International trade mission visits Silverstone Park to explore UK’s automotive future

Silverstone Park this month hosted more than 30 overseas delegates as part of a Department for Business and Trade (DBT) automotive trade mission.

The delegation, spanning three continents, visited the region to explore the UK’s automotive industry, innovation and supply chain.

At Silverstone Park they toured the Digital Manufacturing Centre and Saietta, before hearing from business members of the Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) including Sylatech, Williams Grand Prix Technologies, Hooper Quinn and OxDrive.

The visit was arranged jointly between the DBT and STC (of which Silverstone Park is a founding member).

OxDrive demonstrated its pioneering e-hub system for small agritech vehicles, developed inside its Park-based workshop.

Chris Horton, Co-Founder and Director of OxDrive, commented:
“The delegation represented a broad mix of suppliers, buyers and sectors – from automotive to off-highway technologies.

“It gave us the chance to connect with new organisations, strengthen relationships at Cenex the following day, and even explore potential follow-on funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

“Hosting this mission at Silverstone Park created those opportunities.”

The mission underlined the importance of Silverstone Park and the wider Silverstone Technology Cluster as a showcase for the UK’s advanced engineering capabilities, while strengthening international trade links in next-generation vehicle technologies.