“Hosting the G20 will allow us to shape the global agenda once again,” Keir Starmer said on 22 November, confirming the UK will bring the leaders’ summit here in 2027. Framed as a push for stable growth and fair trade, the promise will be judged in places like Rotherham as much as in Westminster, with Downing Street stressing stability that shows up in pay packets.

By the government’s own summary, the G20 brings together 19 major economies plus the European Union and the African Union, accounting for 85% of global GDP, 75% of trade and roughly two‑thirds of the world’s population. Seventeen of Britain’s top 20 export markets and 18 of the top 20 sources of foreign investment sit around that table - which matters for the North’s manufacturing base.

In the past three years alone, G20 members have backed more than 3,800 investment projects in the UK, supporting almost 200,000 jobs, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The figure is national, but the signal to northern firms is clear: line up bids, sites and skills so the summit turns into orders rather than words.

Rotherham is a live example of how global decisions land locally. Mexican giant Grupo Bimbo - the world’s largest baking company - has added a new production line for its Takis brand at Swinton Meadows, with local recruiters describing “a brand‑new, state‑of‑the‑art Takis factory in Rotherham” and over 100 jobs. It’s a small but telling sign of capital choosing South Yorkshire.

From Asia, South Korea’s Shinhan Bank has committed £2bn of financing into the UK over five years to 2030, targeting energy, digital assets, infrastructure and financial services. That capital is UK‑wide, but northern projects with credible business cases - from grid upgrades to industrial decarbonisation - should be in the mix.

Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has signed a partnership with the UK government that could facilitate up to £7.5bn into infrastructure and clean energy by 2035. The trading house already lists UK work in offshore wind, hydrogen and CCS - including backing for the Peak Cluster CO₂ transport pipeline serving cement and lime plants around the Peak District - with clear supply‑chain opportunities for firms across Yorkshire and the Midlands.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard puts it plainly: “We are a region of makers.” He argues that manufacturing “creates good jobs” and remains central to the region’s output. Government strategy cited by local media also notes around 84% of manufacturing jobs are outside London and the South East - a reminder that trade wins should be felt beyond the capital.

That view chimes with the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, named England’s first advanced manufacturing zone in 2023. Ministers project it will crowd in more than £1.2bn of private funding and support over 8,000 jobs by 2030. For Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley, the 2027 G20 is a stage to pitch that cluster to the world.

No host city has been announced for the 2027 summit. When it is, northern leaders will want a programme that showcases advanced manufacturing, clean energy and research strengths across the North - not just a week of motorcades in SW1.

History shows summits can matter. The London G20 in 2009 delivered a $1.1 trillion package for the IMF, World Bank and trade finance - a move widely credited with steadying markets after the crash. The benchmark for 2027 is decisions and deals that reach the factory floor here in the North.

Practical next steps for northern firms start now: sharpen export plans, identify where G20‑member capital can back your projects, and get recruitment and skills in place. With two years to go, those ready to move are usually the ones who benefit when the world’s buyers and investors come calling.