News: Rolls-Royce's government-backed £2.5bn research and technology programme could support future growth in Rotherham

The UK Government and Rolls-Royce have announced plans for a joint 10-year, £2.5bn research and technology programme to develop cutting-edge gas turbine technologies for civil and defence aerospace, unlocking the biggest opportunity to transform advanced manufacturing across the UK for a generation.

Ministers believe that it provides an opportunity to support future growth in Rotherham.

The programme would advance more efficient and lower-emission jet engine technologies – as Rolls-Royce looks to secure a UK engine position on the next generation of commercial aircraft in the fast growing, high-volume, ‘narrowbody’ market segment – including through an engine demonstrator project. It would also sustain vital development and testing capabilities, strengthening national resilience by supporting the UK’s critical sovereign capabilities in defence aerospace.

Chancellor John Healey made the announcement during his budget speech, stating that it would support thousands of jobs across the Midlands, Bristol and the UK. The investment is expected to support for 3,300 existing jobs over the next few years, with the potential for tens of thousands of new roles beyond that.

Delivering the initial stages of the plan, which is subject to a final agreement being reached, will support 3,300 UK jobs at Rolls-Royce and supply chain partners by the end of 2029. Securing a UK engine position on new narrowbody aircraft would create tens of thousands more. As a result, Rolls-Royce and the Government will work together on a jobs and skills development plan to provide the necessary pipeline of future talent. The investment plan will also benefit the UK’s academic institutions, with university departments carrying out new research.

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Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: "This is a landmark moment for the UK’s aerospace industry. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lay the foundations for decades of sustainable economic growth across the UK, creating high-value jobs and transforming the country’s advanced manufacturing supply chain. Aerospace is a growing and globally attractive market and this programme with Government is vital to enable the UK to compete. Working together, we can also sustain the nation’s capability to power military aircraft and secure its position as one of only two countries that can design, develop, make and service the jet engines that power the world’s commercial airliners.”

New jobs are expected to cover a range of areas from engineering and research to manufacturing – creating roles which run from the design stage all the way through to the factory floor.

The vast majority of these will also be created outside London and the South East – tapping into the numerous sites and supply chains Rolls-Royce maintains across the country.

Rothbiz revealed last year that the world-leading engineers were planning to invest in Rotherham and in March this year came the the confirmation of a £21.3m expansion project at the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The £110m facility is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines. Output is set to double by 2030.

The AMP is also where Rolls-Royce has carried out cutting edge research with long-standing partners, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and where a parcel of land for development sits next to its castings facility.

In a letter to Sarah Champion - Rotherham's MP, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "For areas like Rotherham with a significant Rolls-Royce presence this agreement provides an opportunity to support future growth, help retain highly skilled jobs and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in aerospace engineering and manufacturing."

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News: AMRC marks 25 years with ambition to quadruple industrial impact

Engineers and researchers are used to focusing on precious substances like titanium and carbon fibre, but now the focus for University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is silver, as it celebrates 25 years of supporting UK manufacturers.

Founded in 2001 by the University of Sheffield and Boeing on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery in Rotherham, the AMRC is a model for collaborative research and is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult supporting hundreds of private sector partners.

Marking the silver anniversary of its opening, the centre has refocused its strategy, prioritising the high-growth aerospace, defence and nuclear energy sectors and setting a bold ambition to quadruple its economic impact over the next decade.

It all started when Professor Keith Ridgway of the University of Sheffield worked with businessman Adrian Allen from Technicut on a project with Boeing. It became the first tenant of the now world-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The AMRC was set up to build a bridge between the research happening in university labs and the practical needs of production lines. It has since become a global model for how research-led innovation can regenerate communities and use advanced manufacturing as an economic engine to create wealth and jobs.

Having created new centres in Rotherham, including the start-of-the-art AMRC Training Centre, the AMRC expanded over the Parkway onto the site of the former Sheffield airport, developing its own "Innovation District" with buildings such as Factory 2050, which opened in 2015.

