University of Sheffield AMRC – A catalyst for growth

Sponsor: The University of Sheffield AMRC

Since opening in 2001, the University of Sheffield AMRC has been helping transform industrial and economic performance by making step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes, and training new talent and skills.

As the anchor tenant on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Catcliffe, South Yorkshire, we and our members have proven instrumental in attracting inward investment to the region and supporting local companies to grow. Indeed, today, the AMP supports 2,500 jobs, almost five-times as many as the coking works which formerly occupied the site.

The AMRC sits at the juncture of academia and industry, using our research and investment to actively support growth across the entire UK manufacturing community. We exist to help companies to become more productive, sustainable, efficient, innovative and digital.

That could be through the AMRC Cymru supported SMART Digital Accelerator which helps manufacturers in Wales to identify the right technology to boost their bottom line; or our Composite Centre which is using cutting edge methods to produce ultra-lightweight components from the newer materials.

It may be our work with SMEs of an array of sizes and focus to explore and potentially adopt new technology that can assist with their competitiveness or enhancing their sustainability; or our Knowledge Transfer Centre which shares insights and discoveries to help manufacturers develop their own capabilities and competitiveness.

The AMRC is a core part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, an alliance of seven manufacturing research centres backed by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. The HVM Catapult is a thriving coalition that works with companies of all sizes to bridge the gap in – and accelerate the activity between – technology concept and commercialisation.

Being part of the Catapult ensures that we play a core role in the revival of the national manufacturing sector. It also allows companies working with us to tap into a UK-wide network of manufacturing research excellence.