South Yorkshire - China Learning & Trade Mission May 2026 - information session

South Yorkshire Business Leadership Learning Journey 2026 - A vision for South Yorkshire's Global Future

Join us for a information session/scoping call for a trade mission to China for a stronger, prouder, more globally connected South Yorkshire.

The Trade Mission

Hong Kong – Shenzhen – Greater Bay Area – Chengdu

Propssed date May 2026

Led by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire

A Moment of Possibility

South Yorkshire stands at a crossroads. The world is reorganising its supply chains, forging new alliances and racing ahead in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, AI and life sciences. Regions that look outward will shape the future. Regions that stand still will be shaped by it

This learning journey is an invitation to choose ambition.

By travelling to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, the Greater Bay Area and Chengdu, we will connect South Yorkshire directly to one of the most dynamic economic regions on Earth — a region with a US$2 trillion GDP, home to 17,000+ high-tech companies, world-leading universities and some of the fastest-scaling innovation ecosystems in human history. The GBA has a population of 86M. Chengdu, our sister city, is growing rapidly as a powerhouse of aviation, logistics and advanced manufacturing. Hong Kong remains a gateway to global capital, law and trade, with a rapidly developing entrepreneurial ecosystem attracting many scaling companies to relocate there.

We live in a decade where belief, partnership and boldness will matter every bit as much as infrastructure and investment. To level up our economy, we must level up our horizons.

Purpose and Legacy

This mission will inform, inspire and empower our region to:

• Forge new trade and investment partnerships, built on trust, visibility and shared ambition
• Learn from world-class innovation, infrastructure and commercial ecosystems
• Strengthen civic, academic and cultural ties that endure for generations
• Unlock opportunities for South Yorkshire companies to scale, export and collaborate globally
• Create a lasting programme of outbound and inbound missions, not a one-off delegation

This is about shaping a legacy in which South Yorkshire is more international, more confident and more connected to the fastest-moving markets on Earth.

A Simple Proposition

• One week.
• Shared purpose.
• Transformational learning.
• A stronger, prouder, more globally connected South Yorkshire.

This is our opportunity to look outward, build bridges and write the next chapter of our regional story — confident, international and unafraid of the future.