News: Funding boost for £4m AMRC scale-up programme

A £4m project intended to support the development of knowledge and innovation-rich start-ups, spinouts and future scale-up businesses in South Yorkshire, has secured a £2m grant.

Earlier this year, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) launched AMRC Scale-up, a programme designed to help high-growth deep tech companies scale manufacturing in defence, aerospace and energy. This followed on from FerretWorks - a Yorkshire slant on SkunkWorks - with the approach at the AMRC formed to incubate high risk/high reward ideas.

The AMRC has grown to become a world leader in manufacturing excellence, part of the national High Value Manufacturing Catapult network of research centres. With facilities in Rotherham and Sheffield it has more than 500 highly qualified researchers and engineers working on the manufacturing needs of the future, from composites to castings, additive manufacturing to machining.

The board at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has now approved a £2m grant to build on the 2025/26 pilot year.

Using a total of £4m over the next four years, the project is primarily a revenue-funded business support / innovation programme, delivered through AMRC facilities and partner commercialisation routes. It will operate though FerretWorks and AMRC Start-Up, expanding The AMRC’s reach to support both university-led ventures and external founders, positioning AMRC as a central hub for manufacturing innovation and entrepreneurship.

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A SYMCA paper explains: "The programme builds on the success of the SYMCA-funded FerretWorks Start-Up pilot, creating a structured pathway to accelerate innovation, commercialisation, and business growth across South Yorkshire. It provides specialist manufacturing support to ventures emerging from the University of Sheffield Commercialisation Journey, while also attracting high-quality external entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships with organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and Sheffield Technology Parks."

The programme aims to increase IP generation and commercialisation outcomes, attract and retain high-quality founders in South Yorkshire, strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, support the creation of sustainable, high-growth businesses, and enhance collaboration between academia, industry, and external partners.

The report adds: "Ultimately, the programme will act as a feeder for the next generation of scale-up companies, driving long-term economic growth and delivering tangible societal benefit across the region."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council and deputy mayor for South Yorkshire, said: "This bit about how you move from big scale academic activity into wealth-producing, growth-driving, start-up activity is incredibly important, and generally not cracked across the country. It seems to me to be the right sort of space that we [SYMCA] should be in to try an mitigate some of those risks and create those pathways and make that normal behaviour for people.

"We have got this great asset in The AMRC, and being able to maximise the commercial opportunities coming out of that seems to particularly important, so I welcome the scheme."

AMRC website

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News: New NED at SBD

Rotherham-based SBD Apparel has appointed a former Olympian to the board as a Non-Executive Director.

SBD Apparel is already the global market leader in strength sports apparel, clothing and accessories worldwide. The company, 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.

Don William brings more than 35 years of experience in professional services and business advisory, having held senior partner roles at both KPMG and BDO. His expertise in strategy, governance, financial oversight and business growth will further strengthen SBD as we continue to expand internationally and invest in the future of the business.

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Simon Clegg CBE, SBD Group Chairman said: "As one of the country’s leading Retail Partners at both BDO and subsequently KPMG, Don brings immense skill sets and experience which will support the further growth of our business at this exciting time. Don’s additional sporting credentials as a former Olympic hockey player provides an empathy with high performance sport which is so central to our brand."

Don Williams, Non-Executive Director at SBD, added: "I am delighted to join the Board of SBD Group. SBD has built a world-class reputation within strength sports through innovation, quality and an unwavering commitment to athletes. The business has exciting opportunities ahead and I look forward to supporting the leadership team as it continues its growth journey."

Don is a former Great Britain and England hockey player with over 120 caps who represented GB in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

SBD Apparel website

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News: AMP transformation makes Rotherham a global story

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is described as one of the best examples of economic development in the country, with its impact something you can see, physically and numerically.

A new report from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) has examined Rotherham’s economic transformation over the past two decades, building on a report last year that showed that Rotherham had the fastest-growing sub-regional economy in the North, with a 63.9% increase in productivity between 2004 and 2023.

The latest analysis pinpoints the smaller area that includes the AMP - the site at Waverley developed by Harworth and anchored by the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which now supports a cluster which brings together businesses like Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive with world-class research capability.

The report shows that real gross value added (GVA) grew in the AMP area from £111.6m in 2004 to £369.8m in 2022, a 231% increase in real terms, the strongest of any area in the borough by a substantial margin.

In 2022, small-area GVA per employee job in the AMP area reached £79,400 (2022 prices), 50% above the borough average and up 46.5% in real terms since 2015. The report says that this strongly indicates that the AMP is generating high-value economic activity.

Henri Murison, Chief Executive at The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, was talking at a Rotherham Together Partnership event last week about the transformation. He said that his organisation has been intrigued by the borough, saying that there was something "unusual and special about Rotherham."

Murison said: "The AMP economic trajectory is way above the borough, and the normal economy, and you can physically and numerically see the impact."

Situated on the former Orgreave colliery and coking works site, the AMP represents a striking example of economic renewal. An area once synonymous with the challenges of industrial decline, it is now home to one of Europe’s most significant clusters of advanced manufacturing, research and engineering activity.

Murison added: "The AMP is one of the country's best examples of economic development and the commitment by the area's leadership to push forward and prioritise employers like Rolls-Royce has had genuine dividends."

He referenced the collaboration with city neighbours, where the innovation district has expanded over the border from the AMP onto the site of the former Sheffield airport, and said that closing the economic productivity gap with city neighbours, as Rotherham has done, was unusual.

Murison concluded that Rotherham will need to take risks to continue the growth and pointed to the potential of the Don Valley Corridor and new Rotherham Gateway station on the mainline.

He said: "The point is, you have done this before, and when people like us say that you are likely to do it again, investors and people in real estate see this."

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Andrew McPhillips, Chief Economist at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and author of the report, said: “Rotherham has recorded the fastest productivity growth of any major town in the North since 2004, but what is particularly striking is what sits behind that performance.

“Our analysis shows a long-term shift away from traditional heavy industry towards advanced manufacturing, engineering and innovation-led activity centred on the Advanced Manufacturing Park and the wider Don Valley corridor.

“The lesson is not that every place should try to replicate Rotherham exactly, but that through sustained collaboration between universities, businesses, investors and local leaders, we can create the conditions for long-term economic transformation.”

