Kada Research and Ortus Economic 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).
The research 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, our report 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 project 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. Alongside this, public data and Ortus’ own longitudinal database TCR was used for sector analysis and economic impact assessments. Spatial analysis was also performed to help identify key manufacturing hubs, regional specialisms, and supply chain interdependencies within and beyond Yorkshire. 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 were held with stakeholders including industry bodies, local government, and training providers offered wider perspectives and contextual nuance.
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. Our work has informed manufacturing interventions across Yorkshire and the Humber.