Manufacturers in the city of Leeds
have risen to the challenges of globalisation with
a winning combination of enterprise and innovation
that is enabling them to build market leadership and
win new business in the face of fierce competition
from overseas.
Leeds is the UK’s third largest manufacturing
centre, with nearly 1,800 firms employing over 36,000
people. Manufacturing accounts for 8.6% of total employment
in Leeds and generates over 10.8% of the city's total
£15 billion output.
In the wider Leeds city region, there are over 8,000 manufacturing companies with a total workforce of nearly 162,000. (Source 2008 Annual Business Inquiry).
Despite international trends towards outsourcing
manufacture to developing economies, Leeds companies
have maintained and enhanced their position globally
through innovation, diversification, and a shift
into high tech product solutions and processes which
are difficult to replicate.
Paul Stephens, Leeds City Council's chief economic
services officer said: "There are some highly
innovative companies based in the city, pushing
the boundaries and, in some cases, leading the world
in their respective fields."
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