Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026: careers showcases, factory visits, and awards across the city

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 launches today with a programme of events running through to July, designed to connect manufacturers with the next generation of talent. Organised by the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance and supported by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, the festival aims to raise the profile of manufacturing careers and build closer links between employers, schools, colleges, and training providers across the city.

Leeds is the UK’s third largest manufacturing centre by local authority area. West Yorkshire is home to around 5,500 manufacturing firms, directly employing around 109,000 people and contributing £8bn to the regional economy. Despite that scale, recruitment remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges — and bridging the gap between industry and education is exactly what the festival is built to do.

What’s in the Programme

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 programme includes a manufacturing careers showcase at Leeds City College on 25th March, a live careers panel at Rodillian Academy on 30th April, and a dedicated women in manufacturing event at Allerton Grange High School on 1st May. A higher-level skills event hosted by Leeds Beckett University will explore how industry and higher education can collaborate on workforce development.

The festival culminates with two major events: the Next Gen Awards on 4th June at Leeds Beckett University, celebrating outstanding apprentices and young professionals, and STEMFest on 1–2 July, a two-day hands-on event expecting around 2,000 students aged 10–14 at Events North on Kirkstall Road.

Why Manufacturers Should Pay Attention

The festival isn’t just about inspiration — it’s producing tangible results for employers who get involved. Headline sponsors include E3 Recruitment, Enginuity, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds City Council, Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, and Made in Yorkshire. Local manufacturers including AW Hainsworth, Brandon Medical, Greyhound Box, Sound Leisure, and Kirkstall Precision are among those backing the programme.

Why this matters for Leeds

Manufacturing contributes £8bn to the West Yorkshire economy and directly employs 109,000 people, yet recruitment remains one of the sector’s toughest challenges. The Leeds Manufacturing Festival is the city’s main initiative for connecting manufacturers with young talent, and it’s producing real results. For Leeds business owners in manufacturing, this is a practical route to building a future workforce.