Posted to News on 6th Mar 2026, 10:30
Accu takes part in trade mission to strengthen advanced manufacturing opportunities
Alastair Morris, Managing Director of Huddersfield-based Accu, one of the UK's fastest growing distributors of fasteners and components, travelled to Switzerland and Germany last week as part of Mayor Tracy Brabin's West Yorkshire trade mission.
Alastair was invited to join the trade mission due to his high-profile work championing UK advanced manufacturing. he was part of a 12-strong business delegation that started in Zurich on 22 February on a trip designed to strike up new export deals, secure inward investment and further develop economic ties with some of Europe's most advanced industrial nations.
The five-day trade mission, which was organised by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by KPMG, involved delegates travelling from Switzerland to Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart in Germany. It was designed to strengthen UK-European trade across three of the country's most important export markets: advanced manufacturing, financial and digital services and health technology which generate thousands of jobs across the West Yorkshire region.
Alastair, who was recently named as one of Britain's most impactful manufacturers by Made in Group, explains: "Last week's trade mission to Switzerland and Germany was a great opportunity to make connections with industry leaders and to identify opportunities to promote West Yorkshire's advanced manufacturing capabilities and discuss how we can collaborate more closely across Europe.
"Europe is an important market for Accu and offers significant growth potential. Germany in particular is an important destination for UK advanced engineering exports, including high value components and precision parts. Greater collaboration between our countries should help to unlock new supply chain opportunities for UK businesses in advanced manufacturing and industrial AI."
Switzerland is the UK's 11th largest trading partner, with a bilateral relationship worth almost 47 billion to the economy every year.
Services account for more than 60% of that trade, supporting around 130,000 jobs across the country in areas including finance, legal services and transport.
The trade mission's visit to Zurich included high profile meetings with CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronic and Microtechnology). CSEM is a globally respected institution for applied innovation and industry collaboration and there is strong alignment between Switzerland and West Yorkshire as advanced manufacturing and engineering regions.
In Germany, the focus was on advanced engineering and AI-enabled manufacturing, with visits to leading research centres and innovation campuses in Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart. The programme included discussions around the development of sustainable, sophisticated transport systems - an area where West Yorkshire is seeking to build a centre of excellence, in partnership with universities, Network Rail and private-sector innovators.
Alastair attended the trade mission alongside West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and delegates including from The University of Leeds, Ionix, Fintech North, Whitecap Consulting, Electra Commercial Vehicles, Madeby Studio, NextGen Zero, Space Hub Yorkshire, Zygens, Hippo Digital, Rebuilding Society, BL Clients, and African Business Association Yorkshire.