Tom Riordan CBE, Northern Growth Envoy, was also at the Rotherham Together Partnership event. He said: "Rotherham is a global story. It's not just you, it's a story for the North, and the UK - let's use it because this is how you get people working together, this is how you get that flywheel effect."

The former Yorkshire Forward boss also discussed the opportunity with the Don Valley Corridor and new Rotherham Gateway and said that he would continue to be a "friend and ally of Rotherham."

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “The story of Orgreave and its transformation into something genuinely world‑leading at the Advanced Manufacturing Park to testimony to an extraordinary group of people, but it demonstrates a model which should inspire us for the future.

“Rotherham’s success story over the last decade is perhaps slightly obscured by the fact that hard work was undertaken in the typically determined, resilient but never showy style of our community. As we look towards the next decade of opportunity, the Don Valley Corridor has the potential to be one of the most important growth areas anywhere in the country and an exemplar for the North. This is about forging ahead, building on the lessons of the AMP while making the most of new industries, infrastructure and investment.

“Our plans for Rotherham Gateway, which would bring mainline services back to Rotherham for the first time since the 1980s, we’re looking to go further still, bringing new connections, new employment space and thousands of good-quality jobs closer to our communities.

“This welcome report shows not just how far we’ve come, but what’s possible when we get that long-term partnership right, giving certainty and stability for investment, and building on our strengths. There is much more to do, but with the momentum we have, we should be looking to the future with confidence.”

Northern Powerhouse Partnership website

Images: JPG / AMRC Training / RMBC

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News: AMP-based tech firm secures investment

AddParts, a Rotherham-based technology company enabling pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve production continuity and reduce operational risk, has secured a six-figure pre-seed investment from SFC Capital to support its growth.

The move comes as pharmaceutical manufacturers face increasing pressure to mitigate operational risk, reduce dependency on fragile supply chains, and maintain continuous production in highly regulated environments. Across global manufacturing, unplanned downtime is estimated to cost hundreds of billions of pounds annually, with even short disruptions having significant financial and operational impact in high-value pharmaceutical production environments.

Based in the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, AddParts addresses this challenge through a virtual-first model that enables manufacturers to store, access, and reproduce critical components on demand, reducing reliance on traditional supply chains and long lead times.

At the core of AddParts' offering is a virtual storeroom that enables manufacturers to take control of their critical parts data, ensuring components can be reproduced on demand, reducing reliance on OEMs, and enabling more resilient, proactive maintenance strategies.

As manufacturers seek to build more resilient, responsive operations, digital spare parts strategies are emerging as a critical component of modern pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Beyond part replacement, AddParts supports manufacturers with reverse engineering of legacy components, digital capture of critical equipment, and engineering-led improvements that reduce failure risk and extend asset life. The firm operates under an ISO 9001-certified quality management system aligned with pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements, ensuring traceability, documentation, and compliance.

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AddParts was also supported by Venture.Community, an organisation that also has an office in the AMP Technology Centre and helps businesses in South Yorkshire raise investment. The programme played a key role in supporting the company's development and preparing it for successful investment.

Tom Fripp, Founder of AddParts, said: "Unplanned downtime is a global challenge for pharmaceutical manufacturers, with real consequences for cost, output, and supply continuity. By digitising critical components and making them available on demand, we're helping manufacturers respond faster and operate more resiliently. Early customer engagements have demonstrated measurable operational benefits, including significantly reduced lead times and improved production continuity. In some cases, avoiding a single extended stoppage fully offsets the cost of implementing AddParts' more proactive spare parts strategy."

Ed Stevenson, Fund Principal, SFC Capital, added: "AddParts gives manufacturers a digital record of their critical components, so they can reproduce what they need on demand instead of chasing OEMs. Tom has built something genuinely useful, and we're pleased to back him."

Peter Hopton, Executive Chairman and Founder, Venture.Community, added: "AddParts is a really exciting company. We liked the team, the depth of the product, and the traction with customers. The firm is solving a key pain point in regulated production lines worth millions of pounds in savings."

AddParts website
Venture.Community wesbite

Images: AddParts

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News: £50m growth deal to help South Yorkshire build the technologies and innovations of the future

A new £50m South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal is expected to be operational by the end of Summer 2026.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, was in Rotherham this week, seven months after the deal was launched.

The Defence Industrial Strategy set out how government spending on defence can benefit local economies, from highly skilled engineering positions to apprenticeships for young people starting their careers.

Initial analysis indicates there could be an additional demand of up to 50,000 defence jobs by 2034/35 with increases in defence spending. Defence Growth Deals will play an important role in capitalising on that skilled employment potential for communities across the UK.

South Yorkshire is one of five deals that will be backed by a total of £250m of defence spending over the next five years.

The Defence Minister discussed the deal with industry at the University of Sheffield on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, and its aim to help defence companies and boost skills by expanding cutting-edge defence research in South Yorkshire.

The targeted funding will catalyse growth across the region by boosting innovative R&D capacity and reinforcing the supply chains that defence companies need to equip our Armed Forces.

South Yorkshire is identified as a key hub for the development and engineering of high integrity, precision materials for the defence sector, including at MOD-owned Sheffield Forgemasters.

The region is also home to the University of Sheffield’s world-leading Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which has multimillion pound facilities on the AMP in Rotherham. A growing defence cluster is being bolstered by BAE Systems new artillery factory in Sheffield with Rotherham companies including MTL Advanced and Magtec already supplying the defence sector.

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Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: This £50m investment will mean South Yorkshire’s superb defence companies can develop innovative new technology, helping strengthen our Armed Forces and keep Britain safe in this new era of threat.

With government, industry and academia – such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre – working hand in hand we are making sure this support is really targeted where it will have the biggest impact.

Through this Defence Growth Deal our government is backing British, and backing South Yorkshire. We’re harnessing the proud industrial base in this area to make defence an engine for growth, delivering new jobs and skills for local people.

The discussion included establishing a South Yorkshire Defence Board, deepening collaboration between the government, South Yorkshire’s mayoral authority, industry and academia, working hand-in-hand on making the Growth Deal as effective as possible while attracting long-term public and private investment.

The University of Sheffield AMRC has recently worked with EY-Parthenon to outline clear actions to unlock growth and secure sovereign defence capability, as well as the central role the AMRC can play in helping the UK to overcome innovation, capacity and capability challenges.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: In an ever more dangerous world, South Yorkshire has a significant role to play in the defence and security of the United Kingdom and our allies.

The £50 million Defence Growth Deal we have been awarded by the government doesn’t simply recognise the expertise and assets we have here today, it will help us to build the technologies and innovations of the future.

That Deal will mean we can continue making things, creating secure, well‑paid jobs, giving people across South Yorkshire the opportunity to stay near and go far. All while helping to keep the UK and our allies safe, secure and protected.

Images: Luke Pollard / X

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News: AMRC launches new scale-up programme

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has launched AMRC Scale-up, a programme designed to help high-growth deep tech companies scale manufacturing in defence, aerospace and energy.

The AMRC has grown to become a world leader in manufacturing excellence, part of the national High Value Manufacturing Catapult network of research centres. With facilities in Rotherham and Sheffield it has more than 500 highly qualified researchers and engineers working on the manufacturing needs of the future, from composites to castings, additive manufacturing to machining.

AMRC Scale-up is built for Series A and later-stage companies with established market traction that are preparing for scaled production. Unlike early-stage accelerators, the programme focuses on companies moving toward industrial production rather than product validation.

Matt Farnsworth, commercial director at the AMRC, said: "The UK has never lacked innovation, but the challenge has always been anchoring that brilliance into long-term industrial growth. AMRC Scale-up provides the technical runway for the UK’s most promising deep tech companies to bridge the gap between prototype and global supply chain. This is about more than growth; it’s about securing sovereign capability in the sectors that will define the next century."

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Engaging with AMRC engineers, participating companies will validate production systems capable of industrial scale, strengthen supply chain and certification readiness and embed manufacturability into growth and investment strategy.

Rushabh Shah, commercialisation manager at the AMRC said: "Scaling a manufacturing process is a distinct engineering challenge that requires a different mindset than product development. By embedding our AMRC engineers directly into these high-growth companies, we aren't just giving advice – we are validating production systems and de-risking the leap to industrial volume and capital investment.”

The AMRC says that it will select ten companies to take part in the programme with applications for the first cohort open now.

Rothbiz reported last year on SYMCA's funding for FerretWorks - a Yorkshire slant on SkunkWorks - with the approach at the AMRC formed to incubate high risk/high reward ideas away from the typical business KPIs and constraints, creating a space where it’s OK to fail, as well as putting money into the groups so they can make space for thinking.

AMRC website

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News: Don Valley Corridor - What's in it for Rotherham?

Partners have formally launched a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire based around the Don Valley Corridor.

Rothbiz reported first last week that the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) is proposed for a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

Bringing together the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets."

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

Headline figures are that, through coordinated development, the 30 year transformation will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes with a £1.3bn uplift in GVA.

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The Don Valley Corridor will evolve into a connected innovation and industry corridor.

In Rotherham, the main area for development is the Rotherham Gateway Innovation Campus: A new rail-linked innovation hub around the future mainline station, supporting engineering, low carbon, materials and digital sectors.

At Templeborough the remaining land for development will see the area reshaped into a modern green energy hub and employment zone.

With the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham due to complete next year, the focus will be on expanding the ethos of the park over the border into Sheffield and enabling 2,000 jobs and 1.5m sq ft of new R&D space at Runway Park.

The programme will address transport issues (including the proposed new mainline and tram train stop at Parkgate), flood resilience and brownfield land which has been held back by contamination, low land values and viability constraints.

The corridor has capacity for 10,500 new homes with specific delivery targets being a new garden community at Bassingthorpe in Rotherham, with green spaces, new schools, health facilities and strong active-travel and rail links to Rotherham town centre, another target area where new housing can be enabled by infrastructure investment and long-term delivery partnerships focused on town centre renewal.

Added to the regeneration projects is a pledge to ensure that the economic growth is inclusive, ensuring local people shape development and have access to opportunities.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “For Rotherham, this really is about forging ahead with the next chapter of our borough’s growth, building on the lessons of the AMP as we build on the strengths of our heritage and the opportunities of new industries, infrastructure and investment. You only have to look at our plans for Rotherham Gateway to see the scale of that ambition - a new mainline station, new employment space, and the chance to bring thousands of good‑quality jobs right onto our doorstep.

“And of course, you can already see the impact of this investment at Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park. What was once industrial land is now home to world‑leading employers, cutting‑edge research, and thousands of new homes - a real example of how these projects can transform a community and create the skilled jobs of the future.

“By expanding the available business and employment space, including through the proposed Templeborough Business Zone, improving the quality of life through, for example, the work already happening in the town centre, exploiting the great transport links already in place, you can see how the corridor through to associated projects in Sheffield fits together; generating wealth well into the twenty first century, just as it did in the past. We’re investing in Rotherham’s future in a way that people will really feel - more homes, better connections, and more chances for local people to build the careers they want.”

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government recently committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Don Valley Corridor website

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Welding technology centre opens on Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park

Welding technology pioneer Fronius UK has opened a “Technical Competence Centre,” at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Fronius is an Austrian-based, family-owned global leader founded in 1945, specializing in high-quality welding technology, photovoltaics, and battery charging. It had around 6,700 employees worldwide at the end of 2024 with 37 international subsidiaries and a network of sales partners in more than 60 countries.

The new centre on the AMP offers customers the opportunity for bespoke welding trials, demonstrations, training, servicing and hands-on technical problem solving. A dedicated team of Sales, Service Engineers and Application Engineers will be on hand to take care of customers’ needs across the region. The expansion strengthens support for customers nationwide and complements the company’s existing sites in Milton Keynes and Kilmarnock.

Daniel Kastner, Managing Director of Fronius UK, said: “Our goal is simple: being as close as possible to our customers allows us to increase on-site time to truly understand their needs and support them as well as we possibly can. This new site allows us to respond faster, collaborate more closely, and stand alongside manufacturers by rising together to tackle their daily welding challenges - true to our motto connected by welding, united by passion!”

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As a leading European manufacturer of state-of-the-art welding technology, Fronius delivers advanced products and comprehensive services spanning manual gas shielded arc welding, high-performance robotic systems, user-friendly cobot welding solutions, and fully automated welding solutions tailored to customer requirements.

With over 1,700 active patents, Fronius stands as a global innovation leader, consistently setting groundbreaking standards in welding technology. Its portfolio includes the high end, multiprocess iWave TIG power source, the high performance TPS/i TWIN series, plug-and-play cobot solutions and the pioneering Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) process—enabling thermal joining of galvanised steel and aluminium, as well as precise welding of aluminium sheets as thin as 0.3 mm. The range is further strengthened by the new Fronius Fortis, a versatile, high quality manual MIG/MAG system that combines robust engineering with intuitive operation.

Renowned for exceptional arc stability, repeatability, and reliability, Fronius equipment is trusted across demanding sectors such as automotive, aerospace, nuclear, commercial vehicle manufacturing, and heavy industry.

Kastner added: "As manufacturers face increasing pressures - from skilled labour shortages to ever stricter quality and sustainability standards - we want to make welding easier, safer and more consistent for everyone. That’s why we place such strong emphasis on intuitive, user-friendly operation, perfect seam quality and long-term sustainability in all our high end welding solutions. Every Fronius product is designed for durability, repairability and recyclability, made entirely in Europe, and rigorously tested to perform reliably for decades.”

Phil Brown, Welding Application Engineer based at the new Centre adds, “We are proud to support customers from across this innovative manufacturing hub and welcome them to our new facility at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Park. This is a place where worldleading ideas take shape, and we’re excited to contribute to the British industrial achievements that will undoubtedly be made here in the years ahead.”

Fronius UK website

Images: Fronius

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News: Rolls-Royce Rotherham investment confirmed, £21m for casting facility

Rolls-Royce, one of the most famous names in engineering throughout the world, has confirmed that it will invest in a £21.3m expansion project at its Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported first last year that the firm was working on proposals to double the factory’s production capacity with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

The £110m facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham was officially opened in 2015 and is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines.

With a grant of £2m from SYMCA, a total of £21.3m is funding an increase in the capability and productivity of the facility, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced turbine blades for Rolls-Royce jet engines that power long haul aircraft. Additional specialist machines funded by the investment will double output at the facility by 2030.

Nigel Bird, Executive Vice President, Turbine Systems, for Rolls-Royce, said: We’re grateful to South Yorkshire’s Mayor for his support. It’s a clear example of how regional government can generate confidence for private sector investment, helping to retain and expand this type of unique UK capability, and supporting UK exports.

“Thanks to Rolls-Royce's ongoing transformation we’re able to make this investment, which will bring benefits to the region and our customers. Our incredible team in Rotherham are making components every day that are pushing the boundaries of science. This investment is a vote of confidence in them and in the capability of the wider region to stay at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. We look forward to future collaboration that will help keep these valuable skills in the community.”

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South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard added: "South Yorkshire is home to world‑class engineering, world‑class innovation and world‑class talent.

“I’m proud that our support will help to unlock growth, keep cutting‑edge manufacturing here in South Yorkshire and further strengthen our role at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing industry.”

The ABCF employs more than 300 people and casts, machines and inspects intermediate and high pressure turbine blades for the Trent XWB-84 which powers the Airbus A350-900 and the Trent 1000 XE, which powers the Boeing 787. Each high pressure turbine blade generates the power of a Formula 1 car, with between 60 and 90 inside each engine to provide enough thrust to propel some of the largest and most efficient aircraft into the sky.

Investment Zone status provides South Yorkshire with up to £160m over ten years which can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses.

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Rolls-Royce

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News: Harworth Group completes new landmark Rotherham HQ

One of the UK's leading land and property regeneration companies, Harworth Group, has confirmed that it has taken the 18,500 sq ft landmark office building that has recently been completed at the listed firm's flagship Waverley site in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2024 on plans for one of the final parcels of development land at the former Orgreave coal mining site that is Yorkshire’s largest ever mixed-use development and also includes the iconic Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Between the AMP and the housing development is an area known as Highfield Commercial. Close to the AMRC Training Centre, the area includes residential development, a public house, a primary school, the Highwall Park, the mixed use centre known as Olive Lane, and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

The new two and half storey office building for Harworth forms a landmark building fronting Highfield Spring and has a design centred on the site's past and mining heritage as well as the local steel and development industries.

In an update to the stock exchange, Harworth said that the investment in a new headquarters completed early in 2026, adding that: "alongside creating a fit for purpose sustainable workspace, this enables the future development or sale of our previous head office site and provides an anchor to open up the development of Highfield as one of the final phases of the Waverley site."

Harworth has previously been based in nearby Advantage House.

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The update also confirms that Harworth has sold the McLaren unit at AMP, a Grade A unit it built in 2018 and leased to the supercar manufacturer for its Composites Technology Centre (MCTC). Harworth sold the 75,000 sq ft Rotherham unit has one of five assets totalling 800,000 sq ft for a headline sales value of £47.7m, reflecting a blended net initial yield of 7.6%.

Also on the AMP, Harworth completed an 80,000 sq ft pre-let development to Sheffield-based Technicut, a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance components for the aerospace industry. This advanced manufacturing facility included the incorporation of renewable energy through an innovative green lease structure.

Overall, with recent deals for Technicut, Vulcan Seals and Danieli, Harworth only has around 200,000 sq ft of the total 2.1 million sq ft of consented development space remaining at the AMP. A completion of the park is expected in 2027.

Harworth Group owns, develops, and manages a portfolio of over 15,000 acres of Strategic Land over 100 sites located throughout the North of England and Midlands. With a focus on Grade A industrial and logistics (I&L) space and emerging opportunities in the data centre market, the company says that it is on track for its target £1bn of EPRA NDV - EPRA NDV is how Harworth measures the value of the its assets. Although timeframes have been extended to between end 2028 and end 2029 "to reflect the impact of ongoing macroeconomic weakness and resulting investor and business uncertainty, which has lengthened timings to complete deals."

In its full-year results for the period ending December 31 2025, the group saw its portfolio value grow by 9.1% to £937.2m.

Lynda Shillaw, Chief Executive of Harworth, commented: "I am pleased with the performance of our teams and our operational execution throughout 2025, positioning the portfolio to realise future upside potential and delivering a total property return of 8.4%.

"Harworth is at the intersection of some of the UK's most powerful trends, including data, advanced technologies, reindustrialisation and clean growth. Our land bank provides both strategic levers and optionality to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, and the Harworth Platform underpinned by our specialist skills and ability to deliver successful serviced land and developments for world-leading businesses is central to stimulating and supporting economic growth in our regions."

Harworth Group website

Images: Tom Austen

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News: Rotherham in line for massive jobs boost as part of Don Valley Corridor regeneration scheme

Key areas in Rotherham and Sheffield are at the heart of a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire that will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes through coordinated development.

The Don Valley Corridor will create a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

It brings together the UK’s largest concentration of industrial research and production capability outside the South East, anchored by The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Translational Energy Research Centre, Olympic Legacy Park and major firms including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, McLaren and ITM Power.

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

The corridor between Sheffield and Rotherham has always been recognised as operating as one economy but the new programme will place the Don Valley as one of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's (SYMCA's) regional growth areas for investment.

That priority is set to be increased with the proposed designation of the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) for the Don Valley Corridor.

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A SYMCA paper explains: "Under these arrangements the MCA will use its existing statutory powers, in particular, its strategic economic development powers and regeneration powers, its own resources and relationships with government, infrastructure providers and the private sector, as part of an integrated place-based programme. This will provide confidence both to the market, government and the wider public sector.

"Mayoral Development Zone is a designation signalling to Government, investors, and partners that an area is a strategic priority for coordinated long-term regeneration. It maintains strategic focus and partnership commitment, strengthens Government engagement, signals readiness to explore enhanced delivery powers if required, and preserves optionality on future statutory mechanisms. This designation responds to specific challenges within the Don Valley Corridor by bringing spatial coherence across a large and complex geography."

Partners have discounted the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which would have planning authority powers to acquire land, cut red tape, and accelerate high-quality housing and business. The report warns that a MDC would need a costly and rigid structure, potentially slowing progress.

Instead, a MDZ and the programme "adds strategic capacity, investment readiness and cross-boundary alignment so that separate initiatives can be sequenced and leveraged for greater impact."

Bringing together SYMCA with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets" with governance and the authority's assurance framework in place. The paper adds that "there is shared commitment between SYMCA, RMBC and SCC to resource the programme collectively as a shared endeavour, including programme development capacity."

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government has this week committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire said: "We’re building a bigger and better economy across all of South Yorkshire, creating the opportunities that allow people to stay near and go far.

"For too long, South Yorkshire and the wider North have been failed, not only a by a lack of investment in our people, our businesses, our ideas and our infrastructure, but by a lack of ambition itself.

"But slowly, surely we’re beginning to see the South Yorkshire of the future taking shape - with world leading companies in industries of the future investing here, real income growth, and huge plans for the future, we’re starting to see the full potential of every part of Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.

"The UK cannot realise its own economic renewal without places like South Yorkshire playing our full part, but together with this Government we are now making that happen."

Don Valley Corridor aligns with the South Yorkshire Investment Zone which includes Rotherham sites such as the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley, parts of Brinsworth and Canklow, the remaining regeneration sites at Templeborough, the Meadowbank Road area along with Holmes and Masbrough, the whole of Rotherham town centre, the Greasbrough Road area, Eastwood, Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, areas of Parkgate (but not the existing retail parks or adjacent land), and land at Aldwarke (but not the existing steel works).

The Mayoral Combined Authority Board is set to discuss the Don Valley Corridor next week.

SYMCA website

Images: Harworth Group / SYMCA

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News: Rotherham-based X-Cel Group to go for growth following MBO

A Rotherham-based manufacturer, specialising in producing precision machined components for the renewables, defence and oil and gas industries, has completed a manager buyout (MBO) with the support of an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK.

X-Cel Group is a global manufacturer of machined components. In June 2012, the firm moved its Gasket and Seal division to the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The site also includes the group’s coating, assembly and pressure testing plant and a dedicated assembly cell for customer turn key products.

X-Cel Group is utilising a £35m funding package from HSBC UK to support a change in ownership, following the retirement of founder and chairman Andrew Taylor.

Under the management buyout (MBO), Directors David Barton-Phillips and Tim Heron will each acquire a combined 35.7 per cent shareholding, with the remaining shares distributed evenly between Louis Wragg and Dale Stocks.

The HSBC UK investment will also support the expansion of the business, with operations set to move into a neighbouring 20,000 sq ft rented facility, increasing X-Cel Group’s total footprint to 140,000 sq ft. Rothbiz reported on expansion plans last year.

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The additional space will enable the company to scale its export capabilities, particularly across key international markets, including the United States and South East Asia, while also supporting plans to enter new sectors, such as aerospace and nuclear.

Following the MBO, X-Cel Group will safeguard 130 jobs across a range of roles, supporting an anticipated £10m increase in turnover over the next three years.

David Barton-Phillips, Director at X-Cel Group, said: “The ownership transition has provided X-Cel Group with a strong foundation to build further on our growth strategy for the future. This milestone marks a new chapter for the business, as we continue to expand our services to clients overseas and our offerings across Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Renewable and Nuclear markets.”

Lee Manterfield, Global Relationship Manager at HSBC UK, added: “It’s fantastic to see X-Cel Group continue to fly the flag globally for manufacturing excellence in South Yorkshire. As the market evolves, demands for X-Cel services look set to increase and diversify. We look forward to seeing this next chapter for the business as it targets further international expansion.”

Founded in 1984, X-Cel Group specialises in producing precision machined components exporting internationally to Oil & Gas, Renewables, Defence, Petrochemical, Nuclear and Power Generation industries.

X-Cel Group website
HSBC website

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News: Funding approved for Rotherham business growth projects

20 new jobs are set to be created as Rotherham firms continue to benefit from funding via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

In 2023, the region was confirmed as the UK's first investment zone, using success in advanced manufacturing to help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

Primarily focused on connecting Sheffield to Rotherham (where the research assets such as The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Rothbiz highlighted the Rotherham sites that have been given IZ status where funding can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions. £160m over ten years for the region has been confirmed.

SYMCA's board recently heard about a £2m growth proposal for Preformed Windings Ltd.

The company has over 50 years of experience manufacturing high-voltage bars and coils that are essential for stabilising and enhancing the performance of heavy machinery across multiple sectors, including hydropower, nuclear and power generation. These specialised components extend asset life, improve efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements for equipment that typically operates under extreme electrical stress.

Expanding into further premises at Waleswood in Rotherham in 2024, taking on a further unit at Vector 31 represented a 60% increase in manufacturing capacity. Last year Preformed Windings secured a £1.5m trade loan facility from HSBC UK, backed by a guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency.

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SYMCA papers explain: "This project supports the delivery of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) Plan for Good Growth by creating new jobs, boost local businesses, and strengthen South Yorkshire’s role in the UK’s clean‑energy sector.

"The project will deliver more than 20 new well‑paid, permanent jobs in its first phase, with further roles planned as the company expands. Preformed Windings manufactures components used in renewable and low‑carbon power generation, and the investment includes creating the UK’s first high‑voltage testing facility of its kind. This new centre will mean manufacturers no longer need to send equipment overseas for testing, cutting carbon emissions and keeping specialist work within the UK.

"The company will bring its two existing sites together into a single modern, energy‑efficient facility in South Yorkshire, improving productivity and supporting long‑term regional growth. Preformed Windings already works with more than 90 local suppliers and will continue to invest in apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with Sheffield’s universities to develop skills for the future."

A £2m grant/loan has been awarded.

Papers also show that Rotherham-based S3ID has secured £105,000 to support an autonomous, battery-powered industrial tracking device and cloud platform. Templeborough's S3ID is an international company providing complete location awareness solutions.

Another approval has been made for Conflux Technology at £310,000. With an Australian HQ, Conflux is world-leading heat exchange technology company, pioneering thermal applications with additive manufacturing. Conflux UK moved into the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre in Rotherham last year.

Preformed Windings website
S3ID website
Conflux UK website

Images: Preformed Windings

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News: Chancellor visits South Yorkshire Investment Zone

Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, has visited ground-breaking facilities at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The Chancellor visited the Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) facility built on the site of the former Sheffield airport, one of the North of England’s largest ever research and innovation projects that was announced as part of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

Confirmed as the first Investment Zone in the UK in 2023, it is using the region’s success in advanced manufacturing to help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

Primarily focused on connecting Sheffield to Rotherham (where the research assets such as The AMRC are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Having launched on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham in 2003, The AMRC outgrew the site of the former Orgreave coking works and expanded over the Parkway and into Sheffield, developing its own "Innovation District" with buildings such as Factory 2050, which opened in 2015.

Joined by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield Professor Koen Lamberts and AMRC interim chief executive officer Ben Morgan, the Chancellor toured the state-of-the-art facility designed to revolutionise aerospace manufacturing.

During the visit, the Chancellor praised the University of Sheffield and AMRC’s commitment to working in lockstep with industry to advance the UK’s position as a clean energy superpower, while creating highly skilled jobs and boosting economic growth both regionally and nationally.

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Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “It was fantastic to visit the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and see first-hand how South Yorkshire is leading the way in cutting-edge innovation.

"The partnerships here between world-class researchers and global companies like Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren show exactly why we're backing advanced manufacturing through our modern Industrial Strategy.

"This region has unique strengths that we're determined to build on. That's why we're working with local leaders and businesses to ensure the benefits of growth are felt right across the North, raising living standards and creating opportunities for working people."

Ben Morgan, interim Chief Executive Officer of the AMRC, added: “The work we are doing at the AMRC, as a proud member of the HVM Catapult, is a blueprint for the future of UK manufacturing. From light weighting aerostructures at our new COMPASS facility to developing modular manufacturing processes with Rolls-Royce SMR, we are bridging the gap between world-class research and industrial reality.

“With a 25-year track record of proven success, it was a privilege to show the Chancellor how our advanced manufacturing expertise is underpinning the UK’s transition to net-zero while powering economic growth, both regionally and nationally.

“Guided by the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re committed to working alongside our colleagues in the University and HVM Catapult to ensure the UK remains a global leader in sustainable innovation.”

Cllr. Chris Read, the leader of Rotherham Council attended the event and said it was a pleasure to talk to the chancellor about the AMP, Northern Powerhouse Rail and plans for the Don Valley Corridor.

AMRC website

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News: Castings Technology creates 20 jobs as aerospace demand drives growth

Castings Technology, a leading UK manufacturer of complex high-integrity titanium and steel castings, is creating 20 new jobs in South Yorkshire as part of its ambitious growth plans.

The company, currently based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, is recruiting roles from factory floor to leadership team to meet soaring demand from the global aerospace industry.

Castings Technology has grown from 65 employees in 2024 to 103 at the end of 2025, with the new jobs set to take the workforce to 123 by end of 2026.

The roles span production, quality, technical, and commercial functions, with recruitment planned throughout the year as production capacity increases to serve OEM customers in the UK, Europe and United States.

Titanium's strength, light weight and resistance to corrosion and heat make it essential for aerospace applications. Demand for titanium castings continues to exceed global capacity. Castings Technology is the UK's only commercial titanium investment casting facility.

The recruitment forms part of an £18 million investment in expanded manufacturing capabilities, including a move to a fully refurbished 200,000 sq ft Sheffield facility with state-of-the-art equipment in late 2026.

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The expansion comes when 97% of UK manufacturers cite hiring and retaining skilled workers as a barrier to growth. Castings Technology appointed Curtis Oxborough as Training and Development Manager in the autumn, achieving zero dropout rate among new starters through comprehensive induction and tailored support. The company partners with UTC Sheffield for apprenticeships and training.

The company currently has ten apprentices and will offer at least two further apprenticeships in 2026. Of the existing workforce, 13 employees progressed through apprenticeship programmes, as well as three directors. Castings Technology uses apprenticeships both for entry-level recruitment and leadership development, with staff completing programmes ranging from technical skills to level 3 leadership qualifications.

Richard Cook, Managing Director, said: "This investment in our workforce reflects the confidence our global customers have in our capabilities. We're building a team that can deliver the precision and quality aerospace manufacturers demand, while creating meaningful careers in advanced manufacturing at a time when the sector faces real skills challenges."

Shaun Smith, Chief Commercial Officer, said: "Demand for titanium castings continues to exceed capacity, and these new roles allow us to serve growing aerospace markets across three continents. We're particularly proud that many of our senior team, including myself, our Managing Director Richard Cook and our Chief Operating Officer Ryan Longden, started our careers as apprentices. We're creating genuine career pathways in a critical UK industry."

