WNY Chamber hosts massive trade expo

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce showcased Yorkshire’s manufacturing and export prowess to the world with a massive Expo event in Huddersfield.

Staged at the Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield on Tuesday October 6, the day long event heard from top national government civil servants and leading figures from the world of Yorkshire business.

More than 300 delegates packed the hotel for the event as well as more than 40 stands being booked by exhibitors.

The inaugural Yorkshire Manufacturing & Export EXPO is designed to celebrate the might of Yorkshire’s manufacturing and export powers and to discuss how we can overcome the challenges it currently faces.

As well as hundreds of delegates there were two panel events with top level speakers.

The first, themed on international trade opportunities heard from Ashleigh Dorrington-Harvey – National Sector Head | Manufacturing & Construction at NatWest, Richard Oppenheim – Director, Diplomatic Advisory Hub, Growth Directorate FCDO and British Chambers of Commerce, Dr Richard Tunstall – Academic Director of Enterprise | Leeds Centre for Enterprise Education (Leeds University) and Paul Addison – Regional Director North of England – Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

The second, themed on exporting Yorkshire to the world, featured Mandy Ridyard – Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire and Director of Produmax Ltd (Baildon), Nikki Clow – Head of Chamber International (West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce), Dr Peter O’Brien – Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities and Nick Edwards – Business Relationship Manager (Made Smarter)

James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Yorkshire has been trading internationally since the time of the Romans and, while the region still stands as an epicentre for global transactions, it is currently challenges that have made realising this historical reputation for excellence more troublesome.

“This is where West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce comes in. Our first class inhouse International Division handles queries from around the planet and provides documents, advice and other services to get goods and services in and out of the country on a daily basis. And, thanks to being the only officially accredited Chamber of Commerce in West and North Yorkshire, we are able to access the international Chamber of Commerce network, connecting us to markets across the globe.”

The Expo event builds on the work the Chamber has been doing with trade missions having taken its members to China, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Mr Mason added:

“The feedback from those who travelled with us was uniformly positive, with the face-to-face meetings we were able to convene leading to new and strengthened links for our members.

“But we understand that not every business has the bandwidth to spend a week aboard. That is why we are launching our first Yorkshire Manufacturing & Export EXPO this Autumn.”