Group Rhodes Sees Growth Opportunities for UK Businesses in India

Wakefield, UK – Mark Ridgway OBE, CEO of Group Rhodes Ltd, based in Wakefield (West Yorkshire), a company specializing in the manufacture of advanced metalforming, composite, and material handling machinery, travelled to Mumbai, India, from October 7-9 as part of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s major UK Government trade delegation.

Ridgway, who was invited to join the trade mission following his role as a sector advisor on the Free Trade Agreement Board between the UK and India, was encouraged by how committed both countries were to increasing trade and believes there are significant opportunities for advanced engineering manufacturers, in particular, to expand trade with the country.

The CEO of Group Rhodes, who has traded with India for over 20 years, explains, “The signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement earlier this year was a major step forward in UK businesses trading with India. Last week’s trade mission to India took this a step further by enabling UK businesses to make connections with industry and political leaders from India, and we also had the chance to discuss our advanced engineering expertise and capabilities. India is a strong market for Group Rhodes and offers significant growth potential, in particular for our BJD Crushers and Rhodes Interform divisions.”

He adds, “The UK-India trade agreement not only sets the scene for reduced tariffs on machinery but also serves to both enhance our competitiveness as a UK exporter and reduce the complexity of trade with this fast-growing market. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Group Rhodes to build on our work within the Indian aerospace and aggregates/crushing industry.”

The recent trade delegation marked a pivotal moment in UK-India relations and the signing of a landmark trade agreement between the two countries. It was an opportunity to reinforce the relationship between the UK and India and to champion the UK as a destination for global investment.

The trade mission gave the UK delegation the opportunity to meet with Indian companies and to gain insights from seminars presented by industry and political leaders on topics such as advanced manufacturing, science technology and innovation, and construction, infrastructure, and clean energy. Alongside the Prime Minister, sessions were attended by the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade; Jason Stockwood, Minister of State for Investment; the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland; and Varun Chandra, Prime Minister’s Business Adviser.

As part of the trade mission, UK delegates were invited to take part in a series of masterclasses, including the TCS Banyan Park Experience at Tata Consultancy Services’ flagship campus. Here delegates were given an insight into leveraging the new trade agreements to increase trade, investment, and access to public procurement. There were also sessions for smaller businesses on how to break into the Indian market for export success. Delegates also had the chance to hear from Prime Minister Starmer and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Global Fintech Fest 25.

Ridgway adds, “An important part of the trade mission was that it gave UK business delegates the chance to network with each other, share experiences of trading in India, and look at ways we could support each other and collaborate in the future.”

India is considered to be a strong trading partner for the UK due to its large and rapidly growing economy, which presents major growth opportunities for British businesses.

Currently the fifth largest global economy, India is projected to become the third largest by 2028, with the highest growth rate in the G20. It has a population of 1.45 billion and a growing middle class, expected to reach 60 million by 2030, presenting a substantial market for UK goods and services.

Group Rhodes is a UK manufacturer of machinery and supplier of aftermarket services for metal and composite forming, clay preparation, crushing, and material handling, with a focus on special-purpose applications. The business celebrated its 200th year in 2024 and remains one of Europe’s largest original equipment manufacturers in its field.

Image Source: Group Rhodes