The Plan To Keep Top Talent and Investment in West Yorkshire

“We bring kids into the factory and encourage them to consider STEM… Hardly anyone we’ve hired actually came from a manufacturing background.”

What makes a region truly thrive? It’s not just the nice parks, shops, or restaurants. It’s opportunity, real, exciting, long-term opportunity that means people don’t have to move away to build the career or life they want. That’s exactly the mission behind a bold new plan unveiled at the Business of Yorkshire Conference in Leeds on 08 December 2025.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin set out her vision to stop talented people leaving the region and ensure that businesses have the skills, investment, and support they need to grow. And judging by the companies already betting big on Yorkshire, it’s a plan with serious momentum behind it.

A major ambition for West Yorkshire

Mayor Brabin didn’t hold back: West Yorkshire is bursting with potential, but it needs the right support to unlock it.

“We have talent in spades and we’re working with businesses to give these young people their first step into the jobs market… We want to keep top talent here in West Yorkshire so people don’t have to leave to achieve,” she said.

Her plan is huge. A £26 billion economic growth target sits at the heart of the strategy, supported by a new partnership between business leaders, councils, and education providers.

West Yorkshire already has a heavyweight economy:

• 112,000 people work in manufacturing
• Leeds is the biggest financial and professional services hub outside London
• The region received 18 mentions in the Government Budget, signalling national recognition

But alongside the strengths are real challenges, particularly around young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and rising ill health among the working-age population.

“It is wrong that we have 100,000 people who are economically inactive… and far too many young people who are NEET. This is a shameful generational loss,” Brabin said.

She urged the Government to give local leaders more power to intervene earlier, at age 16 instead of 19, and set an ambitious target to make West Yorkshire a “NEET-free zone.”

Why major companies are choosing to invest in Yorkshire

The optimism around West Yorkshire isn’t just coming from politicians, it’s coming from global businesses already putting down roots here.

At the conference, leaders from Siemens Mobility, EY, and Rolls Royce shared why they believe the region is the right place for long-term investment.

Siemens Mobility: training the next generation

Siemens Mobility is building its huge new train manufacturing facility in East Yorkshire, and it’s already paying off for the region.

Niraj Sondhi revealed that Siemens is focusing on growing talent locally, not waiting for people with ready-made skills.

• Over 40 apprentices are currently training on the shop floor
• Graduate programmes feed into engineering and design teams
• Siemens works directly with schools, bringing pupils into the factory

It’s a clear message: if companies want skills, they must help create them.

EY: reputation, devolution, and the transport challenge

According to EY partner Georgina Knockton, Yorkshire’s reputation among clients is rising fast.

She credited devolution for helping create clearer leadership and stronger identity, both crucial for attracting investment. But she also pointed out barriers that need solving:

• 60% of Yorkshire workers rely on cars
• Public transport still lags behind comparable regions

This has a real impact on productivity and recruitment, and remains a key area for improvement if Yorkshire wants to compete with global cities.

Rolls Royce: small nuclear reactors and big opportunities

Rolls Royce is working on one of the most advanced engineering projects in the world: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), compact, factory-built nuclear power plants.

And Yorkshire is central to their plan.

“We’re looking to make a globally competitive product… we can do that in Yorkshire,” said Rob Harvey.

Why Yorkshire?

• Access to world-class talent
• The Advanced Manufacturing Park, home to major tech and aerospace innovators
• Facilities for trialling new manufacturing processes

But Harvey acknowledged a challenge: a shortage of people trained in high-level engineering and technical skills.

Rolls Royce is addressing this by:

• Expanding apprenticeship programmes
• Working directly with schools
• Showing young people real pathways into engineering careers

“It’s important to make sure kids have a vision of how they can contribute to society in future.”

From coal pits to Coldplay: the success of Production Park

One of the day’s standout stories came from Production Park, a remarkable creative campus based in South Kirkby, a former mining town outside Wakefield.

This unlikely corner of West Yorkshire is where stage and production teams build world-tour spectacles for:

• Coldplay
• Beyoncé
• Lady Gaga
• Metallica

Emma Gomez explained how Production Park has become an international creative powerhouse.

“We’ve brought different businesses together to create an ecosystem… it happens at the campus every day.”

What makes it unique?

• On-site university degrees and specialist courses
• Students learning side-by-side with professionals
• Real production studios used by global performers
• A campus expansion of almost 50%, bringing new jobs and creative industries to South Kirkby

This is exactly the type of investment that retains local talent and transforms communities from the inside out.

Building a future where talent stays, not leaves

West Yorkshire’s plan is bold, wide-ranging, and grounded in the region’s strengths:

• World-class manufacturing
• A thriving creative sector
• Strong financial and professional services
• Global firms investing in skills and technology

But its success hinges on one thing: making sure people see a future here.

By tackling skills gaps early, improving transport, supporting apprenticeships, and creating high-value jobs, West Yorkshire aims to become a region where talent grows, and stays.