News: McLaren planning to expand its Rotherham manufacturing site

McLaren Automotive is set to create additional operational capacity at its multimillion pound facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, if plans are approved.

Opened in 2018 in Rotherham, the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) has established itself as a world-leader in lightweight carbon fibre construction for the automotive industry.

The company’s cars are designed and produced in-house through their production facilities, including Rotherham, which produces the carbon fibre monocoque chassis for their road cars. The MCTC is where the McLaren carbon lightweight architecture for the McLaren Artura high-performance hybrid supercar is constructed.

A planning application has now been submitted that would enable McLaren to erect a temporary building within the existing service yard on the AMP.

Plans, drawn up by agents at tor&co explain: "The building is intended as a temporary operational solution for a period of up to five years to enable the continued effective operation of the Composites Technology Centre whilst longer-term proposals for a permanent solution is secured.

"The temporary storage building is therefore required to address an immediate operational need arising from existing activities whilst allowing sufficient time for the design, funding, and delivery of a permanent building solution within the locality as part of the wider / longer term site operations strategy.

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"Whilst the proposal would not directly create additional employment, it would support the continued efficient operation of an existing advanced manufacturing facility within one of the Borough’s key economic growth locations. The development would continue to support the operational resilience and longterm functionality of an established advanced manufacturing business."

The temporary storage area would provide the 75,000 sq ft purpose built unit with an extra 7,265sq ft which would contain storage racking together with a small ancillary office cabin.

Rothbiz reported in March that Harworth, master developer for the AMP, had sold the McLaren unit that it built for the supercar manufacturer. Harworth sold the Rotherham unit as one of five assets totalling 800,000 sq ft for a headline sales value of £47.7m, reflecting a blended net initial yield of 7.6%.

McLaren Automotive website

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News: Turnover and profits up at CW Fletcher

A precision engineering firm based in Rotherham continues to fly high in the aerospace sector but delays with a large nuclear contract is stifling its diversification strategy.

Turnover and profit both increased in CW Fletcher's latest financial results.

CW Fletcher supplies a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, nuclear and space exploration. Its "Sterling Works" is part of a 9.5-acre combined site located at Wales Bar in Rotherham where high-strength, lightweight assemblies in ordinary and exotic metallic materials are fabricated and high value-added components are machined.

In recent years the historic company secured a £160m, ten-year contract with Rolls-Royce in 2019 and is working with Brompton to manufacture the titanium frames for the folding bike brand.

In 2024, CW Fletcher secured a contract relating to the supply of High Integrity Stainless Steel Containers (HISSC) through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Sellafield Ltd.

The lot was worth £69.6m and would see CW Fletcer manufacture containers for radioactive waste. The boxes are built from duplex stainless steel and are highly engineered to allow any hydrogen to be safely vented. Each box weighs over a tonne and is designed to safely store radioactive waste for at least 500 years.

But for the last two years, the Rotherham firm has reported on delays to the contract.

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It the latest accounts for the year ending December 2025, Rebecca Willis, director of CW Fletcher, said: "Due to the change in government and current UK budget strategy, the substanial [sic] nuclear project that we secured in 2024 is still on hold."

The board said that it was not concerned from a turnover growth view point but the delay has impacted the company's long term strategic priority for the diversification of the business into new markets beyond aerospace.

For the year end December 2025, CW Fletcher posted a turnover of £26.7m (up from £21.3m in 2024) and a pre-tax profit of £1.8m (up from £772.1k in the previous year).

The accounts added: "In the near term, however, the need to meet rapidly increasing demand from our existing aerospace customers is requiring us to focus resources on current programmes, limiting the pace at which we can pursue new market opportunities.

"The increasing demand for output in the civil aerospace sector continues to place pressure on internal resources and capacity, making it more challenging to progress our strategic objective of entering new markets. To help address these constraints, a new machine was commissioned and brought into operation in March 2026, providing additional capacity and supporting our ability to meet both current and future requirements."

The company has also worked with its bank and customers to enable the advance reservation of critical materials and ensure a continuity of supply.

CW Flecther website

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News: £5m backing would bring world leading fusion technology test rigs to Rotherham

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is weighing up support for the acceleration of high priority test rig capabilities within an existing Fusion Energy Technology Centre in Rotherham.

The £5m investment would help create up to 25 jobs and four apprenticeships by the end of 2027.

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), which has a mission to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic benefit, opened a £22m facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in 2021. Now renamed UKAEA South Yorkshire, the facility has expanded operations and deepened industry collaborations on advanced engineering projects, strengthening UKAEA's regional presence in materials, components and robotics testing.

The next investment from the government research organisation, previously codenamed Project Caerus, would involve two rigs (experimental facilities).

A High Heat Flux (HHF) Laser Facility (HALO) enables researchers to expose materials and components to extreme thermal loads similar to those found in fusion environments and to rapidly cycle these loads. This capability underpins critical research into materials resilience and fatigue, as well as structural integrity which is essential for designing future fusion reactors.

The new rig should also support high-performance industries such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and next generation materials engineering, where understanding heat stress and failure modes is essential for innovation.

The second test rig is called Fusion Oriented Robotics Technology (FORT) - the first Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) rig located at the Rotherham facility, making it a significant milestone for the region.

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UKAEA’s work spans materials, technology and engineering research. Their robotics division specialises in remote handling in extreme industrial environments. The new addition to the AMP facility is expected to attract specialist engineering, controls, software, and mechatronics expertise into South Yorkshire.

Much like HALO, other industries are also set to benefit such as those that use precision manufacturing, autonomous systems, and complex industrial operations, where remote manipulation and inspection have high economic value.

An update from the UKAEA said: "Together, these rigs represent a strategic, future-facing investment that supports scientific progress, economic benefit, strengthens regional competitiveness, and increases the UK’s ability to develop and export high-value technologies. This investment will contribute both to UKAEA’s national mission and UKAEA South Yorkshire’s economic ambitions."

The site’s expanded role aims to attract other UKAEA directorates to base teams in the region, leveraging the strong local talent pool, and deepening UKAEA’s presence in the north of England.

Professor Dennis Whyte has recently been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of UKAEA Group which has 2,600 people across four sites - over 60 are based in Rotherham.

Prof. Whyte said: "I am excited to be joining the exceptional team at UKAEA, which has a compelling plan for delivering commercial fusion energy, developing key technologies for fusion energy extraction, and the largest workforce in the world committed to advancing the development of fusion science and engineering in its widest forms."

UKAEA website

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News: AES Engineering global expansion continues

Rotherham-based AES Engineering Ltd has further increased its reliability services and product offering in the Middle East by acquiring a controlling stake in the reliability companies Technomax Middle East Engineering LLC and Technomax Industrial Services LLC for an undisclosed sum.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL manufactures seals to stop leakage of harmful liquids and gases into the environment for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

Both Technomax companies will fall under the operating structure of the recently formed ADGM UAE company, AVT Reliability Middle East and North Africa.

This latest expansion in the global market follows acquisitions in the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and USA.

Technomax, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is specialised in all industrial segments and focuses primarily on the oil and gas, power generation, municipal water and desalination sectors.

They are a recognised leader in reliability and vibration monitoring services, executing prevention and problem solving with machinery, foundations and structures. Technomax also provide crane monitoring/service as part of their portfolio.

Technomax operates many long-term reliability contracts, with prestigious end users in the Middle East onshore and offshore industrial sectors, assisting them with plant wide reliability improvement and optimisation on thousands of rotating machinery assets and equipment on a daily basis.

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The acquisition will allow the existing customers of Technomax to benefit from a wider product and service offering from the AES Reliability Group of companies.

In particular, by joining the AES Engineering Group, Technomax customers gain access to world-class reliability products such as Machine Sentry, the cloud-based condition monitoring system, and EasyBrace, the universal bracing system designed for the reduction of structural vibration in small bore pipes.

Founder and managing director Shebeaun Mohammed Sherief said: "When considering the next chapter for Technomax, it was important for me to find a partner who shared our values, our commitment to customers and our long-term vision. Choosing AES Engineering Ltd was therefore a natural decision. This partnership enables us to better support our customers by combining our local experience with the global expertise, talented people, innovative products and engineering solutions of the AVT and AES Group, while positioning the business for continued growth across both our existing and new markets."

AES Engineering Ltd group managing director Chris Rea said: "The acquisition of Technomax supports our strategic decision to globalise our reliability focused businesses and further strengthens our customer reliability offering in the important Middle East market."

AESSEAL website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMRC website

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News: New NED at SBD

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

SBD Apparel is already the global market leader in strength sports apparel, clothing and accessories worldwide. The company, which counts elite strength and fitness athletes across the world amongst its growing client base, as well as being synonymous with the World’s Strongest Man Competition, successfully opened a new manufacturing hub at Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in 2022.

The move to new 100,000 sq ft premises was part of a desire to boost exports. The company now sells in markets including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway and Iceland.

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

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

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

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

SBD Apparel website

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News: Beatson Clark celebrates 275 years of manufacturing in Rotherham

Historic glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark welcomed customers and special guests to its Rotherham site recently to celebrate 275 years of glass packaging manufacturing.

Beatson Clark has been manufacturing glass containers on the same site since it opened in 1751, and it now supplies glass bottles and jars to the food, beverage, healthcare, homeware and personal care sectors across the world.

The company began as a small canalside glassworks, and the Beatson Clark name emerged from a series of partnerships between the Beatson and Clark families for over two centuries. Today, the business is owned by Newship Group, retaining its proud status as an independent, family-run company.

It is the only independent, UK-owned glass container manufacturer, and the oldest glass manufacturer in the country.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion attended the celebration, which featured tours of the glassworks and spray decoration plant, a chance to experience virtual reality training technology, a nostalgic demonstration of glass blowing, and a display of Beatson Clark memorabilia and products.

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Eddie Pickering, Managing Director of Beatson Clark, said: “Beatson Clark has continued to evolve, embracing innovation and investing in new technologies, processes and skills to meet the changing needs of our customers. That willingness to adapt, while remaining true to our core values, has been fundamental to our success.

He continued: “Most importantly, today is a celebration of our people. I am immensely proud to be part of the Beatson Clark team. Their dedication, expertise and resilience continue to drive our business forward.

“As we celebrate this significant milestone, we do so with gratitude for those who have contributed to our success over the last 275 years and with confidence in what the future holds. We remain committed to building on our proud heritage and ensuring that Beatson Clark continues to thrive for generations to come.”

Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, said: “Since the earliest days of the industrial revolution, Beatson Clark has been manufacturing glass in Rotherham. Throughout this time they have consistently provided generations of skilled, well paid jobs.

“Through world wars, economic decline, depression and renewal, Beatson Clark has endured, helping to drive our regional economy.

“I’ve just had a fabulous afternoon learning how to make and decorate glass with them. I want Beatson Clark to continue to thrive for another 275 years. It has been my honour to represent them in Parliament to celebrate their achievements and challenge any threats they face.”

Beatson Clark website

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News: AESSEAL extend Rotherham United stadium naming rights deal

Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, has extended its partnership agreement for the stadium naming rights at Rotherham United.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL manufactures seals to stop leakage of harmful liquids and gases into the environment for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The £20m home of Rotherham United was first called The AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2014. The substantial deal worth six figures was signed two years after the stadium opened on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

With one year remaining on the previous five-year agreement, the AESSEAL New York Stadium name will continue until the end of the 2029/30 season.

Chris Rea, managing director at AESSEAL, said: “We are delighted to extend our long-standing association with Rotherham United Football Club and the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"Over more than a decade, we have built a strong relationship with the club, which in turn benefits the wider Rotherham community.

“The stadium is home to a range of businesses and supports many more across the town, with local trade driven both directly through the club and on matchdays. Some of those may well not be here but for the existence of the club, which has played a vital part in the fabric of Rotherham life since its formation in 1925.

“We were proud to become the club’s first stadium sponsor in 2014, and we remain equally proud to continue that commitment through to the end of the 2029/30 season.”

AESSEAL recognises that Rotherham United could receive a more financially attractive offer from another company and, if that occurs, has told the club it would be willing to step aside.

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Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Rotherham United, said: "We remain massively thankful to Chris Rea, and all colleagues across the AESSEAL Group, for the incredible support and belief afforded to us and the wider Rotherham community.

“We enjoy such a strong relationship, full of admiration and pride, as to what has been achieved both at AESSEAL and for the strength of shared values that have developed for well over a decade.

“The extended stadium naming agreement comes in addition to AESSEAL’s recent commitment to remain a Diamond Partner for the 2026/2027 season, the fourth consecutive year - a collaboration between five local businesses that enables the Rotherham Hospice name and logo to appear in pride of place on the front of shirt position.

“AESSEAL is such a unique success story, having started right here in Rotherham on Mangham Road back in 1979 with just five members of staff.

“Their incredible growth since then now sees them employ over 2,000 people within 108 locations, covering Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and with bases on all four sides of Australia, serving more than 100 countries.

“It is now one of the world’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems and has experienced an incredible 47 years of continuous growth.

“AESSEAL’s reputation in business has been hard-earned and is one that speaks for itself, but it has been really pleasing to see that now translate into the footballing world, in which people immediately associate their name with our first team home.”

RUFC website
AESSEAL website

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News: Talks continue over Speciality Steel sale

Talks remain underway with the preferred bidder for Speciality Steel UK (SSUK), the Minister of State for Industry has confirmed.

Last August, a judge approved an application from creditors to place SSUK, previously part of Liberty Steel and GFG Alliance, into compulsory liquidation. Teneo Financial Advisory Limited were brought in as Special Managers whilst a formal sale process takes place.

The government committed £50m to keep the sites in Rotherham and Stocksbridge open throughout the bidding process. Multiple companies came forward with the government confident a buyer can be found.

In April, the official receiver announced a period of exclusivity with a preferred bidder. Marking the next stage of a future sale agreement, the announcement said that talks were "expected to last approximately five weeks, during which the preferred bidder will progress their bid."

Rotherham MP, Sarah Champion has received confirmation from Chris McDonald MP that those talks remain underway. Champion added: "He made very clear that he does not want the works to close and he is keen for the site to start production at the earliest possible time."

The Financial Times is reporting that Blastr is the preferred bidder.

The steel industry has been a hot topic in Westminster this month with a recent debate on the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill where Sarah Champion used the opportunity to highlight the importance of steel to Rotherham.

The MP said: "Rotherham is a steel town. It has seen the consequences of past Governments’ neglect up close. Speciality Steel, which is based in Rotherham—and Stocksbridge—should be a crown jewel in our economy, but it has been allowed to lurch from crisis to crisis, choked of investment and left at the mercy of unscrupulous ownership, unfair competition and a lack of vision. The plants currently stand still, shuttered amid the fallout of Liberty’s collapse. The workers are furloughed and uncertain about what their futures hold.

"My concern is not limited to Speciality Steel. Steel in Rotherham is at the centre of our local economy, and the crisis has had a substantial impact up and down the supply chain. The Minister’s ambition for steel’s renaissance could also be a rebirth for local businesses and local communities, but that requires investment, foresight and commitment. The Government’s steel strategy sets out a strategic vision for the industry and, crucially, delivers real and profound change for the sector as a whole. With £2.5 billion of investment in the sector and an ambitious but achievable target of 50% of the steel used in Britain to be produced here, the strategy is a blueprint for a revitalised domestic steel industry; it is one that has been roundly welcomed by the sector."

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In the same debate Chris McDonald MP, said: "That business [SSUK] shows the power of a productive Government intervention, working carefully with industry, because the Government have underwritten the costs of the official receiver to allow a proper sale of the business. The official receiver is in exclusive discussions with a potential buyer, and there was a high level of interest in the business from the market.

"As we look forward to the potential sale of the business, we can see the vital role that the Government have played in recognising that steel undertakings are complex, that it can be difficult and can take time to assess them, and that they require high levels of working capital. That contrasts significantly with Governments in the past, who allowed steel companies to close simply by not allowing that process to continue."

In a subsequent debate on steel tariffs, the minister said: "We all understand the position with Speciality Steel UK in Stocksbridge and Rotherham. That business is going through administration, and it was impossible for it to compete in the UK while there was an influx of subsidised steel.

"This Government have decided that we want to have a full aerospace supply chain, including our own speciality steels production. That is a different choice from the one that the previous Government made when they were approached by industry, offering to co-invest in that site and keep it open. They rebuffed all those responses, because their view was, “Leave it to the market, let the steel plants close.” We are making a different choice."

Images: SSUK

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News: AMP transformation makes Rotherham a global story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Northern Powerhouse Partnership website

Images: JPG / AMRC Training / RMBC

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News: Lifco acquires Rotherham firm

Lifco, a Swedish industrial conglomerate, has seen through a deal for a Rotherham-based niche manufacturer of secondary glazing.

Glass Umbrella Ltd is based at Dinnington in Rotherham and trades as Granada Secondary Glazing. Its 74-person team leads the UK in precision secondary glazing.

Granada Glazing has been in business for over 45 years and is the largest manufacturer of secondary glazing products in the UK. Since 1980, the company has made over a million frames, averaging roughly 100 frames a day and around 25,000 every year. It supplies a broad range of high-quality, bespoke products to the trade and commercial sectors, as well as directly to consumers through its Clearview subsidiary.

With net sales of approximately £11m in 2025, the Rotherham firm is expected to be consolidated into a Lifco division in the second quarter of 2026.

Lifco, a SEK 23.8bn (£1.88 billion) turnover industrial group, recognised Granada’s long operating history, differentiated market position and resilient business model. The acquisition provides Granada with a long-term ownership structure that supports its management team and growth strategy, while preserving the business’s operational independence, culture and brand.

The transaction further reflects Lifco’s strategy of acquiring niche, market-leading businesses with strong cash generation and opportunities for sustainable, long-term growth.

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Malcolm White, former owner of Granada, said: “Granada holds a very special place for me – it is a talented team doing genuinely exciting work, and over the years they have demonstrated real professionalism and delivered outstanding results.

"At 70, however, I felt I owed it to that team to ensure the business had the long-term stability and support it deserves – something I felt I could no longer provide alone. I therefore appointed Debrett's to help identify the right partner: someone who would share my belief in what Granada is building.

"I am delighted with Lifco. They understand the long-term vision, and I have every confidence they will back the team to continue their success – without losing the qualities that have made Granada what it is today.”

Debrett’s has advised the shareholde on the deal. Mark Selby, partner at Debrett’s, said: “Granada is a high-quality, market-leading business with a strong culture of innovation and product differentiation. We are delighted to have supported the shareholder in finding the right partner in Lifco, which shares their long-term vision and provides an excellent platform for the next stage of growth.”

Lorna Mendelsöhn, Acquisition Director at Lifco, added: “This transaction is reflective of Lifco’s long‑term acquisition strategy and focus on niche market leaders. We were impressed by the quality of the business and well executed deal process, and we look forward to providing a long‑term home for the business and its team.”

The Debrett’s advisory team comprised Mark Selby, Seb Rowlands, Harveer Gill and Will Mason.

Other advisers included Tom Durrant and Jessica Hopkinson of Squire Patton Boggs, legal advice to the shareholder.

BDO LLP and Walker Morris LLP, tax and legal advice to the buyer respectively.

Granada Secondary Glazing website

Images: Granada Secondary Glazing

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News: AMP-based tech firm secures investment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AddParts website
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News: AESSEAL's thirteen consecutive golds in health and safety excellence

Rotherham-based AESSEAL Plc’s ongoing commitment to health and safety has been endorsed with a 13th consecutive gold accolade in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ 70th anniversary awards.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The RoSPA President’s Gold Award has been granted to AESSEAL in recognition of its exceptional health and safety performance during 2025.

AESSEAL managing director Chris Rea said: "Thirteen consecutive golds are testament to the company’s commitment to keeping its employees safe. This is a landmark year for RoSPA and we are proud to be part of a legacy built on dedication to high safety standards, the well‑being of individuals and a shared commitment to excellence. We committed to making accident prevention a central pillar of our organisation and I am delighted that this has again been recognised with a RoSPA Gold Award.

"The awards began as a small event to recognise the achievements of companies prioritising the safety of workers in the UK, and has now grown into the biggest health and safety awards programme in the world, with 2,000 different entries from almost 60 countries, impacting more than seven million employees."

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RoSPA growth director Julia Small, added: "The high standards AESSEAL has achieved are the result of hard work and dedication, of which AESSEAL should be rightfully proud and which RoSPA is delighted to honour. 2026 is a landmark year for the RoSPA Awards as we reflect on how far workplace safety has come in 70 years. It is because of the commitment of health and safety leaders like AESSEAL that people today are safer at work than in the past, and sets an inspiring example for the future.

"The RoSPA Awards are sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), which provides internationally-recognised health, safety and environmental qualifications that raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace."

NEBOSH chief quality officer and awards head judge Dee Arp said: "These awards are a powerful reminder that protecting people transcends borders, and that supporting employees to return home safe, healthy and happy each day is fundamental to long-term success and resilience.

"AESSEAL's proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks, implementing robust safety protocols, and fostering a safety-first mindset among its workforce was instrumental in achieving this award, said RoSPA."

The award will be presented at a ceremony held in London in June.

