News: Rotherham manufacturers urged to move fast to access Made Smarter grants

SME manufacturers across Yorkshire are being urged to tap into £325,000 of funding to boost productivity and accelerate their digital transformation.

Made Smarter, the government-backed digital adoption programme, is offering Capital Expenditure (CapEx) grants that can fund up to 50% of project costs, up to £20,000, for investment in new technology such as automation, robotics, AI, 3D printing and data-driven tools.

However, companies have been warned to act fast, with the funding window closing at the end of March.

The call comes as Made Smarter hits a major regional milestone, its 100th project application, demonstrating that manufacturers are rapidly investing in digital technologies to stay competitive and grow. The programme has now handed out £1.4m in CapEx grants, unlocking a further £2.4m in private investment for a £3.8m tech boost across the region.

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Jessica Armitage, Programme Manager for Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber, said: “This milestone shows how quickly manufacturers across Yorkshire are moving to adopt technologies that improve productivity, cut waste and open up new opportunities. The momentum is building.

“But any business that waits another year risks losing ground. The funding is here now, and so is the support. With £325,000 still available until the end of March, we want SMEs to act now, seize this moment and make 2026 the year they unlock the full potential of digital technology to increase productivity, create growth and jobs, and build a more resilient and sustainable future.”

To access Made Smarter support, manufacturers start by registering their interest and speaking with a specialist adviser about their business and growth plans. A digital expert then works with the company to assess its operations and create a clear roadmap, identifying where technology and skills can add value. From there, businesses can access tailored support, including specialist advice, leadership and skills programmes, digital internships, and matched funding through a CapEx grant to invest in new technology.

Since launching in 2021, Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber has engaged with almost 1,200 manufacturers, created nearly 700 digital roadmaps, and provided technical project support to more than 250 businesses. Close to 150 companies have taken part in leadership and skills programmes.

Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd. (AML), based in Rotherham, is an advanced manufacturing supplier across aerospace, defence, energy and nuclear. It has upgraded its data and systems infrastructure and cybersecurity, enhancing its resilience and supporting growth and job creation.

Dr Gareth Morgan, Managing Director at AML, said: “The team at AML wholeheartedly endorses the Made Smarter programme and would actively encourage any organisation looking to leverage support and potentially funding to develop capability in any area of the business.”

Made Smarter website

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News: Rotherham visits spark youngsters’ interest in manufacturing and engineering

A number of factory visits across Rotherham took place on National Manufacturing Day aiming to inspire the manufacturing workforce of the future.

Now in its fourth year, National Manufacturing Day, headed up by the manufacturers organisation Make UK, has one goal: encourage UK manufacturers to throw open their doors to show young people the amazing career opportunities on offer in manufacturing - in the hope of inspiring them to think about a career in this exciting sector.

The Work-wise Foundation helped to organise site visits on the day. The employer-led charity supports the development of young people so they have the knowledge, skills, aptitude and opportunities for employment within South Yorkshire and beyond.

More than 140 young people visited to the University of Sheffield AMRC to see machines developing research components for aerospace, being able to program a robot and having a go at welding using augmented reality. With state-of-the-art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC Training Centre has trained thousands of apprentices.

Nine schools from across Sheffield and Rotherham brought more than 140 children to visit the AMRC to see the pioneering innovations and cutting-edge research and technologies its engineers are developing.

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Following shop floor tours in the morning, the children participated in interactive workshops in the afternoon, which involved a number of engaging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, including being able to try out an augmented reality welder, robotics coding, using additive manufacturing 3D-pens and creating electric circuits from pre-set electric circuit diagrams.

Leading the afternoon sessions was Lisa Sellers, schools engagement lead at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre. She said: “Doing STEM events like these are vitally important for young people as it helps them to think about the future, choose options and find out about advanced manufacturing in their local area.

“National Manufacturing Day is the perfect backdrop to do events like these and we’re lucky that South Yorkshire has so many different and amazing manufacturing companies to learn from.”

Stephen Phipson, chief executive officer of the manufacturers organisation Make UK, said the annual day continues to grow each year and that it’s an opportunity for the sector to come together to celebrate British innovation and showcase the careers on offer to people of all ages across the country.

