A delegation of twelve West Yorkshire businesses has joined a five‑day European trade mission aimed at boosting investment, exports and job creation across three of the region’s major growth sectors: financial and digital services, health technology, and advanced manufacturing.
The mission – organised by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by KPMG – began on Sunday 22 February in Zurich, before continuing to Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart in Germany. It is backed by the UK Government and designed to strengthen trade links with two of Europe’s most advanced industrial regions.
Switzerland is the UK’s 11th‑largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth nearly £47 billion annually, more than 60% of which is in services such as finance, legal work and transport. With West Yorkshire recognised as the UK’s largest financial and professional services centre outside London, strengthening ties to Switzerland is seen as vital for growth.
The region’s prosperity is closely tied to its trading relationship with Europe. Through the mission, West Yorkshire aims to leverage £2 billion in new, flexible funding to attract additional European private‑sector investment by improving conditions for business through investment in transport, housing and skills.
The trade mission supports the ambitions of West Yorkshire’s Local Growth Plan, which prioritises scaling high‑growth sectors and improving business access to finance, talent and global markets.
A key focus of the visit is promoting opportunities within West Yorkshire’s £160 million Healthtech Investment Zone, which aims to accelerate innovation in medical technology, digital health and diagnostics.
The region’s health innovation ecosystem is supported by seven universities and significant capability in:
- Clinical research
- Life sciences
- Medical technology
- Digital health systems
The delegation is highlighting the potential for collaboration with Switzerland’s globally established biotech sector, with the aim of accelerating development of life‑changing technologies and bringing benefits to both NHS services and the local economy.
The mission is also promoting West Yorkshire’s “Northern Square Mile”, a major ecosystem of 30,000 financial and professional services firms employing nearly 300,000 people. The region is home to national institutions including the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the National Wealth Fund.
The delegation will discuss how the UK–Switzerland Berne Financial Services Agreement, alongside the Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms, can help remove regulatory barriers, deepen cross‑border cooperation, and position Leeds as a strategic UK base for international finance firms.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Europe is our most important trading partner, with investment from Swiss and German firms – and exports from our homegrown businesses – supporting thousands of good jobs in every part of our great region.
“Now, thanks to devolution and our strong, public-private West Yorkshire partnership, we have the potential to go so much further.
“Over the next five days, we’ll showcase our multimillion-pound healthtech investment zone, champion our Northern Square Mile of global financial and professional services firms, and create new export opportunities for our world-class manufacturers.
“Together, we’ll build international relationships that will stand the test of time and help us build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
In Zurich, the delegation will meet:
- National trade and investment bodies
- FinTech, health tech and rail tech leaders
- City urban development teams
- The British‑Swiss business community
- James Squire, UK Ambassador to Switzerland
The German leg of the mission focuses on advanced engineering and AI‑enabled manufacturing, including visits to leading research centres and innovation campuses in Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart.
Discussions will cover sustainable transport systems, precision engineering and AI‑driven manufacturing processes – areas where West Yorkshire aims to grow capacity ahead of the Weaver Network launch in 2027.
Swiss and German expertise in mass transit design, engineering and urban mobility is expected to inform West Yorkshire’s approach to integrated transport planning. The region is working with universities, Network Rail and private‑sector partners to create a new centre of excellence in sustainable transport technology.
The mission aims to strengthen relationships, unlock investment, support exporters and promote the region’s strengths to global partners – positioning West Yorkshire for long‑term growth in high‑value sectors.
Image credit: iStock
