Last month's Supply Chain West Yorkshire Showcase 2024, organised by RTC North, brought together innovative businesses from across West Yorkshire, fostering collaboration and innovation in the region.

Connecting Yorkshire SMEs with industry leaders and opportunities in advanced manufacturing, energy, digital, travel, and infrastructure, the Showcase was held at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds and welcomed over 200 delegates.

With industry giants like Lockheed Martin and Equinor present, the event offered unique networking opportunities for SMEs looking to engage with major players in their sectors.

The event featured a diverse array of speakers who provided insights into cutting-edge technologies and collaboration opportunities with companies like Lockheed Martin, Adderstone Living, Lhyfe, and many more.

Among the speakers was Debbie Hope, New Business Director at Adderstone Living, who reflected on the vibrancy of the event:

"There was a real buzz of positivity in the museum at the WYCA supply chain event. I was surprised to find myself positioned between the CERN particulate accelerator and Lockheed Martin defence, but actually, there were many areas of crossover and enough difference to make it a really engaging few hours,"

In addition to the impressive lineup of speakers, the event also welcomed exhibitors showcasing business support initiatives available in the area and other opportunities for collaboration.

The event received outstanding feedback, with attendees praising both the atmosphere and the quality of connections. Feedback from participants included:

"Excellent event with a great mix of companies, it was a brilliant day," and "I could not fault the day! It was a great event, thank you. Keep these events coming!"

Alan Whittaker, Head of Operations at RTC North, commented:

Events like the Supply Chain West Yorkshire Showcase are crucial for both large enterprises seeking new suppliers and businesses looking to understand how they could access new supply chain opportunities. These events foster new business relationships and highlight the importance that innovation plays in supporting economic growth in the North, which is exactly what we are aiming to deliver.

By providing SMEs with direct access to major industry players and collaboration opportunities, we are helping to strengthen the local economy and accelerate the development of sustainable, future-focused industries. The overwhelming response from attendees highlights the importance of continuing to support such initiatives, as they provide a platform for long-term growth and collaboration."

The success of the Supply Chain West Yorkshire Showcase 2024 demonstrates the importance of such events in fostering regional growth and innovation. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from both speakers and attendees, it is clear that the Showcase has become a vital platform for businesses to connect, collaborate, and continue driving forward the local economy.

We are already looking ahead to future events, with plans to build on the success of this year’s showcase and continue providing valuable opportunities for growth and collaboration to companies across the North of England.

To keep up to date with future opportunities, keep an eye on our events page.