Having started with just a team of eight, the centre now has more than 570 highly qualified researchers and engineers working on the manufacturing needs of the future, from composites to castings, additive manufacturing to machining.

The innovation-led impact has already helped attract £350m inward investment and more than 2,500 manufacturing jobs into the South Yorkshire manufacturing cluster. Further recent investments include McLaren Automotive’s announcement of a £40m expansion of its composites technology centre, creating 300 jobs, and a £19m investment by Rolls-Royce into its Advanced Blade Casting Facility, both located on the AMP in Rotherham.

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Professor Ben Morgan is chief executive officer at the AMRC and is leading the centre in its refreshed strategy, which is aligned to national priorities set out in the government’s industrial strategy.

He said: “For 25 years, our mission has been to take high-risk R&D off industry’s shoulders so manufacturers can start, scale, and stay in the UK.

“As industrial and national priorities shift, we are putting our technical capabilities squarely behind aerospace, defence, and nuclear and clean energy.

“Our goal for the next decade is to quadruple our historical impact. We aren't just doing research - we are driving up shop-floor production rates, shortening technology adoption cycles and ensuring critical supply chains remain firmly anchored in the UK.”

Katherine Bennett CBE, chief executive officer of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, added: “Throughout my career in aerospace, I have seen first-hand the reputation the AMRC has built for turning world-class research into real-world impact through close collaboration between industry, academia and government, from South Yorkshire to the North West and Wales.”

Looking ahead, the AMRC is leading a groundbeaking research programme Composites at Speed and SCale (COMPASS) with a new innovation facility in Sheffield that is home to Boeing’s largest research and development projects in the world. AMRC experts are also working on small modular reactor (SMR) development supporting Rolls-Royce SMR.

Lane Ballard, chief technology officer for Boeing, said: “Twenty-five years ago Boeing jointly established the AMRC alongside the University of Sheffield. We have never looked back.

"This year, we began the latest chapter of our partnership with the opening of the COMPASS facility, home to Boeing’s largest global R&D project, IHSS. The foundation of advanced manufacturing lies in fusing quality research, skills and supply chains.

"We are proud of what our teams continue to create in partnership in South Yorkshire.”

Alan Pardoe, senior manager for manufacturing capability delivery at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “The AMRC has played a leading role in advancing UK manufacturing over the past 25 years.

“Through its unique and collaborative approach with British industry, it has helped turn ambition into reality - developing the skills, technologies and expertise required for long-term, sustainable success.”

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News: Rolls-Royce Rotherham investment is a statement of intent and a vote of confidence

Rolls-Royce has announced a landmark £300m investment in its manufacturing and engineering facilities across the UK.

It includes the previously announced investment in its facility in Rotherham.

Rothbiz revealed last year that the world-leading engineers were planning to invest in Rotherham and in March this year came the the confirmation of a £21.3m expansion project at the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, said: "Our manufacturing facilities in the UK are home to the very best of British engineering talent. This £300 million investment is a clear statement of our intent. Rolls-Royce is committed to growing the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector and we are proud to be building infrastructure needed to power Britain's future.

“World-class facilities across the UK will ensure that Rolls-Royce remains a global leader in both commercial aviation and sovereign defence, while supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs both directly and through our supply chain.”

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John Healey MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, added: "This £300m investment by Rolls-Royce is a powerful vote of confidence in Britain's future and in the economic stability this Government is delivering.

“From Derby and Bristol to Rotherham, Glasgow and Warwickshire, it will back skilled jobs, strengthen our sovereign industrial capability, and help drive growth in communities across the United Kingdom.

“At a time of increasing global competition, Britain must be the best place in the world to invest, innovate and build. Today's announcement shows that confidence in our country is growing and that world-leading British firms are investing for the future.”

The £110m Rolls-Royce facility 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 from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), a total of £21.3m is funding an increase in the facility’s capability and productivity, doubling its output of advanced turbine blades – a critical component in jet engines – by 2030.

