Leeds Manufacturing Festival Launch 2026

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Join us at the launch event for the 2026 Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which returns with an extended programme of events highlighting career opportunities for young people in the city's manufacturing sector.

The festival is designed to raise the profile of manufacturing in Leeds and the West Yorkshire region, promoting the wide range of careers on offer, and build relationships between employers, schools, colleges and training providers. Find out more about the programme and how you can get involved. Hear from keynote speakers and our youth panel who will talk about the skills challenge facing manufacturing and highlight how employers are working with industry partners to bring the next generation into manufacturing.

Keynote speakers include Verity Davidge, from industry body, Make UK, Elisa Henderson, Early Careers Coordinator with engineering firm, RSE, Ben Wilson, managing director of MPM, and Hannah Wilson, principal of UTC Leeds.

The event also includes an industry panel with younger people working in manufacturing who will talk about the skills challenge facing manufacturing and highlight how employers are working with industry partners to bring the next generation into manufacturing.

Leeds Manufacturing Festival is sponsored by: E3 Recruitment, Enginuity, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds City Council, Next Gen Makers, Made in Yorkshire, Leeds City College School of Manufacturing, Made Smarter and manufacturing employers AW Hainsworth, Facultatieve Technologies, Greyhound Box, Kirkstall Precision Engineering, Leeds Welding Company, MA Ford Europe, MPM, RSE Control Systems, Involution, Brandon Medical and Bensons Panels

Please note there is no parking available onsite for this event. The nearest multi-storey car park is located at Leeds Dock: https://citipark.co.uk/car-parks/leeds/clarence-leeds-dock

Speaker line-up

· Ben Wilson: Managing Director at MPM Group

· Verity Davidge: Director of Policy & Public Affairs at Make UK

· Elisa Henderson: Early Careers Co-ordinator at RSE

· Matthew Kaye: Head of Design & Marketing at Greyhound Box

· Matt Booth: Associate Director at E3 Recruitment

· Hannah Wilson: Principal at UTC Leeds

· Carl Hedley: Client Manager at The Howarth Foundation

Timings and event format

8.30am: Arrivals, networking and breakfast

9.00am: Welcome, introductions and event format – Mark Casci, Head of Business Representation, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

9.05am: Welcome – Clayton Stott, Head of Engineering & Manufacturing,
Leeds City College

9.10am: Overview of LMF 2026 – Ben Wilson, Managing Director, MPM Group

9.20am: Keynote address: Verity Davidge, Make UK

9.40am: Keynote address: Elisa Henderson, RSE

9.55am: Special guest: Matthew Kaye, Greyhound Box

10am: Industry panel and discussion chaired by Mark Casci, Verity Davidge, and Elisa Henderson

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Host or Publisher West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce