News: Elevation finding success as manufacturing sector recovers

Rotherham-based recruitment firm Elevation, has seen a 40% increase in placed candidates across manufacturing compared to the same period last year.

Part of the Horbury Group, Elevation was founded in 2010 and doubled its South Grove House office space in 2012 to cater for its rapidly expanding team.

The specialist manufacturing and engineering division has continue to grow, and as well as the upsurge in placed candidates, it has also helped 72% of manufacturing experts to secure appointments into senior roles at SMEs, with 28% choosing larger organisations with a Yorkshire base.

Elevation's manufacturing and engineering team published its findings to coincide with the recent Global Manufacturing Festival. It also found that opportunity, diversity and prospects are the top priority for experienced manufacturing candidates searching for a new job. The opportunities within the role itself tops the wish list, followed closely by the reputation of the business and product, and the salary on offer.

John Bohan, director of Elevation Recruitment who heads up the now seven-strong team in the engineering and manufacturing division, said: "There is no doubt that the manufacturing industry has really started to recover, with companies increasingly looking to recruit for newly created roles, and existing job roles opening up as a result. Businesses are growing, and so demand for quality candidates is growing too.

"Now, experienced manufacturing experts are in a position to consider every aspect of a job – and as we have found opportunities within a role top the list of priorities."

Bohan went on to explain that with some of the industry's leading institutions based in Yorkshire and utilising smaller, local businesses to deliver at various stages of the supply chain, it is the ideal time for SMEs to recruit.

He said: "The popularity of this year's Global Manufacturing Festival – with speakers including Airbus and Jaguar Land Rover - is indicative of the opportunity for SMEs right here in Yorkshire to compete on an international scale; and with so many quality candidates looking to develop their careers it is the ideal time for businesses to show what they have to offer in order to recruit an experienced team that will help drive growth."

Elevation Recruitment website

Images: Elevation Recruitment

Read more...

News: Region's manufacturing festival making global impression

The Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) is fast becoming an international success – with plans already underway to make the 2015 event even bigger.

The GMF has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) last year and returned last week with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers and workshops.

More than 1,500 people attended the two-day festival which included a trade show, conference and dinner, with Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Chuka Umunna MP, Shadow Business Secretary, the keynote speakers.

Other speakers who covered market opportunities included Mike Wright of Jaguar Land Rover, Beth West from HS2, Matthew Chinn from Siemens, Colin Sirett from Airbus, and Bruce Heppenstall at GE Oil & Gas. There were two technical sessions on metal powders and composites, and a session on women in manufacturing.

A number of international delegates visited the Sheffield City Region for the event which offered an opportunity to build connections, open new business opportunities and showcase successful partnerships.

This year's Global Manufacturing Festival, managed by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, coincided with the International Festival for Business (IFB) in Liverpool which is taking place throughout June and July.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber (pictured, centre), said: "This was the biggest festival to date. The calibre of speakers, the high profile delegate list, the varied subject discussions and the wide range of businesses from all around the world made this year's festival a great success. More importantly we know real business was done with many of the exhibitors getting really good enquiries.

"We established a long-term plan when creating the Global Manufacturing Festival in 2012 - to develop an event which would add value to businesses in the complex engineering supply chains and showcase our advanced manufacturing capabilities to the world. We are on course to deliver these objectives, with the festival growing in statue each year.

"However, we are keen for momentum and interest to continue, with more delegates, businesses and speakers attending the festival next year, cementing Sheffield City Region as the central foundation of the world’s advanced manufacturing and materials industry."

Key discussions at the festival focused on automotive, rail infrastructure, offshore wind energy, oil and gas and aerospace.

There were additional events including Meet the Buyer events with Siemens and HS2, and a visit by an All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group on the following day to focus on exports.

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: GMF

Read more...

News: Chuka Umunna on the importance of manufacturing

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna MP, stressed the importance of manufacturing to a successful UK economy at The Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) in Rotherham, this week.

The GMF has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) last year and returned with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers and workshops.

Organisers, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Marketing Sheffield, stated that over 1,000 delegates came through the doors yesterday.

The Streatham MP discussed Labour's Agenda 2030, the recently launched plan for long-term sustainable growth and a rebalancing of Britain's economy.

On the importance of manufacturing, he told the audience: "Our challenge is to build an economy that is home to more companies like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), creating good jobs at home and succeeding in export markets around the world.

"An economy with advanced manufacturing at its heart. Because it is a crucial driver of higher productivity, which can raise living standards.

"And because the insight gains from the production process spill over into other sectors, raising productivity there, too.

"To get there means making the UK the place that firms want to choose for serious investments in our future."

Mike Wright, executive director of JLR, shared the stage with Umunna to discuss his independent review, commissioned by Labour, into Britain's manufacturing supply chain.

Wright explained that his review, to be published this week, will cover major issues such as productivity, skills and the issues facing big and small businesses alike. He is set to call for a strategic review into innovation support and for a check on industrial policy.

The shadow business secretary joked how he had previously felt uneasy about mentioning industrial strategy for fear of being labelled a communist but discussed the consensus in Westminster for the government to play a role in unlocking talent.

He said: "Our Agenda 2030 is about creating the right platform for people to make the most of their potential and achieve their aspirations.

"Progressive politics is about nothing if it is not about helping people get on.

"Anybody who lived in Sheffield during the 80s felt how destructive the absence of a constructive and active government can be.

"Compare that to the rise of the Sheffield we know now - once more forward-looking, seeking to lead a 21st Century UK export boom based on a high-skilled, modern manufacturing economy.

"Stories like this area shows the power of backing talents. The keys to the next industrial revolution are right here in our hands. They are here in our schools, in our universities and our communities. Our shared challenge is to unlock that potential."

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: Tom Austen

Read more...

News: Airbus working with AMRC on new aerospace steel

Leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, is carrying out research with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham, on a new ultra high strength steel that could end up being manufactured here in the Sheffield city region.

Colin Sirett, head of research & technology for Airbus in the UK, gave an update at the Global Manufacturing Festival conference, being hosted by the AMRC's Training Centre, on the focus that Airbus and the rest of the industry has on lowering costs and reducing the impact on the environment as the demand for air travel soars.

Airbus is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in France, the company produces approximately half of the world's jet airliners. It produces the first commercially viable fly-by-wire (electronic) airliner, the Airbus A320, the world's largest passenger airliner, the A380, and the A350 XWB which it claims will be more fuel-efficient and have operating costs up to 8% lower than the competing Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Working together with governments, industries, research institutes and universities around the world, Airbus is researching the technologies and innovations needed to deliver a significant improvement in efficiency and performance. Airbus joined the AMRC as a Tier One member last year having previously worked together on the Integrated Wing Project, a previous R&D project lead by Airbus.

Airbus is focusing on reducing overall costs for each aircraft, reducing maintenance costs and bringing down lead times. Indeed, Airbus has set itself targets to reduce overall costs by 40% and to reduce the time to market by 50%, and Sirett explained that it will be down to harnessing advanced manufacturing techniques in order to meet these targets by 2020.

He said: "Technology is the easy bit. We have to change the way we manufacture.

"Additive manufacturing and 3D printing is palpable, not just for us, but the whole supply chain. Using techniques like laser metal wire deposition and improved methods of casting has to happen.

"We know the techniques are available here [on the Advanced Manufacturing Park], it needs to get into the supply chain to reduce machining time."

Sirett also explained that research into new materials will also help in the battle to reduce weight and fuel consumption. He said: "Composites and plastics are important but don't forget that the XWB is 42% metal and that's about as far as we'll go.

"Airbus is working with the AMRC on next generation steel. A steel that is ultra high strength and corrosion resistant that can be used for key components on the aircraft.

"There is the potential for it to be made in Sheffield, and that has a good ring to it."

Airbus website
AMRC website

Images: Airbus

Read more...

News: Shadow business secretary heading to Rotherham

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has this week been confirmed as one of the key speakers at the The Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) in Rotherham later this month.

The GMF has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) last year and will return with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers, workshops and 150 exhibitors set to form proceedings on June 24 - 25.

GMF is devised to connect hundreds of smaller companies to big firms and support networks with the aim of growing manufacturing capability in the region. The industry sectors covered this year are Automotive, Aerospace, Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy.

Chuka Umaunna MP will join Colin Sirett, head of research and technology at Airbus; Beth West, commercial director, HS2; Mike Wright, executive director of Jaguar Land Rover; Matthew Chinn, managing director, Siemens Energy UK; and Bruce Heppenstall, general manager Rest of World Region, Wellstream Subsea Flexibles, GE Oil & Gas.

The Streatham MP will talk about Labour's vision for the manufacturing industry in the UK, part of Labour's Agenda 2030. He said: "We need to do all we can to strengthen Britain's manufacturing supply chains and give businesses across the country the chance to benefit from global opportunities. Labour's Agenda 2030 is our plan for better-balanced growth for the long term, creating more high-skilled, better-paid jobs.

"The Global Manufacturing Festival brings together small British manufacturers with major companies, enabling them to forge new links and relationships, so I'm delighted to be involved."

Part of the UK's International Festival for Business, GMF is being organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Marketing Sheffield.

Technical sessions on Powder & Metal Injection Moulding and Composites & Metal matrix Composite are also taking place, as is a session on Women in Manufacturing.

The conference and trade show on June 25 is free to attend, to register visit the GMF website

Images: EEF

Read more...

News: Siemens Energy boss to discuss offshore wind and factory plans at GMF

Matthew Chinn, managing director, Siemens Energy UK and Ireland, will give a keynote speech at the Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) in Rotherham about Siemens' plans for Green Port Hull and the Paull wind turbine blade factory development.

Siemens recently confirmed a £160m investment in Green Port Hull at the city's Alexandra Dock and in a new blade factory in Paull, East Yorkshire. The total combined investment with Associated British Ports is £310m.

The investment is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs at the two sites making offshore wind turbine blades, the assembly of nacelles and related construction, service and logistics activities.

Firms in the Sheffield city region are set to benefit from the German firm's UK supply chains.

Matthew Chinn was appointed as managing director for Siemens Energy division in the UK and Ireland in April 2010. He has more than 20-years experience in the UK energy sector. He said: "We are delighted that this important investment in offshore renewable energy and in the city of Hull has been approved, after what has been a long wait for many.

"Representing some £310m of investment with Associated British Ports, the two sites offer local and national engineering companies substantial subcontract opportunities worth millions of pounds.

"At the Festival I will outline some of the challenges for the offshore wind industry and explain how our plans for the blade factory and Green Port Hull help address those challenges."

Senior Siemens Energy procurement executives will attend the Festival to answer visitors questions about applying for supplier agreements.

The GMF has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) last year and will return with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers, workshops and 150 exhibitors set to form proceedings on June 24 - 25.

Part of the UK's International Festival for Business, GMF is being organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Marketing Sheffield.

The conference and trade show is free to attend and registration is open now.

GMF website
Siemens website

Images: Siemens

Read more...

News: Speakers announced for Global Manufacturing Festival 2014

Top level representatives from the world's leading manufacturers will be speaking at The Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) 2014 in Rotherham in June.

The GMF has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) last year and will return with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers, workshops and 150 exhibitors set to form proceedings on June 24 - 25.

Part of the UK's International Festival for Business, GMF is being organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Marketing Sheffield.

Also taking place at several sites in the Sheffield city region, GMF is devised to connect hundreds of smaller companies to big firms and support networks with the aim of growing manufacturing capability in the region. The industry sectors covered this year are Automotive, Aerospace, Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy.

Colin Sirett, head of research and technology at Airbus, will explain his company's work on lightweighting, and how Airbus works within the Aerospace Growth Partnership to both grow UK aerospace manufacturing capability and assess the capability of suppliers.

Sirett said: " With the emerging infrastructure under the guidance of the Aerospace Growth Partnership, the Aerospace Technology Institute and the National Aerospace Technology Programme, the advice to be shared with SMEs at the Festival will be the future direction is for the Airbus Technology and Operational activities.

"In particular, I will outline how future demand is directing the Airbus product development, what mechanisms are available to support the whole industry in the development of their capabilities and how SMEs can best present their capabilities to gain a future position on the developing aircraft products.

"The UK aerospace industry is the second-largest in the world, after the United States, and employs more than 100,000 people across the country. We are starting from a position of strength, but we need the mechanisms in place to support the investment in metallic, composite, aerodynamics, aircraft systems and manufacturing technologies. Between the Aerospace Technology Institute and National Aerospace Technology Programme initiatives, this support covers both large companies and SMEs."

Mike Wright, executive director of Jaguar Land Rover, will present at the conference on his appointment by the Labour Party as a "supply chain investigator" for the automotive industry, tasked with assessing the capability of British automotive suppliers and their capacity to scale up to supply more car plants in Britain.

Simon Kirby, recently appointed as Chief Executive – Construction to work on the HS2 project is also confirmed. As are Lukas Jiranek, Beckett MIM Ltd; Dirk Aderhold, Automising Systems Ltd; Dominic M'Benga, 4 Navitas Ltd and Mike Maddock of PES Ltd.

Paul Houghton, partner at global accounting organisation, Grant Thornton, said: "Grant Thornton is proud to sponsor the 2014 Global Manufacturing Festival. Generating one sixth of the UK’s overall wealth, two thirds of its exports and 3 million jobs, manufacturing plays an absolutely vital role in the Sheffield City Region and the greater UK economy.

"The Global Manufacturing Festival is an important event, bringing industry experts from high growth market sectors together, encouraging collaboration and allowing businesses to exploit opportunities and thrive."

GMF website

Images: GMF

Read more...

News: Get up to speed again in 2014

Get Up To Speed (GUTS), the premier event in the region aimed at inspiring the next generation of manufacturers and engineers, is back for its fourth year.

Attended by almost 3,500 people in the past three years, the events have been a chance for visitors to see some of the fastest vehicles, innovations and people on earth all in one place. Attendees get to learn about how their success has been achieved and the fundamental role design, engineering and manufacturing have played in that success. Families, young people and teachers learn about exciting career opportunities in the manufacturing sector within the region.

The event this year takes place on April 8 at Eksan's The Blue Shed in Sheffield and speaking on the day is Paralympic Gold Medal Cyclist Mark Colbourne MBE, who won a gold and two silver medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A focus at the event will be how design and engineering is used in cycling in the build up to the visit of the Tour de France later this year.