The investment programme also demonstrates Rolls-Royce’s long-term commitment to the UK, providing multi-year stability to the hundreds of domestic engineering partners, component manufacturers, and small-to-medium enterprises that provide the company with the parts and services it needs to deliver for customers. In 2025 alone, Rolls-Royce spent more than £2.8 billion with UK-based suppliers, with the vast majority spent with businesses located outside of London and the South East.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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News: Tech firm opens new office on AMP in Rotherham

Industrial automation and robotics specialist, Loop Technology, has selected the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham as the location for a new office as it continues to expand across the UK.

The firm specialises in machine vision, motion control and industrial robotics. Its FibreLINE system provides end-to-end automated preforming, revolutionising the production rate for carbon fibre structures and other composite parts and components. Additional systems include highly accurate robotic machining and automated laser cleaning.

Loop Technology has its HQ in Dorchester, Dorset and an additional office in Bristol.

Having joined the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in 2022, Loop Technology sees South Yorkshire as a strategic location given that it works in the high value manufacturing sector including aerospace, defence, and renewable energy.

The 13,700 sq ft facility, part of Harworth's Revolution Phase 4 development, is just a few minutes away from the AMRC and the new COMPASS facility which aims to help UK industries to adopt more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing solutions. Loop Technology continues to progress on the Isothermic High Rate Sustainable Structures project, with Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and the AMRC.

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Alun Reece, CEO of Loop Technology, said: "Due to a big upswing in orders, Loop Technology had to execute a rapid expansion plan. Several sites were considered but the standout was the Advanced Manufacturing Park. With modern, energy efficient factory space ready for occupation and abundant local talent the Sheffield / Rotherham conurbation provided everything we were looking for. And I’m pleased to say its been everything we were hoping it would be.

"We’re building a great, highly skilled team of people there and I’m excited to see how we continue to develop the facility in the coming years.”

Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) is a major boost to aerospace R&D in the UK. The 29,700 sq ft research facility is located next to the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility on the site of the former Sheffield Airport.

The facility will pioneer a new era in composite manufacturing by offering open access to a state-of-the-art, fully automated closed-mould cell of 10m x 3m for research purposes. This will enable single components to become larger, with complex sub-assemblies of up to ten metres becoming a reality – reducing cost, preventing delays and saving time.

The project with Boeing, Loop Technology and Spirit AeroSystems aims to de-risk and develop high-rate sustainable structures, with the potential to reduce large component process times from 40 hours to four hours.

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News: Bodycote's Rotherham plant sets blueprint for global rollout

Bodycote has announced a significant milestone in its ambitious sustainability agenda; bucking the recent "green-hushing" trend and highlighting both the feasibility of 2030 decarbonisation targets and customer demand for greener practices.

Bodycote, the world’s leading provider of precision heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, has announced that two of its UK facilities – which specialise in heat treating turbine blades for Rolls-Royce jet engines – are now operating with zero carbon emissions.

In what is believed to be a sector first, the Rotherham and Derby plants are now fully electric with 100% of the electricity covered by renewable energy sources. No fossil fuels are consumed in the plants, and the zero operational emission milestone has been achieved without the use of carbon offsetting. Bodycote, a FTSE 250 business, operates in a global heat treatment industry worth an estimated $25-30bn. Though energy intensive, the industry’s work is critical to the safety, durability and performance of products that define modern life.

Rothbiz reported on Bodycote's expansion on to the Advanced Manufacturong Park (AMP) in Rotherham back in 2018.

Without Bodycote’s services, an aircraft engine would not survive a single flight, car gearboxes would struggle to survive a week of use, and surgical tools or joint replacements would fail to meet essential safety standards.

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Jim Fairbairn, CEO of Bodycote said, “Our customers, many with ambitious 2030 targets, are looking for suppliers who can support their decarbonisation efforts. Recently, a customer with a 90% carbon reduction goal came to us because of the impact offered by our lower-carbon thermal processing. These are real demands, and the clock is ticking.

“For Bodycote, leading in this space is not only the right thing for the planet, but also the right thing for our global business. As well as the progress made in Derby and Rotherham, we are running pilot decarbonisation projects across Europe and North America.”

Supporting the UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, Bodycote’s transition to zero emissions is achieved through investment in industrial heat electrification, energy-efficiency and renewable energy sourcing. A new closed circuit adiabatic cooling system was recently introduced at the Derby plant which is located alongside the Rolls Royce site. Replacing evaporative cooling towers, this innovative installation provides electricity consumption savings (as well as peak electrical load and associated carbon emissions) of 73% as well as a reduction in water use of over 85%, whilst also avoiding the need for chemical dosing and cleaning.

Larissa Lee-Favier, SVP Sustainability, Rolls-Royce, said, “We congratulate Bodycote on achieving heat treatment operations with zero emissions. We encourage all our partners and suppliers to take action to make the operations and activities they can influence sustainable. Bodycote’s achievement sets a strong and commendable example for the industry.”

As the first and only major heat treatment company with a near-term carbon reduction target verified by the Science Based Targets initiative, the business is committed to measurable progress. Its Derby and Rotherham plants now serve as blueprint sites for a global decarbonisation programme, with the next zero-emission site set to be announced in the coming months.

The transformation contributes to regional low-carbon manufacturing networks and the national goal of reducing carbon emissions. The Climate Change Committee, which reports to Parliament on the UK's progress to adapt to climate change every two years, has recently identified the electrification of industrial heat as a top priority for the UK to meet its future carbon targets.

Across more than 100 sites globally, the Bodycote group is deploying a programme of energy efficiency, electrification and on-site renewable energy projects to minimise energy use and carbon emissions. Innovations include on-site nitrogen gas generators and application of novel hydrogen electrolysers. The group has also started to source green methanol for use in its processing and is exploring ways to tackle emissions relating to the supply of process gases used in furnaces, which are traditionally road transported.

Brought together, these measures will enable the offering of low or zero emission heat treatment solutions to more customers in the future. With sustainability high on the executive agenda, the group has already made significant inroads. These include a 27% reduction in energy intensity and 29% reduction in associated carbon emissions (compared to 2019 levels), targeting a 46% reduction in operational emissions by 2030.

The transition to zero operational emissions has been achieved without increasing customer costs, extending lead times or reducing capacity. The most significant outcome is the measurable reduction in carbon emissions associated with outsourced processes for Bodycote customers. Outputs run for specific customer scenarios have shown the potential to reduce emissions by up to 60% for a comparable treatment approach.

Jim Fairbairn continues: “This achievement puts Derby and Rotherham on the map as centres of excellence for decarbonisation. When an energy-intensive industry like heat treatment can show real climate action, it demonstrates that a green future is within reach.”

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News: Liberty Steel court case adjourned again

A court case that could have led to Liberty's Speciality Steel business going into insolvency has been adjourned again.

A winding-up order was due to be decided this week regarding the company which has operations in Rotherham and Stocksbridge.

An initial hearing in May was adjourned to July, with discussions ongoing to keep the business going - including a potential sale of the business.

Marie Tidball, MP for Stocksbridge confirmed that the case has been adjourned again.

Earlier this year, Liberty pulled a restructuring plan before it could be judged in court as it was apparent that it did not have the backing from creditors.

Liberty signed a new framework agreement in April 2024 with its major creditors that would enable it to consolidate its UK steel businesses "under a new entity with a simpler structure, a strong balance sheet and greater access to third party finance and investment."

In November 2024, Liberty sought approval through the courts for the restructuring which would reduce the company's debts but needs the approval of the majority of creditors.

The UK company, part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, was hit by the collapse of Greensill, a specialist in invoice financing that operated with less regulation than the traditional banks.

Court documents from February regarding Greensill creditors and Speciality Steel UK Ltd (SSUK) show that the Liberty company has a debt with them of approximately £289m. The debts owed to Greensill creditors in respect of the activities of the GFG Group amount, in broad terms, to some US$4 billion.

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One creditor is Harsco, which operates a large site in Rotherham under its SteelPhalt brand. Court documents show that Harsco issued a winding-up petition against Liberty in 2024 in an effort to recover £4m that it is owed, along with machinery "for which it has not been paid and which it would like back."

