84. A deep dive into Yorkshire Manufacturing

Kada Research were commissioned by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on behalf of the Yorkshire Growth Hub Cluster to conduct a deep dive into Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector. The commission covered Yorkshire’s four combined authorities: Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA), South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNCA).

Kada’s commissioned work provided insights into the sector makeup, sector health, the range, scope and nature of the Yorkshire’s business support network, manufacturing business perspectives, and business support best practice. Additionally, Kada provided a series of recommendations on how Growth Hubs can address challenges, improve the impact of their support, increase collaboration and replicate successful models from other regions.

The research followed a phased design with each stage building on the last. It combined qualitative depth with quantitative breadth to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the region’s manufacturing landscape. Firstly, a literature and policy review was undertaken to establish the contextual foundations of the sector. Next, focus group discussions were held across the four sub-regions to identify business challenges and opportunities. Building on these insights, a survey of 215 manufacturing businesses was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of key issues. To explore these findings further, in-depth interviews were carried out with a further 55 businesses. Finally, 47 interviews with stakeholders including industry bodies, local government, and training providers offered wider perspectives and contextual nuance.

This very well received commission showed that Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector has shown clear resilience with the number of firms across the region returning to pre-2018 levels in 2024. This was largely driven by growth in West Yorkshire and stability in HEY and York and North Yorkshire. Economic output has also grown by an impressive 10% across all sub-regions. The region retains key strengths and specialisms in sectors such as food and drink, chemicals, rubber and plastics, positioning Yorkshire competitively at a national level. Key challenges facing the sector include skills shortages, access to finance, and fragmented business support. Identified opportunities for advanced manufacturing included defence procurement, sustainability solutions, and driving productivity improvements through digitalisation. Stakeholders called for clearer support pathways, improved infrastructure, and a stronger pipeline of skilled talent to sustain long-term growth.

The research identified five key areas where MCA/Growth Hubs can best support the manufacturing sector in Yorkshire. These are: skills and workforce; capital investment and finance; business support; supply chain resilience; net zero and sustainability.

If you are thinking about commissioning a sector deep dive study or if you would like to talk through an idea or hear about this work, you can contact us at info@kadaresearch.co.uk.