AESSEAL website

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News: AESSEAL helps youngsters Get Up to Speed with the rise of the robots

Rotherham manufacturing firm, AESSEAL furthered its commitment to develop the engineers and industry leaders of the future as Gold Sponsor of Get Up to Speed with STEM (GUTS) for the ninth consecutive year.

More than 7,000 students from across the region attended the two-day event last month – the largest of its type in the region – at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

Organised by The Work-wise Foundation, Get Up to Speed provides a platform for young people to connect with businesses, explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, engage with industry professionals, and interact with some of the UK's most exciting innovations.

This year’s theme was Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration – People, Robots & Productivity.

The event had its first day designed for secondary school aged people and above, with primary school pupils aged eight and over and children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) touring the exhibition and attractions on the second day.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

AESSEAL head of UK learning and development Darren Jones said: "We have around 26 different apprenticeships available at any one time. This is about giving young people the opportunity to look at these roles and see if they are a good fit. Employment should be for everybody and we want to tap into the local talent pool and give everybody the chance to have a successful career."

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As well as continuing to invest in talent, AESSEAL has invested in a multimillion pound Factory for the Future - a state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft extension that has almost doubled the site capacity. The expansion was coupled with new robots to help the company to increase productivity by automating mundane processes and free up people for highly skilled work.

Much of the talk at Get Up to Speed was about robots and AI.

AESSEAL IT machine learning developer Elliot Fisher told attendees how AI can save time and increase production through working with humans. He said: "At AESSEAL when we talk about AI we talk about it as if it is just another member of the team. We want to give it a clear role with clear borders and transparency with human oversight. It will only do the job we have told it to do and know when to hand control back. AI will do the heavy lifting, and I think that’s what ‘stronger together’ means. It isn’t going to be humans or AI. It is going to be humans and AI.

AESSEAL CAM mechatronics engineer Lewis Hardy said that there was a huge skills crisis in engineering, but AESSEAL had invested £4.3m in robotic cells, and added: “As people we are very good at making decisions and carrying out manual tasks, and a robot is only as good at making decisions as the engineer who programmed it. We are at the very early stages of adapting automation into manufacturing.”

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News: Rotherham expansion continues as Cepac set to take on closed print premises

A state-of-the-art print facility in Rotherham has closed, according to reports in the trade media.

Near neighbours have already submitted plans to expand into the vacated unit.

Vanacomm, which produced millions of catalogues, brochures and media inserts every week from its Manvers base, has ceased trading according to an article in Printweek.

Vanacomm took on the 120,000 sq ft premises of Garnett Dickinson, which was sold out of administration in a pre-pack deal in 2017 to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

A statement from Vanacomm to Printweek said: “After careful consideration of the current economic climate, the substantial costs of energy contracts and the continued downturn in the UK web offset market, the shareholders of Vanacomm Ltd have come to the conclusion that the company should cease trading with immediate effect.

“The company is not entering into any form of liquidation and with wages paid up to date to the end of last week, we will continue to collect out the book debts with the intention of paying out all creditors.”

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Plans are already in place that could see Cepac, one of the UK’s leading innovators of performance packaging, expand onto Brookfields Park.

Rothbiz reported in September last year on Cepac announcing a £53m investment that will expand its key operations at Manvers.

Founded in 1999, Cepac has established one of the largest and most technologically advanced corrugated packaging plants in the world in Rotherham. Part of the HSA group, it also has operations in Darlington, Doncaster and Rawcliffe.

The "Rotherham 2" project will see investment in infrastructure, equipment and new jobs.

The first phase focuses on "Rotherham 1" - the existing facility that manufactures packaging and where certain machinery is now coming towards the end of its useful life. Plans have recently been approved for an extension of 4,000 sq ft and a proposed mezzanine of 11,400 sq ft to the existing building which will facilitate a wider expansion of the facility.

New plans explain that Cepac are in the process of formally purchasing the Vanacomm building to the south.

The application, drawn up by agents at DPP Planning, show a proposed 7,600 sq ft link building connecting the existing Cepac manufacturing building and Vanacomm building.

The plans state: "Due to increasing demands in the cardboard manufactory industry, the applicants are looking to increase their capacities. The link will send manufactured materials along production line machinery to the Vanacomm building to allow for final packaging and distribution of cardboard products.