The Caseboard website has now added Greensill Capital (UK) Limited (In Administration) to the list of creditors supporting Harsco with its winding-up petition against Liberty.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: "I hope all options are on the table to secure our Stocksbridge site, whilst parties reach a conclusion at the next stage of the court case. We cannot see this nationally important asset and its skilled workforce broken up longer term.

"My immediate priority now will be securing pensions for Stocksbridge steelworkers, as local workers have faced 10 months without employer pension contributions. I raised the need for urgent reassurances in respect to pension payments in the House of Commons earlier this week.

"I will be writing urgently to Aviva, The Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Pension Regulator, to ensure all Stocksbridge steelworker pensions are secured.

"I will always continue to fight to protect our site and its jobs, as well as its strategic capability."

In parliament, the MP discussed the uncertainty at Liberty which "means that pension contributions have not been paid to the skilled workforce for 10 months, causing significant worry and anxiety for 600 local steelworkers."

Speaking to The Guardian, a Liberty Steel spokesperson said: "Today’s resolutions and adjournment provides additional time to finalise options for SSUK while continuing our broader debt restructuring efforts.

"We remain committed to identifying a solution that preserves electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking in the UK — a critical national capability supporting strategic supply chains.

"SSUK has been engaged in complex debt restructuring since the collapse of Greensill Capital in 2021, which significantly constrained its access to capital.

"Throughout Liberty’s ownership, the shareholder has consistently supported the business, contributing nearly £200m in loss funding and payroll over the past four years — even during periods when significant portions of the business remained non-operational."

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News: Liberty Steel insolvency case pushed back as sale talks continue

A court case that could have led to Liberty's Speciality Steel business going into insolvency has been adjourned until July.

Rothbiz reported on a winding-up order being due this week regarding Liberty Speciality Steel, which has operations in Rotherham and Stocksbridge..

The hearing has been adjourned to July 16, with discussions ongoing to keep the business going - including a potential sale of the business.

Jeffrey Kabel, LIBERTY Steel Chief Transformation Officer said: “Today's adjournment is a positive development, allowing us the necessary time to finalise options including a sale of the business while we continue to pursue our debt restructuring efforts.

"We remain committed to finding the right solution that preserves EAF steelmaking in the UK, a vital national asset serving strategic supply chains.

"SSUK has been involved in complex debt restructuring since the collapse of Greensill Capital in 2021 restricting its access to capital. However, like all steel producers in the UK, SSUK has faced long-standing competitiveness challenges dating back decades.

"Throughout LIBERTY’s ownership of SSUK its shareholder has consistently supported the business, investing nearly £200 million in loss funding and salaries over the past four years, even as significant portions of the business remained inactive.

"We recognise that change is essential to set the business on a positive trajectory and provide certainty for our creditors, employees, and stakeholders.

"We will utilise the time afforded by the adjournment to engage in intensive discussions with a view to achieving an outcome which best serves the strategic interests of the UK, the South Yorkshire community, and the broader UK steel sector.”

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Earlier this month, Liberty pulled a restructuring plan before it could be judged in court as it was apparent that it did not have the backing from creditors.

Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary of steelworkers’ union Community, said: “Our members at Liberty Steel have endured far too much turbulence and uncertainty over recent years as a result of the erratic and irresponsible way the company has been run. Failed restructuring plans and broken promises from the company have become a familiar, demoralising pattern, and things simply can’t go on as they are.

“Ever since the collapse of Greensill Capital, we have worked with the company in good faith, even when refinancing deadlines have been missed. Our patience has now run out.

“Liberty Steel’s plants are strategically important sites for the UK steel industry and the country as a whole, and these assets must be secured.

“New, responsible ownership is needed to give the business the brighter future it needs and deserves, and that can only be achieved with a decisive change at the top. Enough is enough – Sanjeev Gupta must invest in the business or step aside.”

Marie Tidball MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, added: “I have listened to my constituents in Stocksbridge and agree with them that it is time for Gupta to go. He has run out of road; his chaotic ownership must end now. Our Stocksbridge Speciality Steels site needs new, competent ownership to maximise its potential, so that the business has a real chance for success.

