Mark Robson, head of regions, Yorkshire and the Humber, Department for International Trade explains why the region’s sporting pedigree and passion cannot be understated.
Sheffield is recognised around the world as the birthplace of modern football and the world’s oldest club, Sheffield FC. Yorkshire is the most successful team in English cricketing history, winning 32 County Championships titles, including one shared.
The region’s athletes consistently overachieve at international competitions, with Yorkshire bringing home 11 gold medals from the 2016 Olympics – more than any other English region.
At the Tour de Yorkshire in the same year, it was estimated a record 2.6 million spectators lined the route - bringing with it an estimated £98 million boost for the local economy.
So, it’s no surprise that the region’s firms are also enjoying success in the global sporting sector – from construction to design.
In the last year alone, Thirsk-based structural steel firm Severfield has been involved in a number of major sports construction projects, ranging from building Tottenham Hotspur FC’s new stadium to the installation of the retractable roof for Wimbledon’s No.1 Court.
Leeds-based studio NEWSUBSTANCE specialises in show design and bespoke performance structures, creating the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies for events including the Dubai World Cup race meeting and the Deaflympics in Taiwan.
A global platform
The UK has an enviable worldwide reputation for its ability to organise first-class sporting events, with homegrown companies also have played leading roles in the delivery of a huge proportion of the highest-profile global scale events over the last two decades.
Countries hosting future global sporting events will always be on the hunt for specialist products and services, meaning enormous opportunities are on the table for British firms across a wide range of industries, not just architecture and construction, but project management and professional services too.
There’s also demand for creativity and design, branding and marketing, strategic communications, security, catering and corporate hospitality.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is keen for Yorkshire and the Humber firms to capitalise on these export opportunities, including the Pan American and Para Pan American Games in Lima 2019 and Chile 2023, as well as the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. It offers a wide range of support for companies looking to do just that.
Later this month, DIT in Yorkshire and the Humber is hosting a free event at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
At the event on July 26th, you’ll hear from DIT representatives from around the world, including China, Japan, France, Chile, Qatar, India and more who will discuss the potential for firms to capitalise on upcoming events and grow international sales.
Alongside a networking lunch event and one-to-one sessions, attendees will hear from keynote speaker Professor David James from the Centre for Sports Engineering Research.
If there’s a country you are interested in finding out more about, you can book an individual appointment with the relevant DIT representative in advance.
We expect a lot of interest, and we’re looking forward to seeing more Yorkshire and the Humber firms scoring in the sports sector in the future. You can also register for the event in Sheffield here. If you want general advice on exporting goods or services within this, or other sectors, get in touch with our Yorkshire and the Humber team today.
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