On display will be the WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car being developed by researchers at the University of Warwick which is powered by chocolate, steered by carrots, has bodywork made from potatoes, and can still do 125mph around corners.

Rotherham's F1 Showcars will be at GUTS again in 2014. This amazing F1 Simulator will be available free of charge for attendees to try their hand at Formula 1 racing, around the famous Silverstone race circuit.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local world class engineering and manufacturing businesses to discuss career opportunities and to talk to current apprentices and recent graduates about working in the sector and what skills and qualifications will be beneficial to them.

Get Up to Speed will this year be rounding off the day's events with a tasty Hog Roast, to provide a great networking opportunity for local companies. The following day, a free practical workshop session is taking place to help SME's attract, recruit and keep future talent.

As well as the hosts, other sponsors of the vent include Tata Steel, Northern Power Grid, Barclays, RiDO, Creative Sheffield, work-wise, The AMRC Training Centre, The IMechE and Very Creative.

Get Up To Speed is a fringe event for the Global Manufacturing Festival that is taking place at The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham on June 24 -25.

Get Up To Speed website

Images: F1 Showcars

Read more...

News: Global Manufacturing Festival returns to Rotherham for 2014

The Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) 2014 will take place at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham on June 24 - 25 and is set to be part of the massive International Festival for Business (IFB).

The Global Manufacturing Festival has been running since 2011 and has grown in popularity each year with some of the world's biggest manufacturing and engineering companies attending. It was held for the first time at the AMP last year and will return with a trade show and conference, keynote speakers, workshops and 150 exhibitors set to form proceedings.

The festival is being organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Marketing Sheffield.

IFB is an ambitious programme of global business events running throughout June and July 2014. With government backing, it is set to be the largest international business event in the world in 2014, and the largest business event in the UK for over a decade. It aims to be global, entrepreneurial and accelerate the growth of UK business into international markets.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: "Linking the Global Manufacturing Festival with the IFB will give a world-wide accreditation to the importance of the event.

"Our vision is it to make the GMF the premier national high technology, high quality and high added value manufacturing festival that sells UK industry to the world, and we are delighted to team up with the IFB in 2014.

"#GMF2014 has been specifically designed to help SMEs understand the high performance materials supply chains for a broad range of high growth market sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, energy and oil and gas. It will help them access those markets and offer advice on where to focus investments to gain future business."

Taking place, mainly in Liverpool, the IFB will focus on key areas of commerce that are transforming the business landscape of Britain and beyond, including manufacturing, science & technology; maritime, logistics & energy; knowledge, professional & financial services; higher & further education & research; low carbon & renewables; cities, enterprise & urban business; knowledge, creative & digital and, of course, the multi-million pound business of sport.

Speaking at a recent launch event, Lord Green, Minister for Trade & Investment, said that the: "IFB gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the whole of business and the opportunities for investment in Britain" and described the festival as a very important statement for Britain, that will "redefine the great North-South divide".

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: Global Manufacturing Festival

Read more...

News: Rolls-Royce discuss prospects for nuclear and aerospace sectors at GMF

Work on the planned Rolls-Royce civil nuclear manufacturing facility in Rotherham will start when the world-renowned engineers receive the first orders for its nuclear components.

Professor Steve Garwood of Rolls-Royce Nuclear (pictured above) was a key speaker at the recent Global Manufacturing Festival on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and gave an update on the UK being on the verge of a new nuclear renaissance.

In the UK, the new generation of nuclear power stations will require a total investment of around £60 billion. Recent positive moves include planning permission being granted for a nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, the UK's official nuclear regulators approving the design of Areva's EPR reactor for use in the UK, and Hitachi acquiring Horizon, the UK new nuclear power station business from E.ON UK and RWE npower.

On Rolls-Royce developing its nuclear business, Professor Garwood said: "We have aspirations for building a civil nuclear factory at some point in the UK, when there are orders. So we are really on the brink.

"We do have an aspiration, particularly if we start building civil nuclear components in the UK, to attack the global market with that factory, not just base it on UK requirements."

Plans for a state-of-the-art factory for Rolls-Royce at AMP in Rotherham have been approved. The 21,000 sq m "Project PoWeR" facility is proposed for manufacturing and assembling power vessels for the next generation of nuclear power stations. It will bring another 180 of the initial 360 jobs from Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce is aiming to produce large components, up to 150 tons, such as pressurisers, core make up tanks and heat exchangers.

Professor Garwood also highlighted the pedigree of Rolls-Royce in the nuclear submarine sector and the expansion of facilities in Derby (employing 1,400 nuclear engineers) and also discussed the importance of its involvement in research and development, particularly as the lead industrial partner in the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on the AMP.

