Indian business delegation to visit Leeds pop-up jukebox store as part of international inward investment mission

The British Deputy High Commission to Chandigarh, India, has arranged for a delegation from India to visit to the world’s only manufacturer of vinyl jukeboxes at its Leeds pop-up store as part of an inward investment mission.

The visit has been organised to celebrate the strong connections between the UK Northern Powerhouse and India’s future engagement collaboration.

The delegation will visit Leeds-based Sound Leisure at its six-week pop up store in Victoria Gate shopping centre on March 20 and will meet with the business’s managing director, Chris Black. Chris will speak to the delegation about the benefits of doing business in the region as well as sharing his experiences as a leading manufacturer in Yorkshire which sells products globally.

Formed in Yorkshire in 1978, Sound Leisure is the only manufacturer of vinyl playing jukeboxes and one of only two classic jukebox producers in the world. The family business this year celebrates its 40th anniversary as a proud Leeds-based manufacturer, shipping its bespoke products globally to some of the world’s most prestigious locations.

The visit follows a trade mission to India in November 2017, organised by the Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA), in which Sound Leisure took part. The trade mission saw Sound Leisure build relationships with various companies, supplying its first Vinyl Rocket Jukebox in India to the Royal Enfield Garage Cafe.

The delegation from India will feature 15 CEO’s of technology businesses from the Chandigarh region and will be looking to observe best practices in the UK by visit city councils and governing bodies, as well as exploring business opportunities through interaction with UK companies.

As well as visiting the Sound Leisure store, the group will visit universities, institutions and incubation centres to understand innovations in the sector. They will also take part in interviews and round-table discussions and will end the mission at the House of Commons.

Sound Leisure is currently running a six-week pop up store at Victoria Gate shopping centre and will be hosting a variety of events to celebrate the businesses 40th anniversary and Yorkshire’s manufacturing industry.

Managing director of Sound Leisure, Chris Black, commented:

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the delegation to our store, it is fantastic to be able to showcase our products, and Yorkshire manufacturing as a whole on an international level. We built great connections with numerous companies when we took part in the YABA’s trade mission to India in November, and are delighted to be able to take part in the Inward Investment mission to the UK.

“I would like to thank the Yorkshire Asian Business Association for including us in this mission, it is a privilege to be involved as a representation of Yorkshire business and manufacturing.”

Amarjit Singh, chairman of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association said:

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming a group of business leaders from the Chandigarh area to the UK. The aim of this mission is to really celebrate the strong connections between the UK and India and to point to future engagement and collaboration. We are working hard to broadcast the benefits of the UK and India exchange, whether that is in terms of trade, investment, tourism or education.

“Following our fantastic experience with Sound Leisure on our trade mission to India, we are delighted to include the business in our schedule of events for the delegation, to provide insight as a successful Yorkshire-based company.


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About Sound Leisure

Sound Leisure Limited was founded by Alan Black and Eddie Moss in 1978. Since the launch of its first jukebox in 1980, Sound Leisure has become a name synonymous with high quality and innovative products. Now owned and run by the next generation of the Black family, the company remains the oldest single ownership company in the sector. During this period Sound Leisure has brought together some of the finest craftsmen and technical minds in the leisure industry, the research and development team continually strive to create cutting edge products that are reliable and simple to operate and service. Sound Leisure is proud of its UK manufacturing heritage and works closely with local universities, colleges and schools with the aim of inspiring the next generation of engineers and designers. Sound Leisure designs and manufactures many components and sub-assemblies in-house in Leeds, having a metal workshop, woodworking and Vacforming facilities within the factory. In addition to an 80,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, the firms also incorporate a hardware and software division that is based in Nottingham, this division concentrates on the development and manufacture of both hardware and software for Sound Leisure’s range of products. In addition to designing and manufacturing its classic range of Jukeboxes Sound Leisure is the sole UK distributor for TouchTunes digital jukeboxes, the world’s largest digital jukebox manufacturer. Sound Leisure is also the UK sole supplier for Instore Kids Corners (IKC) products that it installs in children’s areas. 40 YEARS OF INNOVATION Dedication to ongoing Research and Development has been a key factor in the success of Sound Leisure. The reputation for innovation and creativity is second to none within the sector. SL’s development engineers are backed by a production workforce committed to maintaining the highest quality product achievable. Customer feedback from operators and sites heavily influence ongoing product development and SL’s efficient management structure enables quick decisions to be turned in to quick product enhancements. HAND BUILT IN THE UK SINCE 1978 Sound Leisure is proud of its U.K based manufacturing heritage. Employing in excess of 100 staff, the firm has remained true to its core principles of supporting local businesses and people. Sound Leisure has sold more than 100,000 Jukeboxes around the world and products can be found in some of the finest locations. The skills and techniques required to manufacture a range of cabinets are unique to this plant and have to be taught in house. With the emphasis on “apprenticeship” style training, Sound Leisure actively encourages the passing on of skills from one person to another, often from one family member to the next. As a family owned and run company, the importance of supporting the family group is among the company’s highest priorities. This support is repaid many times over by the commitment and dedication of its team, with a large number of staff achieving in excess of 25 years’ service. As a major manufacturer Sound Leisure is determined to achieve and maintain best practice and demonstrate compliance with all legislation. Sound Leisure is the first company in the region to be accredited with complying to Electonic Yorkshire’s envirotronix programme which is awarded for the achievement of responsible manufacturing in the Electronics Industry. To achieve this Sound Leisure were audited by a panel of environmental Industry experts and had to produce evidence that we complied with the WEEE and ROHS regulations. Membera of the Better Business Environment (BBE) forum which meets to discuss waste management and resource efficiency, all electronic products are CE certified and comply with the low voltage and EMC directives whilst wood-based products are supplied from replenishable forests with a high proportion of waste recycled.