News: England's first Newton Room opens in Rotherham

Rotherham has become home to England’s first Newton Room, a permanent classroom with three table top flight simulators used to teach students various Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) concepts including aviation modules.

The Boeing-supported Newton South Yorkshire, hosted by Magna Science Adventure Centre in partnership with the non-profit foundation FIRST Scandinavia, will promote STEM education and innovation in the region.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, officially opened Newton South Yorkshire recently, joined by representatives from local government, education and community groups including members of the local Sheffield Air Cadet unit, 362 Squadron.

The MP said: “I am delighted to officially unveil the Newton Room at Magna Science Adventure Centre. It is fantastic to have such advanced learning facilities here in Rotherham that will benefit students across South Yorkshire and beyond.”

Newton South Yorkshire builds on Boeing’s longstanding presence in the region, which began as co-founders of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in 2001 to help develop advanced manufacturing partnerships in the region. Boeing subsequently opened its first manufacturing site in Europe in 2018 in Sheffield and recently announced a further joint industry and government investment for dedicated aerospace research facilities at the AMRC.

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Maria Laine, president of Boeing in the UK, Ireland and Nordic region, said: “Nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers and aviators is not possible without like-minded partners such as Magna Science Centre and First Scandinavia, and we're proud to continue being a conduit for collaborations that help develop vital skills for the future.

"This partnership builds on our long, proud involvement in the South Yorkshire region and reflects our ongoing commitment to the local community.”

The concept originated in Norway, and South Yorkshire is the latest in a network of six Boeing-supported Newton Rooms across Europe. The UK’s first Newton Flight Academy was opened in Scotland at Glasgow Science Centre in 2022.

Kevin Tomlinson, CEO of Magna Science Centre, said: “The brand-new aviation-themed facility at Magna will help to create new opportunities for visitors to enjoy immersive STEM learning.

"The success of similar projects across Europe illustrates the important role of the Newton Concept when it comes to inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and aviators. It’s a terrific coup for Magna to be chosen as the site of England’s very first Newton Room, and the new facility will enable us to provide new forms of creative learning, which complements and enhances our existing offering.”

Per-Arild Konradsen, CEO of First Scandinavia, added: "I am thrilled to witness the opening of our first Newton Room in England, housed at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in partnership with Boeing.

“This marks a significant milestone in our mission to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers around the world. Our collaboration with Boeing continues to underscore our commitment to fostering high-quality STEM education globally. Together, we aim to provide young minds in the South Yorkshire region with an immersive and engaging learning experience, igniting their curiosity and passion for science and technology."

Newton South Yorkshire is open to schools during term-time and families at weekends and school holidays.

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News: AMRC Training Centre ten years on

The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre is celebrating its tenth birthday.

With state-of-the-art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the centre has trained over 1,700 apprentices, helping to create the manufacturing workforce of the future.

Opening on October 7 2013, The AMRC Training Centre is on the former Orgreave Colliery and Coking works where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships by big names and local manufacturers. Apprentices have opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses, doctorates and MBA levels.

Nikki Jones, the director of the AMRC Training Centre, said: “When you bring together education and industry - it is very powerful. You might describe it as a marriage made in heaven.

"We’ve been doing apprenticeships for ten years now and they matter just as much now as when we started. They are so important for the education mix and providing the workforce for the future. Any industry needs to have skilled people going into their businesses, apprenticeships give them access to that pipeline of talent.

“We must continue to invest in apprenticeships nationally and continue to support all employers - large or small - to take on apprentices. They bring in new skills and fresh ideas, and their ability to progress within an organisation starts very early. If you start your apprenticeship at 16 and finish at 22, you have been in that industry for quite some time and can move much quicker into senior roles. We see that over and over again.

“Apprenticeships start preparing a person for their work life. When you put a young person into that environment, they really develop holistically because they have to be more than just a qualification.”

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Alumni apprentice Bethany Cousins was part of the first cohort of students to undertake an apprenticeship at the AMRC Training Centre, aged 18. Starting with her advanced apprenticeship, Beth went on to complete a degree apprenticeship, both in manufacturing engineering.

Beth, who works as a manufacturing engineer at the neighbouring AMRC, said: “My apprenticeship at the AMRC Training Centre paved the way to my career, I wouldn’t have got both the practical and theoretical experience in any other way.

“I enjoyed meeting other apprentices, especially those who were based in other companies. It enabled me to hear about how others applied the theory and perhaps did things a little differently, it was a great additional learning experience.

“South Yorkshire sits in a heavy manufacturing-based area and it’s fantastic to have the AMRC Training Centre sit in-between, having my place of work next door really helped in getting that hands-on experience, and enabled me to network with key industry contacts I would keep for years to come.”

Former apprentice Connor, 22, who completed his degree apprenticeship in maintenance engineering, spent almost five years working for hand tool and storage solutions manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker at Hellaby in Rotherham, but for the past six months, has been working as a methods process analyst for aerospace giant Boeing at its Sheffield facility, which is the only one in Europe.

Connor said: "Rotherham has a rich industrial heritage and I feel it’s important to uplift people’s knowledge and skills, whatever age, and keep these valuable jobs in the UK, instead of seeing engineering progress and advancements be lost to other countries. We need to keep the UK industry alive."

New apprenticeship pathways at the centre include include automation and controls, composites and nuclear and it is also part of the consortium behind a new South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (IoT) that will launch this year, investing £500,000 in new software and technology at the training centre.

Looking ahead, Gareth Wilkinson, head of skills at the AMRC Training Centre, said: "I’d like for us to move into new things, build on what we’ve got, as well as exploring food and drink and nuclear, robotics and Industry 4.0 more. These are all massive areas where we’ll see growth and change in the future, all connected to net zero and sustainability – and it’s here where we really need to ramp up over the coming years to help our apprentices solve the problems of the future and keep on top of the needs of industry.”

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News: Rotherham Council objects to AMRC's expansion in Sheffield

Rotherham Council is objecting to a multimillion pound extension to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield because the application contains out of date information about buses.

A partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

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

The latest application for the Sheffield Business Park location is for the "Factory 2050 Mark III Building" - a 29,600 sq ft L-shaped structure to house a workshop that comes at the same time as the centre announced an £80m boost to composites research and development for aerostructure manufacturing in the UK that will see a new research facility built in South Yorkshire that has aerospace giant Boeing as its first major research partner.

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The AMRC application, supported by agents, DLP Planning, also includes a detailed travel plan and transport assessment but Rotherham Council planners have labelled it "fundamentally flawed."

In its response to the application, Rotherham Council states: "The travel plan accompanying the application is fundamentally flawed in that it quotes a level of bus service provision that is many years out of date. The current level of public transport available is very restricted, both in terms of areas served and the frequency and times of operation.

"This suggests that the number of car trips to the site will exceed those stated in the original transport assessment. Given the sensitive nature of the local road network and the SRN [strategic road network] junction at M1 J33, the actions in the travel plan should be revisited to bring it up to date.

"As such Rotherham Council wishes to object to the application currently."

One of the main bus services featured in the applicant's documents is the A1 service that linked Sheffield Business Park, as well as the Waverley development in Rotherham, to Meadowhall.

Previously run by Powell's before the bus operator closed last year, the A1 route was taken on by Cawthornes Travel before it was withdrawn completely in July 2023.

Having to make cuts to services and incentives, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard recently called the Government’s funding for South Yorkshire’s buses “completely unacceptable."

Funding is under pressure against the backdrop of reduced levels of passenger demand and reducing levels of post-Covid support grants from central Government. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been unable to protect all non-commercially viable bus services that bus operators are withdrawing from the network and all concessionary fares at present levels.

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News: South Yorkshire confirmed as UK's first Investment Zone

A ministerial visit to South Yorkshire from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed the first Investment Zone in the UK.

Rothbiz revealed last week that the new Investment Zone will use the region’s success in advanced manufacturing and will 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.

An £80m fund (over five years for the Investment Zone) will 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.

Existing innovation assets, including the Advanced Manufactuting Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the Olympic Legacy Park and the University of Sheffield Innovation District and the rest of the Sheffield Business Park in Sheffield, will be joined by expansion sites as the core expands into Sheffield city centre and Rotherham town centre.

Rotherham expansion sites include remaining land at Waverley and around Magna at Templeborough - both around 25.5 hectares / 63 acres.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Leader, Cllr. Chris Read, said: “We always welcome any investment into our region, and as a Council we have already secured millions in funding into our borough for our communities. Today’s announcement builds on the successes of the Advanced Manufacturing Park and other big-name companies who have also chosen to invest here.

"Our new manufacturing economy is helping to bring more high paid jobs to Rotherham and the Investment Zone agreed for South Yorkshire today demonstrates the national significance of this. We look forward to seeing how it will help us in achieving our aim of meeting the needs of our communities and building on the good work we are already doing in this area.”

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The first investment announced is a more than £80m Boeing-led research project into manufacturing lightweight structures for aeroplanes – a key part of making aviation more sustainable.

Compass (Composites at Speed and Scale) will be built as an extension to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Factory 2050 on the site of the former Sheffield Airport. It will be built with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said: “Our first Investment Zone is a shining example of how we will drive growth across the country.

“It’s already secured more than £80 million of private investment, including backing from Boeing, and will help support more than 8,000 jobs by 2030.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Our Investment Zone will help put South Yorkshire back where we belong; at the forefront of this country’s manufacturing-led growth.

“Technology created in South Yorkshire built the modern world. Because in South Yorkshire we have always known how to deliver practical solutions to big challenges. Yesterday it was stainless steel and our coal industry, today it is AI, Robotics and creating lighter, stronger materials for Jet Zero.

“That’s why this new Investment Zone status is so important. Because with the support of partners like Boeing, and working with the government, we’re showing we have the tools, the technology and the confidence to build on our strengths as not just the world’s first, but the world’s best Advanced Manufacturing District.”

The most recent Enterprise Zones in the 2010's included parts of the AMP and Templeborough in Rotherham and involved business rates discounts and simplified planning arrangements for businesses in specific target sectors. When it was announced in 2011, it was forecast to create 12,600 jobs and attract around 250 new advanced manufacturing and technology-based businesses to the area by 2015. It was hoped to reach 20,000 jobs, 400 businesses and £20m a year in new business rates from over 6.4 million sq ft of floor space.

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News: AMRC's economic impact and influence on Rotherham, Yorkshire and the UK

Some of the biggest private sector investments into UK advanced manufacturing over the last 15 years ‘would not have happened without the AMRC’, according to a new report confirming it as a ‘signature asset’ having brought more than £260m and 600 jobs to South Yorkshire.

Founded in 2001 by the University of Sheffield and Boeing on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery in Rotherham, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) now has centres in the North West and North Wales and is a model for collaborative research which is now being applied to the development of sustainable technologies and products to help its 120-plus industrial partners realise the benefits of a green transition.

In 2021 the AMRC celebrated 20 years of innovation, impact and investment. The Economic Impact Analysis report by Lichfields sets out how the AMRC is a magnet for capital investment, acts as a lever for improved social mobility through its training centre, and supports a 520-strong high-value workforce that contributes more than £55m to the economy.

An executive summary has been published ahead of a formal launch for the report, which captures the economic benefits attributable to the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, during its first 20 years of operation. It looks at the impact made through innovation, research and development (R&D), education and skills, high-value employment, levelling up, and being a model that can be ‘exported’ to other regions to stimulate economic regeneration.

It shows that in 2019/20, the value of innovation activity undertaken by the AMRC - supporting industry by delivering step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, and developing new products and processes - totalled £32.1 million. In addition, the centre unlocked a further £55.6 million of private sector leverage or match funding, supporting the UK government’s aim to double the value of private sector investment in R&D by 2030.

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In the new report, Rachel Clark, director of trade and investment at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, says: “The AMRC is a key attractor of foreign direct investment (FDI) and an important part of South Yorkshire’s pitch to prospective investors. Some of the biggest investments into the area over the last 10 to 15 years would not have taken place without the AMRC.”

It is the first time the AMRC has directly commissioned analysis into its impact, having been founded in 2001 at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham by Prof Keith Ridgway and local businessman Adrian Allen, with critical support from the University of Sheffield and aerospace giant Boeing.

The first tenants on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), the AMRC has played a "key role in transforming the site into an attractive location for advanced manufacturing businesses", drawing major inward investors such as Rolls-Royce and McLaren which have built facilities in the area, and helping the local economy to emerge from the decline of its traditional industrial strengths of coal and steel.

Data shows on average, the AMRC provided manufacturing innovation and technology support to more than 1,100 businesses each year between 2017/18 and 2019/20, and 42% of those were small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is also identified as ‘an important employer’, supporting 520 high-value, high-productivity jobs in 2021/22 - generating a Gross Value Added (GVA) equivalent of £55.8m per annum.

Rotherham Council leader, Coun Chris Read, said: “The AMRC has been critical to securing major private sector investment in the borough, providing training, opportunities, and remarkable careers for our young people.

“From its iconic location on the former site of the Orgreave Coking Works, the University of Sheffield AMRC is not only a tremendous example of successful regeneration, but it is part of the fabric of our community, sitting at the heart of the flagship series of investments which are writing the next chapter of Rotherham’s economic history. “It is a partnership that we value highly and with the AMRC's knowledge and expertise, we can build on the growing cluster of green manufacturing in the region and support industry to drive and thrive in the low-carbon transition, creating the modern manufacturing economy of the future. We look forward to seeing it go from strength-to-strength over the years to come.”

A jewel in the research centre’s crown is the AMRC Training Centre with the report showing that since opening in 2013, more than 1,700 apprentices have been trained, working with 400 manufacturing firms. Of those apprentices, 80% live in South Yorkshire, demonstrating the important contribution the AMRC makes to upskilling local residents and ensuring local businesses have access to a pipeline of skilled workers.

“In addition, the centre helps to support improved social mobility and inclusion, with 50% of all learners from South Yorkshire living in areas of high deprivation during their apprenticeship,” the report states.

It also notes how the AMRC unlocks innovation activity ‘that could not otherwise take place’ according to its industrial partners and adds value by de-risking innovation; improving the leverage of R&D expenditure; providing access to dedicated R&D space and an unrivalled breadth of industrial expertise; and accelerating the commercialisation of research.

“The AMRC’s profile and reputation positions it as a signature asset for South Yorkshire, supporting the area’s efforts to attract inward investment from advanced manufacturers. This, in turn, has helped to create high value, high productivity jobs in the local economy,” says the report.

“The benefits of locating close to the R&D, innovation and training capabilities offered by the AMRC have attracted a cluster of advanced manufacturing occupiers to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, and the neighbouring Sheffield Business Park. This includes globally significant businesses with strong ties to the AMRC including Boeing, McLaren and Rolls Royce.

“In total, it is estimated that £260m of investment has been attracted across both sites - at least in part - by the presence of the AMRC, resulting in the creation of 600 jobs.”

AMRC CEO, Steve Foxley, said: “It is fantastic to see the impact the AMRC has had over the last two decades in black and white. This Economic Impact Analysis perfectly demonstrates our strengths: driving national innovation, magnetising investment into South Yorkshire and creating a pipeline of manufacturing talent.

“However, the report similarly highlights where we must improve and that is in moving the productivity dial for manufacturers in the regions in which we operate. If we are to maintain our impact we must commit to helping companies on our doorstep improve their processes, upskill their workforces and cut their carbon footprint.

“We should see this Economic Impact Analysis report as a hinge point for the AMRC: it confirms how well we have done in the past and illustrates how we can do even better in the future. We have a great story to tell, but we can raise our game.”

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News: Productive machines and digital twins

A high-tech Rotherham company that maximises the productivity of machine tools has taken part in an accelerator programme supported by the likes of Boeing, GKN Aerospace and Rolls-Royce.

Based within the Advanced Manufacturing Park's (AMP's) Technology Centre, Productive Machines uses a software simulation process called digital twinning to accelerate milling process design, reduce cycle time, eliminate quality problems and maximize productivity. Creating virtual replicas helps companies machine parts right the first time.

The spinout from the University of Sheffield joined the ATI Boeing Accelerator at the start of the year as one of ten startups in the second cohort that were selected from nearly 200 applications, from more than 40 countries.

The accelerator was created in partnership by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Boeing and is delivered by European accelerator Ignite. GKN Aerospace is the programme’s corporate sponsor and Rolls-Royce recently joined as a programme partner. The three month programme is intended to support innovation and the growth of startups in the UK's aerospace ecosystem.

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Dr Erdem Ozturk, CEO and founder of Productive Machines, said: "Productive Machines is solving three problems in the aerospace industry: productivity, sustainability, and the skills gap.

"Although we have demonstrated the impacts of using digital twins in several case studies, not all the companies in the industry are benefiting from these yet. It is common to use an experimental trial and error approach in machining process design. It results in productivity losses, errors lead to scrap parts and results in waste and, moreover, it is not an efficient use of resources.

"Sustainability is high on the agenda for aerospace companies. The waste due to scrap parts and inefficient use of resources are not the things that companies can afford moving ahead. Many companies do not have in-house expertise in machining process optimisation. Our software upskills our customers’ staff."

Erdem highlights the project carried out at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) (where he used to work), which reduced the time it took Rolls-Royce to machine a new turbine disc by 50% but he grew frustrated that many other research projects in universities were resulting only in reports and publications and not being exploited to make an impact in the industry. He added: "I didn’t want to see this happen with the digital twins that we developed and I decided to build a startup to use the digital twins to serve the machining industry."

As well as access to top aerosapce companies, the accelerator offers a £100k equity investment. Productive Machines said that it was applying for more grants this year and is working with more companies - the process having already benefitted the likes of MASA Aerospace and Renault. A first investment round is also planned.

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News: Boeing and AMRC renew partnership for five more years

Boeing has renewed its longstanding relationship with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with an agreement that will continue two decades of innovation and collaboration for another five years.

With multimillion pound facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC is a world leading model partnership between industry and academia that focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.

The renewed Tier 1 partnership extends Boeing’s access to the research and development capabilities of the AMRC, which it jointly founded with the University of Sheffield in 2001, and the industrial and manufacturing expertise and innovation that has existed in the Sheffield City Region for centuries.

“Renewing Boeing’s partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre demonstrates our commitment to Sheffield and showcases what we have jointly created in 20 years: jobs, innovation, inspiration and inward investment. At its core the agreement looks to the future and what more we can achieve through world-class researchers and industry working together,” said Sir Martin Donnelly, president of Boeing Europe and managing director Boeing in the UK and Ireland.

The AMRC, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is a world-leading research and innovation network with more than 120 industrial partners, including Rolls-Royce, McLaren Automotive, Siemens and BAE Systems. As a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the AMRC collaborates with R&D experts to develop and de-risk industry-transforming solutions for companies across the globe, leading manufacturing towards a smart, sustainable and resilient future.

Boeing’s longstanding and successful relationship with the AMRC and its world-class research and development activities was a major factor in its decision to build Boeing Sheffield, the company’s first factory in Europe. The £40m factory opened in Sheffield in 2018 close to the AMRC campus. The AMRC supported cutting-edge process development for efficient machining, factory planning and the digital infrastructure for the facility.

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Steve Foxley, the AMRC’s chief executive officer, said the renewed partnership looks to the future and builds on more than 20 years of the AMRC and Boeing delivering technology solutions through collaborative research and innovation.

“Boeing has been with us from the beginning, when the AMRC first started out on this incredible journey to make things better for manufacturing,” Foxley said. “As we launch into the next 10-year chapter of the AMRC story, Boeing renewing this partnership is an incredible investment in the value of the AMRC’s research and development capabilities and sends out a strong signal of confidence in the region’s advanced manufacturing excellence, innovation and expertise.”

In 2021, the AMRC marks its 20th anniversary year. It will be looking back at two decades of remarkable achievements to make things better for manufacturing, productivity, skills and training but also to the future with a laser-like focus on sustainability, digital manufacturing, future propulsion and supply chain resilience to lead industry towards a smart, sustainable and productive future.

Coun Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “For the last 20 years, the AMRC has been at the forefront of the Rotherham economy, opening the door to major inward investment, training thousands of people, and redefining what manufacturing means locally. Boeing’s partnership has been one of the key reasons for its success, so it’s great to hear that even in the current economic climate they are renewing their commitment to our part of the world. We look forward to the coming years of cutting-edge research and all the associated benefits that it brings.”

Boeing apprentices have also learned their craft at the state-of-the-art AMRC Training Centre, also on the AMP.

Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, added: “Our region is the heartland of innovation, and Boeing and the AMRC extending their partnership is a big vote of confidence in South Yorkshire’s economy as we kick-start our recovery and renewal from the COVID pandemic.

“This trail-blazing partnership between research and industry has created good jobs and apprenticeships, helped the economy grow and attracted new investment from world-leading firms. It is a highly successful model we will build on to create a stronger, greener, fairer future for people and businesses across the region.”

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News: Award-winning apprentices fly out to Boeing

Two model apprentices, who won big at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre's annual awards, have returned from the trip of a lifetime touring Boeing’s state-of-the-art factories in Portland and Seattle.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships.

Mary Stickland and Craig Horton, who are both from Rotherham, earned the opportunity to spend eight days in Oregon and Washington by winning the Siddall Achievement Award in March 2019.

The prize, which was new to the 2019 AMRC Training Centre Apprentice of the Year Awards ceremony, was donated by retired Silicon Valley CEO Graham Siddall. From Attercliffe, Graham was an apprentice himself and attributes the skills he learned as a young apprentice to laying the foundation for a successful career in precision engineering and semiconductor technology.

Nominations for the annual awards are made by employers and trainers to recognise the achievement or contribution apprentices have made to industry, and are judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.

"It was such a shock to win the award because I had no idea that I was even nominated," said Mary, 22. "Graham stood in front of everyone, explained who he was and about his background, then he called my name out as one of the two winners."

Craig, 24, added: "We went up on stage to meet Graham where he told us he had made plans for this trip to Boeing."

Mary and Craig, joined by skills manager at the centre, Gareth Wilkinson, began their trip at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington where the 737 aeroplanes are built, followed by a tour of Boeing's Composite Wing Center in Everett.

At the University of Washington campus in Seattle there were visits to the College of Engineering and The Boeing Advanced Research Center where the company's instructors work with faculty and students on joint research projects.

It was the time spent at Boeing that sparked Mary's imagination: "The factory tours were unbelievable, you can’t appreciate the size of the buildings until you are there and being driven around in a golf buggy.

"We were also shown Boeing's Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) Training Academy, which is based on the AMRC Training Centre, where they are trying to recreate the successful apprenticeship programme we have in Rotherham."

The week-long stay in the north west of the US concluded with a tour of the Boeing factory in Portland, Oregon by Global Program Manager Bill Gerry and then the chance to sit in a Concorde during a VIP tour of the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

"That was my favourite part of the trip. The number of planes they have on show there is amazing. As well as Concorde, we had a look around Air Force One and their space shuttle trainer; the thought of the people who had been on those planes is incredible," said Craig.

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Graham added: "It was such a fun week and as much a learning experience for myself and my wife Brenda as it was for our visitors. Mary and Craig were a little nervous at first but it was good to see them relaxing and growing in confidence as the week progressed."

Craig, a Research and Development Engineer at Technicut in Sheffield, said he will use his experience in the US back home.

Jennie Mitchell, HR manager at Technicut, said: "Through his learning and hard work at the AMRC Training Centre, from advanced apprenticeship to degree level study, Craig has become an excellent engineer.

"He is a great ambassador for Technicut and for our apprenticeship programme and as he continues to grow, he will be able to draw on his experience from his prize visit to the United States. He is testament to the value we place on apprentices and the key role they play in developing the future of our business together with our talented workforce."

Mary started a Mechanical Maintenance Engineering apprenticeship in April 2018, working at Pryor in Sheffield. Simon Dunn, operations director at Pryor, said: "This award is testament to Mary's dedication and how hard she has worked during her apprenticeship.

"I am really pleased with the success of Pryor apprentices which reflects not only the determination of the individual apprentices but also the dedication of the experienced Pryor team members who are mentoring and developing the skills of our future workforce."

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News: AMRC inspires next generation of female engineers

More than 100 schoolgirls from across the Sheffield city region (SCR) have now been shown the huge potential of a career in engineering thanks to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre's (AMRC's) #AMRCtribe campaign.

Fifty-four pupils, from schools in Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield, were invited to the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, in the latest event of a programme which aims to inspire young girls to pursue a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Attracting more women into engineering is one of the most serious challenges facing the industry and a large part of #AMRCtribe, which launched in June this year, is to create a supportive network for teenagers to talk openly about their interest in STEM subjects and STEM-related careers. An exclusive social media group provides a safe environment for young women to talk in confidence to like-minded peers who may attend different schools.

Ami Swales, the AMRC’s STEM and Outreach Coordinator, said: "We want to connect young girls from the Sheffield City Region so they feel they’re not isolated. Often they can be the only one in their friendship group that is interested in engineering, but with #AMRCtribe they can meet other people who have similar interests and it might empower them to pursue that career.

"We invited five schools to this event and each has had tours of the AMRC Training Centre, the Design and Prototyping Centre, Factory of the Future, Nuclear AMRC and our Manufacturing Transporter (MANTRA)."

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Following the tours the schoolgirls were then set an engineering group activity, working in mixed teams, to build a model Ferris wheel using little more that paper, masking tape, string and bolts.

Asha Spruce, 16, from UTC Sheffield, said: "I think #AMRCtribe is such a good initiative because women feel intimated going into such a male-dominated industry. Having the tribe means there is support there and it gives us women a chance to meet others doing the same thing.

“Seeing the Digital Operating Theatre in the Design and Prototyping Centre was so impressive, I have never seen anything like that before; it was the best part of the tour. I knew I wanted to be an engineer before coming to the AMRC but until I saw the Digital Operating Theatre, I didn’t know medical engineering was an option."

Speakers at the event, held at the AMRC's Knowledge Transfer Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, included Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Mark Wrigley and second year apprentice machinist at Boeing Sheffield, Rosie Davies.

Asha added: "Hearing from people like Rosie and seeing other female engineers working on the shop floor really inspires me; it shows that it can be done."

#AMRCtribe will continue throughout 2020, with further events for schools at the AMRC.

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News: Rothbiz gains an ally - the Prime Minister

If you can get past the headline-grabbing heckling, the fudged answers to press questions, the less than enthusiastic audience reaction and the "light-hearted remark" from the host, you'll find that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom stood up and promoted positive stories about Rotherham businesses.

Boris Johnson used a high profile event in Rotherham to renew a drive to give more power to Northern regions.

At The Convention of the North held at Magna, the PM said: "[It is] only right that we are meeting here on the banks of the Don, literally the crucible in which the history of the nation was forged - and indeed of the modern world.

"When Nelson defeated the French at Trafalgar and set this country on course for about 100 years of imperial expansion, the cannons on HMS Victory were forged here at Walker and Company.

"It was Rotherham pipes that brought fresh drinking water to Hong Kong, Rotherham steel that clad Brunel’s Great Eastern and formed the skeletons of New York skyscrapers and did you know that every fire hydrant in New York was cast in British steel less than two miles from here at the works of Guest and Chrimes.

"That was before it occurred to anyone to put tariffs on British steel.

"This place where we meet was so central to our national life that it was bombed in both the first and second world wars.

"And so it was entirely fitting that 50 years ago the works here at Templeborough adopted as its logo the phoenix – perpetually rising from the ashes.

"And across this region you can feel that phoenix-like transformation as the Northern Powerhouse – which Jake just spoke so eloquently - thrums into life with a low-carbon, fuel efficient roar.

"Look at Catcliffe.

"Where a factory that once made superb glass is now being used by McLaren to turn super-light, super-strong Yorkshire carbon fibre into the fastest production cars on earth.

"Right next door, at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Xeros Technology are producing the world's most environmentally friendly washing machine - that's the spin and I bet it's true.

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"Boeing chose Sheffield as its first civil aerospace factory in Europe – with nearly half its employees taken on as apprentices.

"And did anybody have a bagel this morning? Did you? No?

"Well if you did, it was probably made just up the road in Mexborough, where, in the largest bagel factory in Europe produces fully three-quarters of the bagels eaten in Britain every day.

"Sheffield is the home of the UK's largest provider of hybrid and electric vehicle drive systems, a company called Magtec.

"A world-first initiative, Magtec is retrofitting Sheffield's refuse lorries with battery-power, with enough juice to negotiate the seven hills and recharge themselves with energy they generate from the very rubbish they collect.

"Rubbish powered rubbish vans – there's a joke there somewhere which I will leave to you.

"I tell you, there is no limit to the imagination, innovation, ingenuity and leadership in the North."

The Prime Minister also said that the Government are committed to getting the Sheffield City Region devolution deal done and set out his intention to allow Northern communities to take more control over their rail services.

He added: "In this birthplace of the railways, we can do so much better. Today – coming from London on the train, it took me just over an hour and a half to get to Doncaster. But if, for example, you travelled from Liverpool to Rotherham – less than half the distance – you might have had to leave an hour earlier than me, and change as many as three times."

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News: Silicon Valley CEO celebrates engineering talent of tomorrow at AMRC Training Centre Awards

A retired Silicon Valley CEO whose life was changed by an apprenticeship has thrown his full support behind the 2019 AMRC Training Centre's Apprentice of the Year ceremony - putting his name to two new achievement awards.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, The AMRC Training Centre forms part of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) group and provides training in the practical and academic skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally, from apprenticeship through to doctorate and MBA level.

Nominations are made by employers and trainers who want to recognise the achievement, innovation, fresh thinking or other contributions to industry shown by the apprentices, and are judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.

Details of the award winners can be found here.

This year, two new awards were handed out to worthy winners thanks to the generous support of Sheffield-born Dr Graham Siddall. Graham, who lives in the United States, has been following the training centre's progress from across the pond since it opened in 2014 and was keen to lend his hand to support this year's ceremony.

Graham is a huge advocate of apprenticeships having undertaken one himself as a young student at the age of 18. This was a life-changing decision for him as it laid the groundwork for a long-term career in precision engineering and semiconductor technology.

However, what makes his involvement in the awards even more significant is that he was born in Attercliffe and, as a young boy, played in the spoil heaps around what was once the Orgreave coking plant, the site on which the training centre is built and hopes to expand.

A bid has been in development for a £13m expansion.

"The awards evening is a great way to recognise and celebrate the hard work and achievements of apprentices" said Graham.

"Without the skill set that my apprenticeship gave me, I doubt that I could have had a more interesting and rewarding career. I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to me but I think it's much harder for young people today.

"That's why it is good to see the University of Sheffield participating in the training and education of apprentices through the AMRC as a complementary path to the more traditional degree courses. The fact that 750 potential candidates applied for 250 places last year at AMRC shows the demand is there from both young people and employers.

"To compete in today's highly competitive international economy we need the best possible skills at all levels and apprentice training is a key ingredient for success."

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Nikki Jones, director of the AMRC Training Centre, said: "We're looking forward to showcasing how our apprenticeships make a real difference to industry and celebrating the hard work and determination our talented apprentices have shown in wanting to become the much-needed and skilled advanced engineers of tomorrow.

"The standard of entries this year is excellent and the judging panel no doubt had some difficult decisions to make as all the nominees have shown tremendous levels of passion and commitment that make them a credit to their companies."

Last year's Apprentice of the Year winner was Ben Siddall from Barnsley, a production and perforation department manager at C&S Fabrications in Sheffield specialising in fabricated and perforated sheet metal.

The judges were struck by the positive effect Ben made within his workplace through incentives he implemented and were impressed with his passion and infectious enthusiasm for engineering.

Ben, whose prize for winning was a VIP tour of Boeing's production facilities at Everett, Renton and Portland in the USA (pictured, left) said: "Winning Apprentice of the Year was a valuable opportunity to show the manufacturing community the real difference apprentices are making to industry in the region and inspire more young people to show what's possible with an apprenticeship."

This week is National Apprenticeship Week which is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: MetLase boosted by Boeing link up

MetLase is expecting to increase its Rotherham workforce having been confirmed as Boeing Sheffield's tooling and fixturing partner.

Rothbiz reported last week that a number of local companies had been signed up by the US aerospace giant to supply its new Sheffield facility that is set to open later this year.

MetLase is a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and the Unipart Group is a mechanical engineering consultancy that specialises in increasing productivity by designing and manufacturing complex tooling, fixturing and components for a wide range of industries, often bringing lead times of months down to just days.

Taking space in the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) Technology Centre in Rotherham, the rapidly-growing company is initially focused on aerospace, automotive, motorsport and the medical market sector.

MetLase said that it will initially increase the workforce by 15% on the back of the Boeing deal.

The company will use its 3D design capabilities, high precision laser-cutting technology and patented assembly and joining systems to create lightweight and optimised machining fixtures that will precisely hold 11 different castings used in the production of actuation system components for the 737, 767 and 777 passenger jets.

The contract with Boeing is the latest in a line of new business wins that include strategic partnerships with blue chip companies - marking a 70% annual increase in sales.

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Steve Dunn, managing director at MetLase (pictured, second left), said: "The long-term agreement with Boeing marks a new chapter for our business, as it will enable us to become an integral part of its future plans to develop intelligent and connected fixturing and tooling solutions.

"Our unique approach and technology will see us produce optimised fixtures that are lighter than traditional alternatives, can be produced in weeks as opposed to months and, importantly, through our design iteration service, can be continually improved to deliver the best possible performance.

Liberty Speciality Steels, Maher, Nikken, Aeromet International Ltd and Mettis Aerospace have also been named on the supply chain. The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has also been key to Boeing selecting a site on the Sheffield Business Park for its first European factory.

Dunn added: "This contract is an ideal way to celebrate our third birthday and is also excellent news for the region, with two other local companies – Maher Ltd and Nikken – also being awarded contracts.

"Strategic supply chain relationships are very important to Boeing and, from the outset, we have been working closely with other suppliers to build partnerships and explore ways where we can harness our collective expertise to offer new solutions."

MetLase, which employs 25 people at its 12,500 sq ft state-of the-art facility, is due to start delivering the first fixtures this week as part of a three-year contract.

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Richard Gould, sales manager at MetLase (pictured, far right), said: "Our standardised design and development process and unique joining and assembly techniques mean we only use the exact amount of material needed, ensuring we can deliver fixtures quicker and more cost effectively than our rivals.

"This is the first stage of what Boeing wanted. The next phase is to develop intelligent fixtures that provide real time data on performance and will either alert engineers if an issue arises or correct it automatically.

"Industry 4.0, big data and smart manufacturing is crucial to the success of global manufacturing. Our aim is to create an intelligent fixturing system that tells the next production stage in the process exactly what has happened before."

MetLase website

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News: Supply chain soars with Boeing's Sheffield investment

Leading companies based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham are set to supply Boeing's new £20m manufacturing facility in the Sheffield city region (SCR).

Announced last year, the 25,000 sq ft facility, to be named Boeing Sheffield, will enable the Seattle firm to bring the manufacture of key high-tech actuation components and systems used in Boeing's Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft in-house, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.

Liberty Speciality Steels will be supplying steel bar that will be used at Boeing Sheffield where operations are set to begin later in the autumn of this year.

Investment under previous owners Tata Steel in 2005 saw the Rotherham site at Aldwarke become the focus for steel making, casting and rolling of specialist steels. The steel is manufactured before undergoing further refining at the Stocksbridge plant or the Thrybergh Bar Mill to improve the quality. The South Yorkshire operations have been supplying steel for the A380 Airbus and Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The bar business was moved to Speciality Steel in 2012 and a £2.75m investment was announced for Rotherham. In 2013 a £15m investment was announced to focus on high-purity vacuum induction melted (VIM) steels for the aerospace industry at Stocksbridge.

Under new owners, Liberty House, a multi-million-pound investment plan has seen the reactivation of the "small bloom" caster and the iconic N-Furnace at Aldwarke. Production of high-grade steels is up from 179,000 tonnes-a-year in 2016/17 to 292,000 tonnes this year. It is aiming to reach output of more than a million tonnes a year by 2020. It is almost all made from scrap metal.

For Boeing Sheffield, locally made steel will be provided to Maher, a first time supplier to Boeing, who will then supply bespoke steel bar and pre-machined components.

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Maher has a purpose-built head office and warehouse facility in Sheffield and an office at the AMP. A supplier of high performing alloys and machinist of finished components, specialising in nickel, titanium and copper-based alloys, Maher has been a tier two member of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing since inception.

Donna Saul, managing director of Maher, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Maher to be part of the Boeing supply-chain, providing machined components and bespoke steel bar to the Boeing facility in Sheffield. The team at Maher are excited to work closely with Boeing and look forward to supplying the service and support required to make Sheffield a success story for both companies."

Boeing is undertaking a major Research & Development programme with the AMRC to develop new manufacturing techniques that can be applied in the new facility on the Sheffield Business Park.

MetLase Ltd has been confirmed as Boeing Sheffield's tooling and fixturing partner. The joint venture between Rolls-Royce and the Unipart Group is a mechanical engineering consultancy that specialises in increasing productivity by designing and manufacturing complex tooling, fixturing and components for a wide range of industries, often bringing lead times of months down to just days.

Taking space in the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre in Rotherham the rapidly-growing company is initially focused on aerospace, automotive, motorsport and the medical market sector and expects to create around 30 high-end, technical engineering jobs on the AMP.

Already announced, MetLase and Maher's neighbours on the AMP, NIKKEN Kosakusho Europe has secured a long term partnership with Boeing to provide high precision tool-holders, cutting tools and tool presetting solutions.

Boeing's first European factory will produce 7,000 actuation system components each month, which will be shipped for assembly in Boeing's Portland, Oregon plant in the United States.

Worcester-based Aeromet International Ltd and Mettis Aerospace in Redditch also take their place in the supply chain.

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Sir Michael Arthur, president, Boeing Europe and managing director, Boeing UK and Ireland, said: "In Sheffield we have an excellent local supply chain and Boeing is sourcing from these established companies because of their high-quality manufacturing capability and talented people.

"I'm delighted to bring Maher, MetLase and NIKKEN on board as new Boeing suppliers, and to extend our supplier relationship with Aeromet and Mettis. We look forward to working together."

Last year the US aero giant confirmed that direct spending with UK suppliers had tripled over the previous six years to £2.1 billion.

Boeing website
Liberty Speciality Steels website
Maher website
MetLase website
Nikken website

Images: Boeing / Finnegan

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News: High-flying Nikken in Boeing partnership

Expanding engineering firm, NIKKEN Kosakusho Europe is embarking on a long term partnership with Boeing as the US aerospace giant touches down in the Sheffield city region (SCR).

With European headquarters on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate in Rotherham, Nikken enjoys a global dominance of the rotary table technology market and supply manufacturers operating in the aerospace, defence, motorsport, automotive and medical sectors.

The Integrator agreement will see Nikken provide high precision toolholders, cutting tools and tool presetting solutions to the new £20m Boeing Sheffield facility. As Integrator and technical partner, Nikken will work closely with Boeing's engineering team to help them optimise their manufacturing processes to achieve their production goals and Industry 4.0 ambitions.

2015 saw the opening of a new demonstration and customer support centre - the NIKKEN Innovation Centre Europe on the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham - packed with advanced equipment to help companies become more competitive by increasing production rates and quality while reducing costs. Investing around £7m in new facilities on the AMP saw the company create its first production base outside Japan and is part of a move to get closer to its customers.

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Boeing is currently constructing its first facility to be built in Europe just over the Parkway on Sheffield Business Park. When operational it will produce actuation system components for Boeing's Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aeroplanes.

Boeing has embarked upon an R&D programme with the assistance of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) that is developing the new manufacturing techniques that will enhance production efficiency and reduce costs whilst maintaining quality. Nikken is a Tier 2 member of the AMRC.

Senior Boeing representatives were in the SCR recently to meet with the AMRC and its future workforce.

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Tony Bowkett, CEO at Nikken, said: "This is a very proud moment for the Nikken European team, resident here on the AMRC park. We have worked tirelessly to put together a total support solution that will allow the Boeing engineers to produce upwards of 10,000 parts per month, supporting its Portland facility in the USA.

"It's a great opportunity for our engineering and logistics teams to integrate world class machine tools and equipment and to use their knowledge & experience to optimize their performance, resulting in productivity and efficiency gains."

This year, Nikken is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its Japanese parent company, Nikken Kosakusho Works Ltd. that was created in 1958. The European arm was incorporated in 1989 and so will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.

Nikken website

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News: Boeing flies in to see AMRC apprentices

Senior Boeing executives were in the Sheffield city region (SCR) last week ahead of the operations at Boeing Sheffield opening later this year.

General manager of Boeing Portland Dave Hyem and his team came to see the R&D work at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and meet some of the Boeing apprentices currently training at the AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham.

The facility is the first to be built in Europe for aerospace giant Boeing, who chose Sheffield based on its longstanding partnership with the AMRC, its skilled workforce and investment in research, training and development.

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The R&D programme Boeing has embarked upon with the assistance of the AMRC is developing the new manufacturing techniques that will enhance production efficiency and reduce costs whilst maintaining quality. These game-changing technologies will be utilised in the production of actuation system components for Boeing's Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aeroplanes at Boeing Sheffield.

Head of the AMRC Machining Group, Matt Farnsworth, said the visit was a great opportunity for the team to see the R&D programme in action and showcase its successes and goals for the next 18 months, in which the AMRC will continue to support Boeing Sheffield as the manufacturing processes are embedded and matured on site.

The visiting party saw demonstrations of the manufacturing processes and technologies being developed and met with some of the team that will make up the core of Boeing Sheffield's staff, including apprentices.

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AMRC project engineer Beth Cousins and Boeing apprentice Joel Knowles demonstrated a machining process for one of the components and the gains the AMRC has made by optimising the cycle times for its production.

Beth has also been working with the Boeing apprentices to familiarise them with the machining programmes and capabilities, ready for the start of operations at Boeing Sheffield.

Beth said: "We want them to be straight out of the starting lines when Boeing Sheffield opens, so they can walk through the door on day one and be confident they know the production processes inside out."

Joel said working with Beth and the AMRC team has given him insight and perspective into the manufacturing processes: "It's given me a great head start in training and I've been able to see how wide in scope the programme of work is that will take place in Boeing Sheffield. It's exciting to have had the opportunity to be part of the future of such an incredible company as Boeing, straight from school."

Beth reiterated Joel's enthusiasm: "The work has been so exciting, not many people get the opportunity to do such vital work and it is satisfying to see it coming to fruition.

"It's great to see the Boeing team's interest in the processes being developed from a shop-floor level; everyone is so keen to see the progress we have made."

Currently under construction on the Sheffield Business Park and with 66,000 sq ft of floor space, Boeing Sheffield will initially employ 30 people on opening, growing to more than 50 employees. This includes 19 manufacturing apprentices.

Boeing website
AMRC website

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News: Rolls-Royce carry out additional engine inspections

World-renowned engineering firm, Rolls-Royce expects further disruption for its Trent 1000 customers, notably Boeing, as it deals with known issues over turbine blades.

Rolls-Royce has previously discussed the "lower than expected durability of a small number of parts for the Trent 1000" and increased inspections following the grounding of a number of planes powered by the engine.