Summarising, Professor Garwood said that the only way the UK can compete in the nuclear sector is by focusing on high value manufacturing. He added: "Forget high volumes, forget mass employment actually. We need to develop the techniques taking us to a technological edge above the rest of the world.

"For this to work we need absolute synergy between the universities, the manufacturing research centres, the supply chain and people like Rolls-Royce. And, in fact, the government need to oil the wheels. You can't just say 'market forces take over,' it doesn't work in the nuclear industry."

Andy Page, strategic purchase executive for Rolls-Royce, was also a key speaker at the Global Manufacturing Festival. He provided an update on the company's involvement in the aerospace sector, a sector where future production is much more set in stone than civil nuclear.

Page estimated that 27,000 new aircraft will be needed over the next 20 years. "This stuff is going to happen," he said. "We have a growing order book of around £60 billion and the challenge now will be on delivering as opposed to winning orders."

Page added that it took Rolls-Royce 18 years to produce the previous 2,000 of its iconic Trent engines, the next 2,000 will take only five years.

To do that means the continuation of the groundbreaking research in new manufacturing techniques and materials carried out at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing on the AMP.

"Technology and capability is key" added Page. "The UK needs to improve technologies to give itself an advantage."

Improvements are taking place in productivity, supply chains, financing and management and Rolls-Royce is investing in the next generation of engineers with a new apprentice academy.

Rapid progress is also being made on the new Advanced Blade Casting Facility currently being constructed at the AMP.

The 14,900 sq m facility will use cutting edge manufacturing techniques to produce single crystal turbine blades, which play a critical role in jet engines and are required to withstand centrifugal loads of up to ten tonnes while operating at up to 200 degrees above the melting point of their alloy.

The Rotherham facility will be capable of manufacturing 100,000 blades per year when fully operational in 2014.

Rolls-Royce website
Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Global Manufacturing Festival underway

The main exhibition of Global Manufacturing Festival takes place today at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham.

The event has proved very popular and all 1,000 tickets have been taken, as delegates gain the opportunity to meet senior executives and buyers from Rolls Royce, Boeing, Siemens, Tata Steel and other global players.

The festival is designed to connect SME's in the UK's materials based engineering supply chains with major international customers and at the same time highlight why the Sheffield city region is at the centre of UK manufacturing.

Taking place on April 17-19 2013, the festival includes a conference and trade show, a number of factory visits, an education showcase and a formal dinner.

On the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), the free to attend exhibition will be split into four themes, each with high profile speakers, and a uniquely focused trade show of up to 70 premium quality exhibitors from the advanced manufacturing and material industry.

James Newman, chairman of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said: "The demand for this event demonstrates how important manufacturing is to the regional and national economy.

"The LEP is proud to support the Global Manufacturing Festival and I am delighted to hear the event has sold out. I'm looking forward to seeing Sheffield City Region showcase its world class strength in advanced manufacturing.

"It is symbolic that this event is being held on the Advanced Manufacturing Park – home to world-class research and manufacturing organisations including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Castings Technology International, Dormer Tools, Sandvik Coromant, TWI's Yorkshire Technology Centre and the new Nuclear AMRC."

Yesterday saw the hundreds of school children and students get the opportunity to see some of fastest vehicles, innovations and people on earth all in one place at the "Get up to Speed" event at Ekspan's Blue Shed in Sheffield. Headline attractions included Quicksilver, the world water speed record challenge boat and The AMRC's MANTRA lorry showcasing the groundbreaking work undertaken on the AMP. Marussia's F1 showcar returned, as did the Formula 1 simulator and PES Ltd's skeleton bobsleigh simulator.

The Global Manufacturing Festival is organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Marketing Sheffield and The Cutlers Company.

The GMF event is headline sponsored by; Nabarro, Siemens, Tata Steel, NatWest, Creative Sheffield, University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Region LEP and Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RIDO).

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: The AMRC

Read more...

News: Rotherham to host Global Manufacturing Festival 2013

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham is to host the Global Manufacturing Festival this April.

The festival is designed to connect SME's in the UK's materials based engineering supply chains with major international customers and at the same time highlight why the Sheffield city region is at the centre of UK manufacturing.

Taking place on April 17-19 2013, the festival includes a conference and trade show, a number of factory visits, an education showcase and a formal dinner.

On the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) on April 18, the free to attend exhibition will be split into four themes, each with high profile speakers, and a uniquely focused trade show of up to 70 premium quality exhibitors from the advanced manufacturing and material industry.

Andy Page from Rolls-Royce and Simon Boon from Firth Rixson will discuss the aerospace sector and Dave Oswin from Rotherham's MTL Group Ltd will talk about the renewable energy sector with Jurgen Maier from Siemens.

Surgical Innovation's CEO Graham Bowland has been confirmed as a speaker for the medical sector and the nuclear sector will be represented by Jeff Benjamin from Rolls-Royce Nuclear and Mike Hawe from Nuclear Engineering Services Ltd.

