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.