Innovation in Our Own Backyard

The AMRC Group If you ask nearly anyone about Sheffield, you’ll likely hear something about our steel history – it’s what our city was built on. While our manufacturing roots are undoubtedly made of steel, the manufacturing industry in South Yorkshire extends far beyond that and The AMRC Group has had a lot to do with that. Since 2001, The AMRC Group has built a global reputation through its ability to help organisations solve manufacturing issues and has become a model for collaborative research between universities and industry. The AMRC Training Centre is a branch of The AMRC Group that provides both practical and academic training in partnership with the University of Sheffield. Headed by a team of experienced and respected specialists, The AMRC Training Centre aims to train students for current and future demands of the engineering and manufacturing industries. This training includes elite apprenticeship programs (such as the aerospace program) and higher education programs (Master’s and Ph.D.’s) through the University of Sheffield. The program accepts 250 apprentices annually on behalf of local businesses and has proven to be an extremely successful program for students/apprentices and employers alike. For employers, the program provides qualified professionals with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art machinery and technology. Similarly, students/apprentices are provided with the skill sets needed to find fulfilling careers in an exciting, ever-changing industry. The AMRC’s manufacturing expertise is vast and includes everything from augmented and virtual reality to structural testing and training for aerospace. Their cutting-edge research and training has attracted over 110 industrial members including many world-renowned corporations such as Boeing and McLaren. Boeing: The AMRC with Boeing is a “world-class machining and materials research campus founded in Rotherham in 2001 by Boeing and the University of Sheffield”. It’s factory-scale facilities located in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe have received numerous awards including Boeing Supplier of the Year 2010. The program employs over 500 people and has over 100-member companies, including local businesses through to global aerospace giants. In October 2018, Boeing also opened its first manufacturing site in Europe, right here in Sheffield. The 6,200 square-metre facility is located in Sheffield Business Park, near the AMRC with Boeing. The new facility employs over 50 people including 20 apprentices. Boeing plans to partner closely with the AMRC to develop new manufacturing techniques that can be implemented in their new facility. McLaren: Luxury sports car manufacturer, McLaren has also opened shop here in Sheffield in order to collaborate with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC program. The AMRC will develop and test advanced manufacturing processes at the AMRC and implement said processes in The McLaren Automotive Centre in Sheffield. The facility will focus on carbon fibre chassis development for McLaren’s new models from 2020. It is estimated that by 2028, the facility will have provided approximately £100 million of GVA (gross value added) benefit to the local economy and employed over 200 people. The University of Sheffield’s continuous investment in world-class facilities and research and development have been key to attracting these world-renowned companies to South Yorkshire. Boeing and McLaren are only two of many companies that have been drawn to the region by the innovative research of the AMRC. While we have always been proud to have our roots deeply embedded in Sheffield soil, this innovation and growth just makes it that much sweeter to call South Yorkshire home.

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