He added: “Our supporting companies and organisations are at the forefront of technology development and global design. We hope this fourth National Manufacturing Day will encourage people who have never thought of manufacturing as a future career before to come along to see what it is really like. This is a highly paid sector with good jobs which offer something for everyone.”

John Barber, chief executive officer and co-founder of The Work-wise Foundation, said: “Work-wise was established to help bridge the gap between business and education, alongside showcasing the world of work and what career opportunities are on offer to young people.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Make UK, the University of Sheffield AMRC and AMRC Training Centre again this year to highlight some of the fantastic manufacturing businesses in South Yorkshire and provide insights into advanced manufacturing and the pathways to work available.

“It’s so important to give our future workforce the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge to help them navigate further learning and career choices. We are very grateful to the AMRC and AMRC Training Centre for their continued support for our work.”

Rotherham schools, St. Bernard's Catholic High School, Wales High School Academy Trust and Aston Academy took part with Rotherham businesses, AMG Chrome Limited, AML, CMD Ltd, Stelrad Ltd and the UK Atomic Energy Authority hosted tours.

Work-wise Foundation website

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News: Taiwanese takeover for award winning Rotherham firm

Government approval has been granted for the acquisition of Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd (AML) by Walsin Lihwa Europe.

Originally a spin-out from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, AML is now recognised as a market leader in delivering flexible manufacturing capability at the leading edge of machining technologies and efficiencies, with particular expertise in aerospace, defence and energy components. Blue chip clients include Rolls-Royce and Siemens Energy.

The 100-strong team at Catcliffe in Rotherham was awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise Innovation in 2024.

Walsin Europe is set gain control of the qualifying entity by acquiring 38.8% of the shareholding in AML.

Walsin Lihwa is headquartered in Taiwain and is an industrial conglomerate with operations spanning wire & cable, stainless steel, and renewable energy. With over 20 production and sales sites across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and the U.S., Walsin products are widely used across industrial, automotive, oil and gas and consumer sectors. It acquired Sheffield-based Special Melted Products Ltd through its subsidiary, Cogne Acciai Speciali S.p.A, in 2023.

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Following a detailed national security assessment, the latest deal was approved with a number of conditions. The parties must meet certain operational requirements, including restrictions on the location of AML’s precision engineering capabilities and a requirement to retain certain existing operational activity in the UK.

Issues over confidential information, intellectual property and data storage. AML must also employ a Chief Security Officer, who must oversee and ensure compliance.

The government said that the conditions were to mitigate the risks to national security relating to "the security of UK know-how and intellectual property relating to the precision engineering of gas turbine engine components, access to which could lead to an uplift in adversaries’ capabilities; and "an interruption to the continuity of supply of precision-machining capabilities to United Kingdom defence programmes."

AML's King's Award win was in the innovation category and relates to the precision manufacture of complex aerofoil geometries for jet engines. The process begins with raw aluminium alloy bars, or forgings, being inspected and measured by the manufacturer before shipping.

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News: Three Rotherham firms win King's Awards for Enterprise

Three Rotherham-based companies have been recognised for their achievements in innovation and international trade.

King’s Award for Enterprise celebrates outstanding achievement by UK businesses and is internationally recognised.

This year's recipients include Dinnington's Advanced Alloy Services Ltd, Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) based, SBD Apparel, and near neighbours, Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd (AML) of Catcliffe.

Originally a spin-out from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, AML is now recognised as a market leader in delivering flexible manufacturing capability at the leading edge of machining technologies and efficiencies, with particular expertise in aerospace, defence and energy components.

The 100-strong team has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise Innovation.

The award was driven by funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute for the Automotive Excellence for Aerospace (AXIS) project around reducing production times in aerospace component manufacture. The successful implementation of the project and the development of AML’s high-rate production has resulted in AML securing long term contracts for the production of components for regional business jet engines.

The funding also resulted in eight new roles to support the a production cell built to manufacture components, consisting of six machine operators and two manufacturing engineers.