Neil MacDonald, the Master Cutler and one of the key organisers behind the festival, said: "2013 sees the third annual Global Manufacturing Festival, and the event is now firmly established on the national business calendar.

"We are delighted that this year it will be held at the AMRC, which in just a few years has become a world class research and manufacturing facility and the exemplar of what can be achieved when the private and public sector work together."

At a recent launch event in London, leaders from world industry committed their organisations to backing the festival. Key figures from Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Siemens and Tata Steel responded with a unanimous yes when asked if their buyers would attend the event.

Mark Broxholme, managing director, Speciality Steels at Tata Steel (pictured, above) also highlighted the reasons for the group's regional investment. He said: "Tata Steel is an international company and has choices on where it invests, and I am pleased to say that Sheffield and South Yorkshire is a good place to be. Actually we see no better place to be. Because of the skills base and the platform this gives us for global business, we have invested over £35m in the last three years."

As part of the launch, the AMRC's Mantra lorry, a travelling showcase for advanced engineering, visited Parliament where representatives and apprentices from the city region's top companies highlighted the cutting edge techniques that are key to modern manufacturing.

The festival is organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Marketing Sheffield and The Cutlers Company.

The GMF event is headline sponsored by; Nabarro, Siemens, Tata Steel, NatWest, Creative Sheffield, University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Region LEP and Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RIDO).

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: Big Box Photography / Global Manufacturing Festival

Read more...

News: Get Up to Speed with manufacturing

Tata Steel is one of the headline sponsors of the Get Up to Speed (GUTS) skills event which is part of a major manufacturing and engineering festival, the Global Manufacturing Festival: Sheffield.

Tata Steel along with Firth Rixson, Ekspan and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are the headline sponsors of the GUTS event which is being delivered in partnership with Business & Education South Yorkshire (b&e), Creative Sheffield and TDC.

The GUTS event in Sheffield this Wednesday is where families, young people and teachers will learn about exciting career opportunities in the manufacturing sector within the region. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local world class engineering and manufacturing businesses to discuss career opportunities and to talk to current apprentices and recent graduates about working in the sector and what skills and qualifications will be beneficial to them.

The event will feature the world's fastest boat – the Vestas Sailrocket, a Marussia racing Formula 1 show car, a virtual reality centre for dismantling a virtual jet engine, an exhibit featuring the legendary Vulcan Bomber as well as a skeleton bobsleigh simulator.

John Barber, business development manager at b&e, said: "This dynamic event is aimed at showcasing the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors to school children, students and parents and build confidence in the sector as a good place to work.

"Many of the products on show at the event would not be in existence without the innovation, design, engineering and manufacturing talent and resources based in the Sheffield City Region, so it is a great way of highlighting our expertise."

Mick Hood, HR director for Tata Steel's speciality steels business, added: "We are sponsoring the Get up to Speed event to help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers and showcase the expertise in the South Yorkshire region.

"Our current apprentices will be available to talk to families and young people who may be interested in an exciting career in the manufacturing and engineering industry."

Tata Steel recently launched the next round of recruitment for apprentices in South Yorkshire and Mick added: "We have already had a tremendous response from people interested in becoming a Tata Steel apprentice and we hope this event will inspire others to apply for our prestigious apprentice training programme."

Tata Steel website
Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Free ticket offer for Global Manufacturing Festival

Local companies are being offered a free ticket to the Global Manufacturing Festival if they bring a business from outside of the Sheffield city region to the popular event.

Businesses which purchase a ticket for the convention and trade show at Sheffield City Hall on March 22 will be able to take a partner organisation from across the UK or internationally free of charge.

The Global Manufacturing Festival is being organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Sheffield. It will focus on the critical issues which enable businesses to compete and thrive in the future, including creating products for many sectors, competing on technology and building trade with new markets.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is our ambition that this event will enable companies from the Sheffield city region to develop long-term business relationships with national and international partners.

"We hope this ticket offer will support existing business partnerships and help create and develop new ones to grow the region's economy.

"Trading nationally and internationally, either directly or indirectly through supply chains, creates wealth, which will benefit other sectors and develop more opportunities for businesses, ultimately building our region's economy."

Brendan Moffett, director of Marketing Sheffield, added: "This is a great opportunity for Sheffield city region businesses to bring a new supply chain prospect or existing customer to the city, and show them the incredible strength we have in advanced materials and metals, hopefully leading to new business opportunities."

The Global Manufacturing Festival is designed to highlight the importance of advanced manufacturing and engineering to the UK's economic future and the magnitude of inspiring the next generation of engineers.

The inaugural event last year registered nearly 2,000 attendees across eight major events.

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Young engineers to Get Up to Speed again

Budding engineers and manufacturers from across the region are being invited to a unique event to see some of the world's fastest vehicles and learn what key roles local companies played in their creation.

