Tudor International Freight has been announced as a headline sponsor of the 2026 Leeds Manufacturing Festival reception and dinner, taking place on the evening of National Manufacturing Day on 24 September 2026.

The invitation-only event will bring together festival sponsors and their guests to celebrate the achievements of this year’s festival, which promotes careers in manufacturing and engineering to the next generation and provides a platform to showcase the city’s thriving manufacturing sector.

Guests will be joined on the evening by special guest Rt Hon. Robert Halfon, former skills minister and Member of Parliament, now executive director for policy and external affairs at manufacturing and engineering employers’ organisation Make UK.

Robert Halfon said: “Manufacturing is one of Britain's great success stories, and the numbers make the case. The sector delivers 42% of UK exports, 48% of all business R&D and 17% of business investment, and the average manufacturing salary now stands at £41,220 – comfortably ahead of the economy-wide average of £38,224 . This is high-skill, high-wage, high-technology work, and it happens in every region and nation of the UK.

"National Manufacturing Day is how we let people see it for themselves. On Thursday 24 September, for the fifth year running, hundreds of companies will open their doors to schools, colleges, universities and the wider public (The Manufacturer) — and what visitors find is robotics, clean energy, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and food innovation, with apprentices working at the heart of it.

"For young people and career changers, it's a chance to discover well-paid careers on their own doorstep. For employers, it's the most direct route to the talent that will power the next decade of growth."

During the day, students from Leeds City College will visit manufacturing and engineering employers across the city to meet people working in the sector and get a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing facilities in action.

Tudor International Freight is the latest sponsor to back the 2026 Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which has attracted more sponsors than ever before as employers and industry organisation seek new and innovative ways to bring fresh talent into the industry and inspire the next generation to take up careers in manufacturing.

Adam Johnson, Director of Tudor International Freight, said: “We are proud to support the Leeds Manufacturing Festival and National Manufacturing Day. Manufacturing plays a vital role in the Leeds and wider West Yorkshire economy, and the festival does important work in bringing employers, educators and young people together to showcase the opportunities available within the sector.

“Our sponsorship is about supporting the future of manufacturing in Leeds. The festival helps young people see the range of opportunities available across the sector, while giving employers a platform to showcase the skills, innovation and ambition that exist within local manufacturing. As a Leeds-based business, we are pleased to play a part in bringing those conversations together.”

Tudor International Freight has a long-established track record of supporting manufacturing companies across Leeds and West Yorkshire, helping them move products, goods and components safely and efficiently around the world through tailored freight forwarding, customs clearance and logistics solutions designed around each customer’s budget, timescales and delivery requirements.