Dr Gareth Morgan, managing director at AML, said: “This is an incredible achievement for the whole AML team and a recognition of our expertise and commitment to excellence. Innovation was hard wired into our DNA from the very beginning which is why the most demanding customers on the planet, from aerospace and defence to land based gas turbines that complement the green energy/renewable sector, trust us with the manufacture of strategically critical components.”

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Advanced Alloy Services was recognised for its outstanding achievements in International Trade.

Founded in 1993 the company underwent an MBO in 2019 and now operates from a purpose built 44,000 sq ft facility in Dinnington on the former colliery site supplying high purity pure metals and fully processed and certified superalloy revert to customers all over the world.

A spokesperson for Advanced Alloy Services, said: "We are proud to support the drive towards net zero by effectively recycling and recovering secondary revert, reducing the requirements for primary metals and the associated high carbon emissions from mining and refining. We have ambitious plans to grow our international footprint and global sales, the accolade from the King’s Award will be instrumental in helping realise these aspirations."

SBD Apparel, the global market leader in strength sports apparel, clothing and accessories worldwide, has been for its outstanding achievements in International Trade.

SBD Apparel, which counts elite strength and fitness athletes across the world amongst its growing client base, as well as being synonymous with the World’s Strongest Man Competition, successfully opened a new manufacturing hub at Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in 2022.

The move to new 100,000 sq ft premises was part of a desire to boost exports. The company now sells in markets including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway and Iceland. Each retailer is given exclusivity to sell SBD products in their territory, receiving support with branding, website, enquiries and customer services to ensure the retailer shares in the brand’s success.

AML website
Advanced Alloy Services website
SBD Apparel website

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News: Rotherham manufacturing company to create jobs

Rotherham-based AML (Advanced Manufacturing Ltd), a market leader in the machining of complex gas turbine products, has secured a £1.98m investment from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which will see it create 32 new jobs.

The funding will help the company to launch and roll out AML Accelerate, a programme designed to stimulate rapid growth, which will transform the business from a single site with 50 staff and a £5m turnover to over 80 staff and two sites with a £12m turnover.

AML’s Accelerate programme will see the company investing in three new innovative, state-of-the- art advanced manufacturing cells (at a total cost £3.9m), which will enable them to carry out testing of new techniques for clients in its three global target sectors: aero-defence, defence and civil nuclear markets. AML will work closely alongside the AMRC, the two Sheffield universities and the local supply chain to develop cost disruptive, technology-led manufacturing approaches which will expand AML’s manufacturing capacity and capabilities.

In addition, the funding will be put towards significant leasehold improvements at the Catcliffe factory as well as ongoing recruitment, training and staff development costs. The whole project will cost £7.7m, with the remainder being funded by AML and its asset finance company.

Out of the new jobs set to be created, AML is planning that 25 of these will be machinists or engineers with specialisms in highly skilled roles. AML also expects to employ 12 apprentices from the local area and help them to develop and progress in the business with long term careers.

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Dr Gareth Morgan, Managing Director of AML, explains “We are delighted to have secured funding through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to help us to progress with our exciting growth plans here in South Yorkshire. It means we will be able to create new highly skilled roles locally as part of our grand plan to keep innovating and growing the business on a worldwide basis.”

He adds: “Without the funding we wouldn’t be able to invest in our business to carry out initial trials which are required to secure these larger international contracts. We are very excited about what AML Accelerate means for our staff and for our future.”

The AML Accelerate project is aligned to South Yorkshire’s ambitions to meet net zero targets through the production of nuclear components.

Rachel Clark, Director Trade and Investment said: “This project reflects the aspirations of our Renewal Action Plan which aims to help South Yorkshire to grow and recover from the impact of the global pandemic. AML Accelerate will benefit not only employees of this company, but also the local supply chain, as well as create opportunities for wider digital adoption and upskilling.”

AML invests heavily in the training of its staff, with a budget commitment of typically £50k per year dedicated to this.

Back in 2019, AML benefited from a £100,000 Productivity Grant from the Sheffield City Region, which provided a platform for the company to purchase new machinery and invest in technical development.

