Over 100 of Huddersfield’s leading businesspeople attended Huddersfield Unlimited’s fourth Business Forum recently, which focused on championing the advanced engineering and manufacturing taking place in the town.
Sponsored by precision engineering firm, Accu, and supported by Clarion Solicitors, Huddersfield Unlimited’s event was held on 12 February, at Accu’s head office in Honley. In attendance were managing director of Accu, Alastair Morris; business development director at Clarion Solicitors, Stephen Crow; and chair of Huddersfield Unlimited, John Harman. Hayley Austin, the new chief executive of the Kirklees non-profit organisation, One Community Foundation, also delivered a short speech.
The main focus of the Forum was advanced engineering, exploring the forward-thinking manufacturing placing Huddersfield at the cutting edge of technology, and the new innovations that are boosting the town’s visibility within the sector. Kirklees has four times the national average industry concentration for machinery and equipment manufacturing, with access to one of the UK’s largest manufacturing forces, of 117,000 people across West Yorkshire.
Huddersfield is investing heavily in talent, with the Kirklees College Engineering Centre training the next generation of engineers, whilst the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre and National Physical Laboratory support research and development to accelerate innovations within the sector. At the Forum, Accu highlighted its commitment to supporting STEM professionals through initiatives like the Accu Scholarship, which gives UK-based undergraduate engineers the opportunity to gain financial support during their studies, as well as access to potential paid internship opportunities. As well as this, starting in September 2025, Accu will be partnering on a STEM Engagement Programme, aiming to deliver assemblies, workshops, and engaging learning experiences for several high schools across the Kirklees area. Environmental Social Governance (ESG) principles were also discussed at the Forum, withb businesses in attendance exploring their own actions, ranging from tree planting days to annual gender pay gap reporting.
Beyond positioning Huddersfield as a driving force in advanced engineering, attendees also discussed the ongoing opportunities created by £1bn of investment into the town, ranging from the Transpennine Route Upgrade, to the National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC).
Speaking after the event, Sir John Harman, said:
“We saw lots of investment in Huddersfield in 2024, with projects picking up pace over the course of the year.
“From the Transpennine Route Upgrade, to the development of the NHIC, Huddersfield is shining on the UK stage already, and that’s set to continue with further investment over 2025 and beyond.
“After our first Business Forum took place just over a year ago, it’s been pleasing to watch them continue to grow as a platform for driving collaboration and investment locally. Our fourth event has seen another brilliant turnout, with many business leaders keen to tackle the major topics affecting the region, whilst developing new partnerships that will positively impact Huddersfield. I am proud that, through Huddersfield Unlimited, we can unite these business and forge successful collaborations to drive Huddersfield’s success.”
Alastair Morris, managing director at Accu, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of our Huddersfield roots at Accu and the role this town plays in the global engineering landscape, with a number of reputable manufacturers operating right here in Kirklees.
“Partnering with Huddersfield Unlimited for the Business Forum is a fantastic opportunity to bring together businesses, innovators and industry leaders to celebrate and strengthen our local economy.
“Advanced Engineering is at the heart of what we do, with a keen focus on utilising the latest technology to develop scalable solutions all with the aim of Accu being “the most loved shopping destination for engineers & innovators.
“By sharing our insights, fostering collaboration opportunities and championing diversity, challenging the traditional approach within our industry, we firmly believe we can have a positive impact that inspires a culture of change throughout the area.”
Stephen Crow, business development director at Clarion Solicitors, said:
“Clarion is delighted to support this event, which brings together the business leaders of Huddersfield – we firmly believe it will enhance collaboration and underpin the future success of Huddersfield.”
Hayley Austin, chief executive at One Community Foundation, said:
“One Community Foundation is dedicated to making a lasting impact in Kirklees by connecting generous donors with local causes that need support the most. As an independent charity, we provide grants to grassroots organisations, helping to build stronger communities and address critical social issues.
“After attending a Huddersfield Unlimited event at the University last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Maltby. I was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm, deep local knowledge, and the extensive business connections he has. When I spoke with Charles about raising One Community’s profile, he encouraged me to speak at one of Huddersfield Unlimited’s events – a perfect opportunity as we gear up for our first-ever Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event this April.
“This event allows us to showcase who we are, what we do, and how businesses can play a vital role in creating a lasting social impact in Kirklees. We look forward to engaging with the Huddersfield Unlimited network and inspiring more businesses to support local communities.”
See more on Huddersfield Unlimited’s Business Forum events.