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The North of England’s first joint mayoral visit to India highlighted 80 apprenticeships alongside jobs and partnerships, with a return delegation under discussion for 2027.
By Sophie Lindqvist, Policy Correspondent · Brussels
22 October 2026 · Reported from BusinessCloud
The North of England’s first joint mayoral trade mission to India highlighted 763 jobs and 80 apprenticeships, alongside commercial agreements and institutional partnerships, BusinessCloud reports. The visit brought northern regions together to pursue investment and business opportunities through a shared international programme.
Two international university campuses also featured among the outcomes reported by BusinessCloud. Partnerships covered healthcare innovation, research, skills and advanced manufacturing, giving the mission a broader reach than business-to-business sales alone.
Greater Manchester accounted for a substantial share of the employment announcement. Bev Craig, identified by BusinessCloud as Mayor of Greater Manchester, said the mission had delivered more than 600 new jobs and investment worth tens of millions for the region. BusinessCloud did not provide a company-by-company breakdown of those commitments.
The mission followed the UK–India Free Trade Agreement. Its stated purpose was to put northern England’s combined capabilities in front of Indian partners and pursue opportunities in investment, innovation and trade, according to BusinessCloud.
Almost 200 delegates took part, representing businesses, universities, tourism, culture and sport. That mix brought commercial and educational institutions into the same programme as organisations responsible for attracting visitors and building cultural connections.
Regional government relationships were another part of the visit. Yorkshire’s three mayors met Telangana’s Chief Minister to explore cooperation on economic growth, trade and investment. BusinessCloud reports that those discussions built on agreements reached during visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor and chair of The Great North, presented the mission as evidence that northern regions could achieve more internationally by acting together. In comments reported by BusinessCloud, she emphasised the North’s confidence and willingness to engage with overseas partners.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram focused on India’s economic prospects. Describing India as the fastest-growing G20 economy, he said he wanted Liverpool City Region to secure a leading position in the opportunities arising from stronger UK trade relations, BusinessCloud reported.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin placed the commercial push in the context of established personal and cultural ties. She pointed to Yorkshire’s community of more than 80,000 people of Indian heritage and recalled Sachin Tendulkar joining Yorkshire as its first overseas cricket player at the age of 19. Her message to Indian businesses, students and visitors was that they were welcome, valued and safe in Yorkshire, according to BusinessCloud.
Businesses and institutions across northern England are now pursuing leads and partnerships developed during the mission, BusinessCloud reports. Further commercial opportunities remain under development, distinguishing the continuing pipeline from the outcomes already announced.
Northern regions intend to maintain their joint engagement with Indian businesses and institutions. Discussions are underway about hosting an Indian delegation in 2027, although BusinessCloud reports this as a proposal rather than a confirmed visit.
For Indian companies considering UK expansion, the follow-up programme offers a regional route into discussions with public leaders, businesses and universities. The reported activity centres on trade relationships and institutional cooperation; BusinessCloud’s account does not set out a grant scheme, application process or financial incentive package for prospective investors.
For Indian companies assessing the UK, the mission shows how regional engagement can bring businesses, universities and public leaders into the same conversation. The partnerships span manufacturing, healthcare and research, making the programme relevant to several routes into the market. The practical distinction is between announced outcomes and opportunities still being developed: companies should treat the continuing talks as potential connections, not guaranteed investment support. A proposed return delegation in 2027 could provide another opportunity to build those relationships.
Source
Original reporting by BusinessCloud. This report was written independently for Market Entry Wire.
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