Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2025

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival aims to raise the profile of the city's manufacturing sector, promoting the wide range of opportunities that careers in manufacturing and engineering present. It also helps to build close relationships between employers, schools, and colleges in Leeds to help the next generation into the sector.

This is the third time that Bensons has attended the event. The awards and other events during the year provide the opportunity to connect with like-minded organisations, develop our approach to dealing with common problems, and demonstrate our commitment to creating opportunities in engineering and manufacturing.

Over the past three years, we have seen the awards held in ever larger venues, reflecting their increased profile and the value which employers, colleges, and schools place on collaborating to develop this vital part of the local economy. Leeds alone is home to 1,800 manufacturing organisations, and the sector contributes around 13% to the GDP of West Yorkshire.

Highlights of the evening included the broad diversity of winners across all categories and the passion that was evident in all of them.

In previous years, Bensons has won the Apprentice of the Year category and been second in the Future Leader category. Amongst such esteemed competition this year, we were delighted to be 'Highly Commended' in the Employer of the Year category.