland Business Partnership, said: “We’re thrilled to have secured someone of the calibre of Gary Neville for this year’s Sunderland Business Festival.

“He is one of the most recognisable business people in the country and I’m sure the discussion will be fascinating. I recommend anyone wanting to go secures their tickets quickly, as I’m sure it will be hugely popular.”