"Linking the Vanacomm building to Cepac's current warehouse will facilitate the expansion and modernisation of Cepac's existing production facility which will allow Cepac to safeguard existing local jobs and the company's market position as a leading cardboard manufacturer."

Future plans would involve a new sprinkler tank and pump house and a new substation and switch room.

Cepac website

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News: AMRC launches new scale-up programme

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMRC website

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News: Rotherham metal fabrication company fined

A Rotherham-based metal fabrication company has been sentenced after pleading guilty to health and safety failings that led to a young apprentice being injured by dangerous parts of a metal cutting guillotine during training.

On Friday 8 November 2024, a 17-year-old apprentice at MTL Advanced Ltd was cutting sheet metal in preparation for welding practice as part of their apprenticeship training. The guillotine was located within a dedicated Apprentice Training Workshop, where first-year apprentices learn and practise metal fabrication techniques before moving into the company’s main manufacturing areas in their second and third years.

The apprentice made several successful cuts, but on the final cut their thumb came into contact with the machine’s clamps, causing a crush injury.

The HSE launched an investigation and identified, from documents provided by the company before an on-site visit, that a large gap in the bed of the guillotine was allowing access to dangerous parts of the machinery. Critically, the company had failed to identify this risk even after the incident had taken place.

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A Prohibition Notice was served remotely by HSE to control the ongoing risk. Following its service, HSE Inspectors attended the site and identified further issues with the guillotine requiring immediate remedy.

The company was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,013, with a Victim Surcharge of £2,000, at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety Chris Tilley said: “Young people and apprentices are at the beginning of their career and so when it comes to workplace risks, employers must take particular care to assess those risks and fulfil their duty to keep them safe. Had this machinery been effectively guarded, this injury would never have happened.”

Part of the WEC Group, MTL's Training Academy opened in 2015 and has played a vital role in developing skilled engineers for the future.

MTL Advanced website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fronius UK website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rolls-Royce website

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News: ASD MD becomes Rotherham United's largest shareholder

Tony Stewart OBE, has ceased to be the largest share owner in the holding company that sits above ASD Lighting and Rotherham United.

The founder of the lighting business, and saviour of the football club, has transferred his shareholding to his son.

Richard Stewart, managing director of ASD and vice chairman at Rotherham United has seen his shareholding in ASD Lighting Holdings Ltd increase from 5% to 100%.

In an update, the League One club said that Richard Stewart "therefore indirectly holds 97.06% of the shares in Rotherham United Football Club.

"These changes are administrative in nature and ensure a clear ownership structure for the Club going forward.

"A. R. [Tony] Stewart will remain Chairman of Rotherham United Football Club, while R. P. Stewart will continue as Vice Chairman. Both remain fully committed to the Club and its long-term future.

"All of the aforementioned changes will be reflected on HMRC’s Companies House.

"The Board would like to thank supporters for their continued backing as the Club moves forward with a strengthened financial position and a clear ownership structure."

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The club also announced that it had completed a rights issue which has converted £550,005 of existing debt into equity. The update added: "This strengthens the Club’s balance sheet and reflects the continued commitment of the Club’s ownership to supporting Rotherham United’s long-term financial stability."

Many EFL clubs convert existing debt into equity to stabilise balance sheets and comply with Profitability and Sustainability rules.

Rothbiz reported at the start of the year that the latest accounts of fellow subsidiary ASD Lighting PLC had "included within debtors was £9,467,811 (2024: £5,204,737) due from Rotherham United Football Club (RUFC) Limited. The outstanding balance is repayable on demand."

The figure has risen from £929,150 in 2023.

Tony Stewart, who turns 81 this year, was one of a number of business people invited to the Town Hall with the aim of finding a way of resurrecting the borough's football league club after it fell into administration for the second time in 2008. He ended up going it alone and brought them out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA).

After the takeover came the decision to play home games at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after working hard to get a deal to carry on playing at Millmoor, the club's home for over 100 years.

The club was charged with returning to play home games in its home town within four seasons by the Football League and Stewart, with the backing of his directors at ASD and the club, threw his drive, energy, business sense and money into creating the £20m New York Stadium on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

The iconic stadium hosted its first game in July 2012 and under Tony's tenure the club has enjoyed promotions, Play-off final victories and cup wins at Wembley Stadium, plus a number of relegations, in a period of sensible financial management not always replicated across the league.

ASD Lighting website
RUFC website

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