The Get Up to Speed - Skills and Education Show on March 21, part of the Global Manufacturing Festival, will give youngsters the chance to meet leading local businesses to learn about the fundamental role design, engineering and manufacturing have played in their success.


Former Tomorrow's World presenter Maggie Philbin, now the face of technology for the BBC, will also be at the event, alongside Paul Larsen, world record holding pilot of the Vestas Sailrocket, women's Bobsleigh World Champion, Nicola Minichello, and members of the British triathlon performance team, Lois Rosindale and Gordon Benson.

The event will feature the world's fastest boat – the Vestas Sailrocket, a Marussia racing Formula 1 show car and the legendary Vulcan Bomber.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak to the engineering and manufacturing businesses about career opportunities and to talk to apprentices about working in the sector and what skills and qualifications will be beneficial to them.

The event at Ekspan's The Blue Shed in Sheffield, sponsored by Tata Steel, Firth Rixson, Ekspan and Institution of Mechanical Engineers and delivered in partnership with Business & Education South Yorkshire (b&e), Creative Sheffield and TDC.

The Skeleton simulator developed by Rotherham-based Bromley Technologies Ltd and Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd will also be at the event along with the Formula One simulator from Rotherham company, F1 Showcars.

Global Manufacturing Festival website
B&ESY website

Images: Global Manufacturing Festival

Read more...

News: AMRC apprentice is the face of Global Manufacturing Festival

Sam Biddleston, who is training at The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham, is being featured in the publicity for the prestigious Global Manufacturing Festival being held in Sheffield next month.

Up to six apprentices are taken on at the AMRC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park each year. The apprenticeship programme has been running for five years and so far 11 have completed the programme. One is working in industry and the other ten are working as technicians and engineers within the AMRC and Nuclear AMRC.

17-year-old Sam from Sprotborough, said: "Since starting my apprenticeship last year, I've found the work very interesting and have learned valuable skills for my later career. Thanks to the good relations between all the partner companies, the AMRC is giving me opportunities that I wouldn't have at other places."

From next autumn, the AMRC will be taking 200 apprentices a year into the new Advanced Manufacturing Institute Training Centre - based in purpose-built facilities alongside the current AMRC campus. The Training Centre will provide high-level engineering apprentice training for manufacturing companies of all sizes across the Sheffield city region.

Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, executive dean of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute, said: "Our apprentices play a key role in the AMRC, working alongside our researchers and industrial partners and gaining experience at the cutting edge of manufacturing technology.

"Sam and our other apprentices are laying solid foundations for their careers, whether they go on to work in industry when they are qualified or continue into higher study and research.

"Our new Training Centre, opening next year, will work with local businesses to give 200 young people a year the same opportunity to build a great career in high value manufacturing."

The Global Manufacturing Festival is for businesses operating in the high technology, high quality, export led manufacturing supply chains. It includes a number of high profile events around the Sheffield city region in March.

Global Manufacturing Festival website
AMRC website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Boeing president to speak at Global Manufacturing Festival

Sir Roger Bone, President of Boeing UK, will be the first high-profile guest speaker at this year's Global Manufacturing Festival, which takes place in Sheffield this March.

Sir Roger will officially launch the event with a lecture organised by the University of Sheffield, which will be held at the institution's Octagon Centre on March 21, in association with Sheffield Hallam University.

Boeing was the founding member of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

Responsible for coordinating all Boeing business activities in the UK, Sir Roger was appointed an honorary ambassador for British business by the Prime Minister in 2010.

The festival will also host a Get Up To Speed – Skills and Education Show on March 21, which will be open to young people, schools, parents and students who wish to meet with local engineering and manufacturing businesses.

An international convention and trade show will take place at the City Hall, Sheffield on March 22, with business leaders from around the globe attending.

Key themes at the convention will cover the three critical areas of UK strategy and support, new markets and opportunities, and technology and commercialisation.

Speakers confirmed include Ric Parker from Rolls-Royce, Dr. Alan McLelland from NAMTEC, Alan Cumming of EDF Energy, Andrew Peters from Siemens Drive Technologies, Sir Chris O'Donnell former CEO of Smith & Nephew and Professor Keith Ridgway CBE Executive Dean of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Institute.

Later that evening, the festival will come to a close with the Made in Sheffield awards dinner at the Cutlers' Hall.

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Global Manufacturing Festival set for return

Preparations are well underway for the second Global Manufacturing Festival which will take place in Sheffield on March 21 - 22 2012.

The event is designed to highlight the importance of advanced manufacturing and engineering to the UK's economic future and the magnitude of inspiring the next generation of engineers.

The inaugural event last year registered nearly 2,000 attendees across eight major events and featured world class speakers from Boeing, Siemens, Westinghouse, EDF, the Government and many others.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber, said: "The inaugural Global Manufacturing Festival was a good foundation to develop a unique event in the city which has international reach.