Rothbiz reported in July that an £18m investment package is enabling Castings Technology to accelerate its steep growth trajectory by moving into new premises in Sheffield.

Castings Technology wesbite

Images: Castings Technology

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News: Latest research into fusion technology in Rotherham is super cool

Frozen temperatures are required for the latest research into fusion technology taking place in Rotherham.

Researchers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) are supporting the development of components needed to deliver fusion power in the UK.

At its Fusion Technology Facility (FTF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, UKAEA has unveiled their latest test rig, ELSA, which uses extreme temperatures to inform engineering and design under fusion-relevant plant conditions.

Like its animated namesake, ELSA produces temperatures on a cryogenic scale between 20 and 70 Kelvin (-253.15 to -203.15 degrees Celsius) to simulate the operating temperatures for the high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets.

HTS coils are critical to confining and shaping the plasma within a fusion machine, by generating high magnetic fields with very little resistive losses. UKAEA engineers are looking to achieve resistances of one millionth of that found in consumer electronics. Lowering the temperature for the strongest magnetic fields requires the lowest possible energy use, reducing operational costs and supporting the commercialisation of fusion energy.

ELSA is currently testing novel ‘remountable joint’ (RMJ) components which feature extremely low electrical resistance, and will be essential for efficient maintenance of future fusion power plants.

RMJs are part of a fusion machine’s toroidal field coils, which confine the plasma. They are fitted around the magnetic cage of a tokamak to allow rapid access for maintenance during plant operations.

This novel RMJ design forms a critical part of the UK’s STEP Programme, a prototype fusion energy power plant that is to be built in West Burton, North Nottinghamshire, targeting operations for 2040. RMJs are critical for the success of STEP Fusion as they will allow rapid access for maintenance during power plant operations.

The delivery of the STEP Programme itself is the responsibility of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UKAEA.

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UKIFS’s Remountable Joints Engineering Manager, Chris Lamb said: "Remountable joints, and other aspects of High Temperature Superconducting magnet technology require cryogenic facilities like ELSA to test various aspects of the technologies, and are few and far between. Having the ELSA facility come online at the Fusion Technology Facility, on the doorstep of both STEP’s West Burton site and the rich vein of manufacturing capability at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, will be fantastic in helping the engineers get up close and personal with realising these critical HTS technologies.

Professor Matt Stephenson, Head of the UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Facility added: "Here in South Yorkshire, we are tasked with answering the ‘how?’ in the delivery of commercially viable fusion energy. Our team is working hard to test and provide accurate results that inform us of the optimal environments and materials for durable power plant design. This work also involves looking into the most cost-effective solutions to ensure fusion energy is achieved and maintained sustainably."

A recent report by Amion, on behalf of Local Authorities in the area, estimated that the STEP project would lead to 6,500 jobs on site when the power plant is fully functional – and more during the construction phases, as well as leading to significant infrastructure investment in the wider area for transport and skills. The STEP campus is expected to become a global centre for fusion research and development, working with local education providers to develop a pathway into fusion-related jobs.

The success of STEP in demonstrating this commercial viability will pave the way for the development of a fleet of fusion power plants around the world.

Dr James Cowan, STEP Programme Director at UKIFS underlines the importance of collaboration. He said: "Harnessing the power of the stars to generate clean, sustainable energy on earth requires meaningful collaboration across scientific, engineering and construction disciplines. UKIFS is committed to bringing the best people, and organisations together to deliver STEP, and ELSA is a perfect example of this approach in action."

The facility allows collaboration between leaders in industry and fusion research institutions to test and engineer hard-wearing, purpose-built components. FTF opened in 2020 and is responsible for 85 UKAEA staff who support component design, qualification and supply chain development for commercial fusion power. Operations continue to expand, providing increasing opportunities for the local workforce.

UKAEA website

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News: Apprentices in the driving seat at McLaren

McLaren Automotive is backing the government's £725m package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth.

Opened in 2018 on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) has established itself as a world-leader in lightweight carbon fibre construction for the automotive industry and is where the McLaren carbon lightweight architecture for the McLaren Artura high-performance hybrid supercar is constructed.

It was announced in 2022 that the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, also on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, would be the new apprenticeship supplier for the next generation of engineers at McLaren.

With state-of-the-art facilities, AMRC Training Centre has trained thousands of apprentices since it opened over ten years ago.

The latest reforms are designed to tackle the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts among young people over the last decade – which have fallen by almost 40% since 2015/16 and shift the focus towards supporting young people into high-quality training and employment.

New flexibilities in the apprenticeship system will see new short courses in cutting-edge areas including AI, engineering and digital skills rolling out from April 2026.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university. That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break.

"If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else. It’s time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university. This is a defining cause for this government and a key step towards our ambition to get two-thirds of young people in higher-level learning or apprenticeships."

Nick Collins, Chief Executive Officer at McLaren Automotive, added: "Apprenticeships are a critical pipeline for developing the next generation of talent. They provide an immersive pathway for young people to gain practical experience and learn in real world environments.

"At McLaren we recognise the importance of investing in people and skills to create the world’s most extraordinary supercars. We are proud to inspire and equip the next generation to continue this tradition of excellence."

Last year the AMRC Training Centre launched a new composite apprenticeship with McLaren. The first cohort includes an all-female group based at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking, alongside two other learners at the MCTC in Rotherham.

McLaren machining apprentices Charlotte Carrington and Sophie Hulse provide an excellent case study for the AMRC's Journal, as an apprenticeship offered the practical experience they both desired. Every week, they spend three days in the AMRC Training Centre’s state-of-the-art workshops, immersing themselves in complex machining processes and mastering the precise skills required for advanced manufacturing. The remaining days are dedicated to core knowledge development, ensuring they have a deep theoretical understanding to complement their practical skills.

Once a month, the two friends travel to Surrey to visit the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. This allows them to shadow experienced team members, observe projects and integrate into the high-performance culture; seeing firsthand how their training translates to real-world F1 applications.

McLaren Racing have now employed both Charlotte and Sophie after their time at AMRC completing an apprenticeship.

McLaren Automotive website
AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield opens in Rotherham

The newly built Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield has officially opened its doors at the entrance to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that Essex-based developer, Stapleford Ventures Ltd, had secured planning permission for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way where the Waverley development meets the Morrisons roundabout at Catcliffe.

Leading independent hotel management company, RBH Hospitality Management, was appointed to run the new hotel further strengthening RBH’s relationship with Marriott International following the prestigious The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection, Edinburgh and Old Town Chambers Autograph Collection joining RBH’s portfolio earlier this year.

The 150-rooms include family and dog-friendly options which are designed in a natural, calming palette of browns and greens, with contemporary wood accents. The hotel also offers meeting and event spaces that draw on the city’s industrial heritage, aimed at both business use and community events.

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At the heart of the hotel is Aspen Restaurant & Bar, inspired by the local community and named after the original meaning of Waverley: ‘a meadow of quivering aspens’. The restaurant serves up delicious dishes, including a signature Philly cheesesteak, sweet potato and butternut squash tagine, and Sunday roasts, in a stylish and relaxed setting. The bar’s cocktail list includes drinks inspired by the city’s steel-making history.

David Hart, CEO of RBH Hospitality Management, said: “Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield is a valuable addition to our portfolio, marking our first property in Sheffield. The opening also strengthens our long-term relationship with Marriott International as we continue to make progress against our strategic objectives of expanding our portfolio across the UK and operating a diverse mix of brands across the hotel chain scale, alongside our expertise in the luxury hotel market and independent hotel sector.”

Originally due to open in Spring 2023, work stopped at the site off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way, with master developer, Harworth Group issuing a statement in 2024 regarding "unforeseen challenges" faced by the hotel owner, Stapleford Ventures, who bought the land from Harworth in 2021.

Courtyard by Marriott website

Images: RBH / Courtyard by Marriott

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News: Building work starts for newest resident at the AMP in Rotherham

Building work has begun on a new research and development centre for a world-leading engineering firm at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Last year Rothbiz reported on planning approval for a purpose built unit between Brunel Way and the Parkway for Vulcan Engineering Ltd.

Currently based in Sheffield, Vulcan Engineering Limited specialises in the production of mechanical seals and encapsulated ‘o’-rings. The company has a global presence and is an established world leader in the development and manufacture of high purity, composite encapsulated seals that fulfil a demand in the market where an engineering polymer is either not available or is extremely cost prohibitive.

Caddick Construction has commenced work to build ‘Project Vulcan Seals’ - a £9.4m contract to create a new 52,000 sq ft testing, manufacturing and distribution development, facilitating the relocation.

Representing Vulcan Seals’ investment to create jobs and drive innovation, Project Vulcan Seals will expand the firm’s development and manufacturing of high purity, composite encapsulated seals to serve global demand.

The new development will have a focus on inspiring the next generation of engineers and the promotion of green technology, and is set to become a centre for high quality research at Harworth’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.

The park is currently home to approximately 100 companies, including Rolls Royce, Boeing and McLaren Automotive alongside the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

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The new contract builds on Caddick’s portfolio of high profile advanced manufacturing developments. This also includes Schneider Electric’s £42m Net Zero facility in Scarborough, which was delivered in partnership with sister company, Caddick Developments.

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction Yorkshire & North East, said: “Project Vulcan Seals represents a significant milestone for Rotherham and the wider Yorkshire region as it grows in prominence as the home of advancing innovation and technical excellence. We are very excited to be working on behalf of Vulcan Seals to ensure their relocation and expansion plans deliver a state-of-the-art facility that enables world leading engineering.”

Gerard Quinn, Vulcan Seals Founder and Chairman of the Board, added: “Vulcan Seals were founded in Sheffield nearly 40 years ago and have evolved into a global manufacturer and supplier of Mechanical Seals and Encapsulated O-rings, with distributors in over 100 countries. Our new global headquarters and manufacturing facilities represent the next phase of that journey, with the aim of strengthening our capabilities, expanding our capacity and reinforcing the quality, consistency and responsiveness our customers rely on worldwide.

“Constructed to adhere to the exacting benchmark of the BREEAM Excellent Standard, with the support of our investors, this strategic investment will fuel sustained growth, generate additional local employment opportunities, and deliver long-term benefits to the region.”

Vulcan Seals
Caddick Construction website

Images: Caddick / Jefferson Shead Architects

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News: Xeros successful in £5.95m fundraise

Xeros Technology Group plc, the Rotherham-based creator of technologies that reduce the impact of clothing on the planet, has raised close to £6m to fund operations.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Xeros is a Leeds University spin-out that has created a number of technologies, such as the use of polymer beeds in washing and filters to collect microplastics.

The AIM-listed firm secured funding through a successful fundraise, retail offer and follow on, which included existing and linked shareholders.

Net proceeds will provide the group with at least 12 months' working capital and will be used to strengthen the company's balance sheet, enabling execution of current contracts, pursuit of global opportunities and to provide reassurance to contract counterparties.

Funding will also provide working capital as the company advances commercialisation of its core technologies.

For the six months ended 30 June 2025, Xeros posted a net loss narrowing by nearly 11% compared to the previous reporting period. The loss for the last half-year stood at £1.73m, down from a loss of £1.94m in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA loss fell to £1.6m from £2.4m.

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The company recently signed a breakthrough agreement with one of the world's largest branded washing machine manufacturers that will result in the mass production of domestic washing machines using Xeros' Laundry Care technology (XDrum and XOrbs) under the manufacturer's brand.

Xeros anticipates that similar paid for agreements will follow, with three further global washing machine manufacturers currently in technical verification.

Announcing the placing, the board said that it was "confident about the prospects for the Group and now have in place commercial and development agreements across all three of the Company's technologies that are capable of delivering meaningful revenue.

"Commercial traction is expected across the Group's technology portfolio, with major laundry, machinery and electronics brands taking the technology to market."

Neil Austin, CEO of Xeros, said: "We have immediate commercial opportunities within domestic laundry for care and filtration, denim processing, and commercial laundry. Major global players across these areas are working with us to use our technology to help them improve performance, lessen environmental damage, and save energy, resources and money. This fundraise will ensure we continue the positive trajectory achieved in 2025, which is taking us ever closer to the global adoption of Xeros' technology."

Xeros website

Images: Xeros

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