A dozen businesses have joined West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin on a European trade mission designed to drive investment and growth across three of the region’s biggest job-creating sectors.
Mayor Brabin landed in Zurich at the head of a 12-strong business delegation. The five-day trade mission, which is organised by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by KPMG, will see the group travel from Zurich in Switzerland to Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, and Stuttgart in Germany.
Backed by the UK Government, the initiative aims to strike up new export deals, secure inward investment, and solidify economic ties. It specifically targets three of the country’s most important export markets: financial and digital services, health technology, and advanced manufacturing.
“Europe is our most important trading partner, with investment from Swiss and German firms – and exports from our homegrown businesses – supporting thousands of good jobs in every part of our great region,” said Mayor Brabin.
She added: “Over the next five days, we’ll showcase our multimillion-pound healthtech investment zone, champion our Northern Square Mile of global financial and professional services firms, and create new export opportunities for our world-class manufacturers. Together, we’ll build international relationships that will stand the test of time and help us build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Championing the ‘Northern Square Mile’
During the mission, the delegation is highlighting the significance of West Yorkshire’s ‘Northern Square Mile’. This thriving ecosystem of 30,000 financial and professional services firms employs almost 300,000 people and is anchored by national institutions such as the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the National Wealth Fund.
Switzerland is currently the UK’s 11th largest trading partner, with a bilateral relationship worth almost £47 billion to the economy every year. Services account for more than 60 per cent of that trade. For West Yorkshire, which is widely recognised as the UK’s second financial and professional services centre outside of London, the Swiss market is especially important.
The Mayor is expected to stress how the UK-Switzerland ‘Berne Financial Services Agreement’, alongside the Chancellor’s recent flagship ‘Leeds Reforms’, can help to unlock further growth. These frameworks reduce regulatory barriers and position Leeds as the go-to UK base for finance firms looking to launch or relocate.
Phil Murden, Leeds Office senior partner at KPMG UK, commented: “This trade mission represents a significant opportunity to deepen West Yorkshire’s economic relationship with Switzerland and Germany – two markets that are central to Europe’s financial, industrial and innovation landscape. For firms across our region, stronger links with these economies means greater access to capital, closer collaboration on regulation and digital standards, and new routes into high-value export markets.”
Lucy Rigby MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, added her support:
“The UK’s message is clear: we are open for business and ready to do deals, and West Yorkshire is taking that message to Switzerland and Germany. Strengthening our European partnerships will unlock investment, back innovation and create great jobs across the UK.”
Pitching the Healthtech Investment Zone
Another key objective of the visit is to promote opportunities for European investors to take part in West Yorkshire’s £160million Healthtech Investment Zone. The zone is designed to accelerate innovation in medical technology, diagnostics, and digital health.
The region’s strengths in clinical research and life sciences—anchored by its seven universities—are being pitched as a natural partner to Switzerland’s world-leading biotech ecosystem.
Carly Walter, CEO at women’s wellbeing technology company MAGI, which is part of the delegation, noted:
“This trade mission to Switzerland and Germany is a pivotal opportunity for us to build relationships with AI and healthtech leaders, explore research collaboration, understand European regulatory pathways, and connect with early-stage investors and distribution partners. Both countries are recognised leaders in medical technology, digital innovation and research excellence. Establishing partnerships there will accelerate our product development, strengthen our evidence base, and support our pathway toward national and international scale.”
Advanced manufacturing and mass transit
As the mission moves into Germany, the focus will shift to advanced engineering and AI-enabled manufacturing, with visits planned to leading research centres and innovation campuses.
The programme includes discussions around the development of sustainable, sophisticated transport systems. Ahead of the launch of West Yorkshire’s landmark Weaver Network in 2027, the delegation is viewing Swiss and German expertise in mass transit design and precision engineering as a source of practical lessons for the region’s own multibillion-pound integrated transport ambitions.
The full West Yorkshire delegation includes a diverse mix of established exporters and high-growth firms, including The Data City, Debeo, NextGen Zero, Hippo Digital, Ionix, Fintech North, Whitecap Consulting, and several regional universities.