The Trent engines include key components manufactured by Rolls-Royce in Rotherham. The Trent 1000 was the launch engine for the 787-8 Dreamliner at service entry in 2011.

The most advanced turbine blade casting facility in the world was officially opened on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham in 2014. There are two types of turbine blade manufactured at the 150,000 sq ft facility: high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) single crystal blades

Corrosion-related fatigue cracking was discovered on IP blades in 2016. It was announced that the manufacturer would have to replace turbine blades on the entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners powered by its Trent 1000 engine.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently ordered airlines to replace some Trent 1000 engines on their aircraft.

Rolls-Royce has now announced that it would carry out additional engine inspections to those previously planned. It has not put a specific cost to inspection but will need to change spending priorities as it expects it to "lead to higher than previously guided cash costs being incurred during 2018." It still expects to hit cashflow targets.

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An earlier statement from Rolls-Royce said: "These issues have required urgent short-term support including both on-wing and shop visit intervention which has resulted in increased disruption for some of our customers. This has been a dynamic situation. We have continued to progress our understanding of both the technical and operational issues and we are making solid progress with longer-term solutions, largely through re-designing affected parts. These are expected to be fully embodied in the Trent 1000 fleet by 2022."

Warren East, CEO at Rolls-Royce, said: "Our focus is on supporting our customers and doing all we can to minimise any impact on their operations. We sincerely regret the disruption this will cause to our customers and our team of technical experts and service engineers is working around the clock to ensure we return them to full service as soon as possible. We will be working closely with Boeing and affected airlines to minimise disruption wherever possible."

A statement from Boeing said: "About 25% of the 787 Dreamliner fleet is powered by this Rolls-Royce engine variant. This issue does not affect current production 787s, the Trent 1000 Package B, Trent 1000 TEN or GEnx-1B engines.

"An existing EASA Airworthiness Directive for the Package C engine requires inspections of an intermediate pressure compressor blade at certain flight cycles. If a durability issue is found, the blade will be replaced. This is a known issue and we will continue to work with Rolls-Royce, our customers and the regulators to fully resolve it. Boeing is deploying support teams to mitigate service disruption.

"Safety is our highest priority. The 787 has safely flown more than 3.2 billion miles since entering commercial service in 2011."

Rolls-Royce website

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News: Local apprentices flying the flag for Boeing

17 young apprentices from across the region found themselves centre stage when Boeing bosses flew to Sheffield for a ground-breaking event to signal the construction of their first ever production plant in Europe.

The new 66,000 sq ft Boeing Sheffield facility, due to open in late 2018, is situated alongside the University of Sheffield's Factory 2050 on the Sheffield Business Park (SBP), ironically for a factory making advanced parts for airplanes, at the end of where the runway once was at Sheffield's former airport.

Announced in February, the new facility will enable Boeing to bring the manufacture of key high-tech actuation components and systems used in the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft in-house, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.

Boeing also plans a major research and development programme with the university's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to develop new manufacturing techniques that can be applied to the Boeing Sheffield facility and then implemented across Boeing internationally.

Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said the company was proud to celebrate the ground-breaking of Boeing Sheffield and welcome more employees to the company.

He said: "Boeing Sheffield is further evidence of Boeing’s long-term commitment to the prosperity of this country. We are grateful to the communities of Sheffield and Rotherham, as well as Sheffield City Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership, for supporting Boeing Sheffield and our growing presence in the region."

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When it opens, Boeing Sheffield will produce as many as 8,000 components per month that will be shipped to Boeing Portland, another Boeing Fabrication site in Oregon, USA to be assembled into actuation systems.

The Sheffield facility will initially employ 30 people on opening, growing to more than 50 employees. This includes 19 manufacturing apprentices, who have already been recruited and are being trained at the AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships. Apprentices have opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses, doctorates and MBA levels and sponsoring companies range from global leaders such as Rolls-Royce and Tata Steel to local high-tech supply-chain companies.

Professor Keith Ridgway, founder and executive dean of the AMRC said: "The ground-breaking today is an important event not only for Boeing, but for the AMRC, the University of Sheffield and the city region.

"It is the culmination of a partnership that began 16 years ago, and the realisation of a vision that one day we would see a Boeing manufacturing plant built in our region and employing skilled and talented local people."

"This symbolic event confirms that the Sheffield City Region is fast becoming the leading location in Europe for investment in high-value, advanced manufacturing. We look forward to supporting Boeing with a research and development programme that will bolster their manufacturing activities in the UK."

Boeing UK website
AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Engineering income doubles at University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is celebrating the doubling of income for engineering research over the past four years, cementing its reputation as a leading centre for engineering and advanced manufacturing research and development.

The University has the second highest research income in the UK for engineering - beating Cambridge University and only slightly behind Imperial College London. 

The increase over recent years is a testament to the institution's, and Sheffield city region's, reputation for innovation in engineering, especially in the area of advanced manufacturing.

Key to the continued success is the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing and the Nuclear AMRC, which both have significant state of the art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

A partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

The centre attracts paid industry members at different tiers, keen to make use of the world-class machines and facilities at the AMRC. The model also enables the centre to secure European and Government funding for a diverse range of cutting edge technologies, from shaped metal deposition in the aerospace industry to the use of bio-composites in the automotive industry.

The centre aims to double turnover in the next five years and has just signed up its 100th member.

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Earlier this year, it was announced that McLaren Automotive and Boeing are to open new manufacturing facilities alongside the AMRC, bringing major investment and new jobs into the Rotherham and Sheffield area.

Professor Keith Ridgway, executive dean of the AMRC, said: "The growth of the AMRC has not only contributed directly to the increase in research income of the University, but directly to Sheffield City Region by attracting inward investment, creating new jobs and contributing directly to the health of the UK supply chain.

"The work we do developing advanced manufacturing technology and techniques helps businesses to grow and to remain competitive, and helps to boost the region as the UK’s centre for advanced manufacturing."

Professor Sir Keith Burnett, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, added: "The extraordinary success of our engineers from computer scientists to the very latest in advanced manufacturing makes Sheffield an international leader in this crucial area of teaching and research.

"Companies from across the world are coming to the University of Sheffield and asking us to help solve the big challenges they face from increasing productivity to developing environmentally sustainable technologies for the cars, planes and trains of the future. It is genuinely exciting to see what is happening, and we know this also offers extraordinary opportunities for students to engage with real life problems working with global brands."

AMRC website

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