"Early feedback from the March 2011 festival was the need to ensure it provided a significant value added offer to businesses, sponsors and contributors, where economic return can be gained.

"We are reassessing the event format and see it becoming a trade show style gathering of the world's leaders in manufacturing, sharing best practice and ultimately securing contacts for to future partnerships, which will be key to ensuring the city region ultimately benefits."

For the 2012 festival, Sheffield Chamber has joined forces with Marketing Sheffield (the city marketing function of Sheffield City Council), The Cutlers Company and Creative Sheffield in organising a series of focused events, exhibitions, conferences and workshops, with guest speakers from the world of manufacturing, engineering, politics and education.

The organisers want the festival to become the premier national high technology, high quality and high added value manufacturing festival that sells UK manufacturing to the world.

Richard added: "UK manufacturing businesses can compete in international markets if they do the right things and focus on export led, high technology and high added value supply chains, which is critical.

"The Global Manufacturing Festival does, and will continue, to do just that. This is exactly the event for companies to attend who wish to enter export markets or grow existing ones."

Global Manufacturing Festival website

Images: globalmanufacturingfestival.com

Read more...

News: Newburgh apprentices hand over Bloodhound parts

Apprentices at Newburgh Engineering in Rotherham presented precision engineered Spin Test Rig parts for the Bloodhound SCC to Richard Noble OBE, at an event held in Sheffield recently.

Engineering apprentices Luke Thickett and Edward Middleton handed over the parts that were manufactured at Newburgh's Templeborough facility at the "Get up to Speed" event held as part of the Global Manufacturing Festival in Sheffield.

Vincent Middleton, Managing Director of Newburgh Engineering, said: "We are delighted to be involved with the prestigious Bloodhound SSC project, not only because it helps to promote this region's engineering expertise on an international scale, but the project is also helping to inspire many young people to pursue careers in engineering.

"This is a really exciting industry and one where the skill and expertise of our staff is critical. We recognise the important of investing in the training and development of the next generation of young engineers and it is apprentices like Luke and Edward, who will ensure we can continue to lead the field in precision engineering long into the future."

Noble is a former land speed record holder and is now the driving force behind the Bloodhound SSC project which has the twin aims of reaching 1,000mph on land and of inspiring future generations of engineers and scientists.

At the event, Richard thanked Newburgh Engineering staff for their contribution which has included producing a number of components for the prototype vehicle and equipment to test the stability of the sand in order to select the perfect site on which to make the record attempt. Following these tests, a site in South Africa has been selected for the run, which is due to take place in Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape next year.

Newburgh Engineering website
Bloodhound SSC website

Images: Newburgh Engineering

Read more...

News: Event inspires young people about opportunities in engineering

NAMTEC, the National Metals Technology Centre, based in Rotherham, sponsored an event recently that gave 200 pupils from schools across South Yorkshire the chance to meet with some of the region's leading engineering companies.

The "Inform, Involve, Inspire" event, which was held at Sheffield Hallam University, was organised by the Industrial Trust involved pupils from Dinnington and Brinsworth.

TV presenter and broadcast engineer Kate Bellingham, who presented Tomorrow's World in the 1990s and is also the President of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), spoke with enthusiasm about her role as a broadcast engineer and how there are a world of opportunities out there for young people who want a challenging, exciting career.

Kate Bellingham said: "I was thrilled to speak to the students here today about how I made my career in engineering and why I love it so much! There was a real buzz about the place and it is so exciting to see their enthusiasm. It was encouraging to see so many young women here too – and all the signs are that this region’s businesses will have a strong pool of talented young engineers to call on in the not too distant future!"

Following Kate Bellingham's inspiring talk, the students had the chance to take part in a "speed networking" session, where they could engage with engineers working for companies within the South Yorkshire region. Businesses involved included Tata Steel, Gripple, JRI, DavyMarkham, Bridon International, Brinsworth Training, Kostal, Outokumpu, RCAT, Siemens VAI, Newburgh Engineering, Sheffield Forgemasters and IMechE.

Engineering staff at Sheffield Hallam University also gave students an outline of the many different pathways into engineering, where pupils had the chance to ask questions about their particular areas of interest.

A range of engineering workshops throughout the day also highlighted advanced technologies within Sheffield Hallam University that aim to increase understanding and inspire students to pursue engineering-related courses.

Paul Grant, Commercial Manager of NAMTEC, said: "This event gave young people the opportunity to come face to face with engineers to ask them exactly what they wanted to know and to find out more about the routes into a wide variety of engineering roles.

"It has been a huge success and we were delighted to be involved in an activity that should help this region's manufacturing and engineering businesses to recruit high calibre young engineers of the future."

This was the second event with which NAMTEC was involved that formed part of the Global Manufacturing Festival: Sheffield.

NAMTEC website

Images: NAMTEC

Read more...