The company, which started out as a spinoff of the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), is a market leader in the machining of complex gas turbine products including shafts and discs, aerofoils and bearings, serving both the aerospace and energy industries. The company specialises in being an early adopter of the latest technology for machining of complex metallic products. Services include the manufacture of complex metallic parts, precision sub-assembly manufacture, bespoke engineering services and R&D projects.

AML website
SYMCA website

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News: Innovative Rotherham manufacturer reaps the benefit of Growth Hub support

Rotherham-based Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd (AML) has seen its turnover double in the past 12 months from £2m to £4m and has created 12 new jobs, which is due, in part, to the support it has received from the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Growth Hub.

The support has enabled the company to access grant funding for innovations within its production process, embark on a dedicated skills programme and gain strategic business planning advice for future growth.

The company is a market leader in the machining of complex gas turbine products including shafts and discs, aerofoils and bearings, serving both the aerospace and energy industries.

A spinoff of the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), the company is based at Catcliffe in Rotherham.

Dr Gareth Morgan, managing director of AML, said: "When we were faced, like most businesses, with the challenges of COVID-19 earlier this year, the funding we had secured meant that we could mitigate damage to our business and respond to customer changing needs. We were also able to grow and recruit new staff at a very difficult economic time."

AML had successfully secured a Productivity Grant from the Sheffield City Region, of £100k in 2019, which provided a platform for the company to purchase new machinery and invest in technical development. This new equipment meant that the impact of the Lockdown to the business could be minimised as the forced grounding of aircraft led to many aerospace companies bringing forward their maintenance programmes, which increased demand for AML's services.

It also created a step change in the production process, as well as opening up new business opportunities by removing the process of grinding certain parts. This meant that AML secured new contracts to provide specialist high precision machining services to aerospace companies.

Without the investment secured through the Productivity Grant, AML would have found it difficult to respond to this increased demand from industry. It also meant staff could be retained during this challenging period and remained focused and morale at the business could be kept high.

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It was during the lockdown that AML installed another machine for this specific product range, which it funded itself and enabled it to quickly scale up production of spares for the defence and aerospace sectors.

Morgan added: "The support we have had through the Growth Hub has made a huge difference in enhancing our future. It has meant that we have been able to achieve consistent growth and continue to create new employment opportunities in this region. It is all part of our grand plan to keep innovating and growing the business.

“The Growth Hub team has a great understanding of our business and has been able to advise on the most suitable funding streams and support available to us.”

Rachel Fletcher, Access to Finance Advisor at the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, added: "It has been a real delight to work with AML. They're such a forward-thinking company and never cease to amaze us with their innovative thinking and ability to recognise new opportunities and how this could contribute to their future growth."

Working with Rachel Fletcher, AML undertook a further AFCoE (Access to Finance Centre of Excellence) diagnostic that involved a strategic plan for funding for equipment to enable further business growth.

She adds: "The company has always been keen to access whatever grants are available to them. Wherever we have helped them to secure funding it has translated to new services they can offer that has created or helped to maintain employment in our region."

AML started working with the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub back in 2016, on the innovation programme, Rise. It also gained support for staff training through the Sheffield City Region Skills Bank. Over the past four years, the company has successfully accessed grant funding through the Sheffield City Region’s Scale Up, Made Smarter, Productivity, Enhancement Project and Exporting for Growth programmes.

In 2018, the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub successfully supported AML with an application for the Enhancement Project Specialist Grant as part of the company’s ambitious business growth plans. This involved creation of a business plan to get the company ready to maximise its growth.

AML also secured a Made Smarter grant (which provided 50% of the total cost of the project), AML could invest in a number of software solutions which enabled it to merge and digitally enhance its IT systems.

The company is now looking at other grant funding options to help accelerate its growth and expand even further, with plans to acquire further manufacturing space close to the site of the Advanced Manufacturing Park where it is based.

These would be used to service the precision machining needs of customers in the aerospace industry and enable AML to offer new techniques to OEM manufacturers. The company has plans to grow to £6m turnover in 2021 and this includes moving into a new sector and into new international markets.

The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub is also working with AML to secure an Advanced Heat grant and to secure future grant funding through Innovate UK. AML is also looking into developing its automation systems through use of robotics.

AML website
SCR Growth Hub website

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