“As I said in Parliament earlier today, Stocksbridge Speciality Steels has strategically significant, highly specialist capability, to produce world-leading steel, crucial to our national defence, aerospace, and energy industries. The site employs 650 people and has an excellent skills training centre.

“I know the capability of the site, the extraordinary ability of the workforce and the exceptional quality steel produced in Stocksbridge. What we need now is a new owner to come forward and restore the glory of a site which has proudly made steel in our constituency for over 180 years. This is an exciting investment opportunity, and these works are part of the strategically important South Yorkshire Steel Corridor.”

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News: Rolls-Royce readying £21m investment in Rotherham facility

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

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.

Following continued demand and thousands of engines on order, the firm is working on proposals to double the factory’s production capacity which is key to the manufacture of single crystal (SX) turbine blades.

With an initial capacity of 100,000 blades per year, it was always likely to increase to 200,000 when the pioneering manufacturing process had been proven.

The ABCF has a prime position within the South Yorkshire Investment Zone and so the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is looking to support Rolls-Royce with a grant, potentially up to £2m.

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Allthough SYMCA meeting papers do not name the beneficiary company, the information all points to Rolls-Royce.

Papers say: "IZ002 [the company] is currently undergoing a major transformation which began in 2023 and is anticipated to complete by 2027, with particular focus on reducing operating costs.

"The Facility in Rotherham is a cutting-edge supplier of high-value superalloy turbine blade castings. IZ0002 load and capacity planning forecasts a demand increase of circa 100,000 single crystal turbine blade castings per year between 2024 and 2030, with existing factory capacity exceeded in 2026. The investment proposal is for a £21.3m investment in the facility to double the factory’s production capacity.

"The proposal includes £18m of capital investment, primarily for tooling and precision machines, including adaptive robotic aerofoil finishing (the latest and most advanced manufacturing technology for this process)."

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.

In SYMCA budget papers, a "Rolls Royce - Expansion of blade manufacturing research and innovation" project has been given a total of £1.75m.

Rolls-Royce launched a bold, multi-year transformation programme in 2023 focusing on cost efficiency, commercial optimisation, and operational improvements. The company's underlying operating profit for the 2024 financial year was £2.5bn.

Rolls-Royce website

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News: Taiwanese takeover for award winning Rotherham firm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AML website

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News: McLaren makes a revolutionary leap in composites at Rotherham tech centre

Building on over 40 years of carbon fibre innovation, McLaren has unveiled a world-first in supercar engineering: aerospace-derived Automated Rapid Tape (ART) carbon fibre. And it has been developed in Rotherham.

The manufacturer opened the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in 2018 on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which is in Rotherham. The £50m investment was made in developing and manufacturing the future of lightweighting technology.

The latest revolutionary leap in composites uses precision manufacturing techniques from the aerospace industry to create carbon fibre structures that are even lighter, stiffer, and stronger, while reducing waste by up to 95%. It is a world-first application of a cutting-edge and highly specialised manufacturing process in the automotive sector.

The first model to feature this advanced material is the McLaren W1 – where ART carbon integrated into the active front wing delivers a 10% boost in stiffness to help enable the car’s extraordinary aerodynamic performance.

The aerospace industry uses ultra-precise manufacturing methods to build highly tailored carbon fibre structures for the latest generation of air jetliners and fighter aircraft, particularly for large, crucial parts such as aircraft fuselage and wings. This is achieved via the robotic depositing of composite tapes to layer structures, over traditional hand layup using pre-impregnated materials. And it is a rapid pace, ‘high rate’ version of this production method that McLaren has developed and now integrated into its manufacturing capabilities at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in Rotherham.

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Completely revolutionising the aerospace industry method of using robotic arms to layer composite tapes, McLaren’s Automated Rapid Tape method instead employs a specially designed machine using a fixed deposition head and a rapidly moving bed capable of rotation, which unlocks a faster manufacturing process suitable for automotive purposes and high-rate composites manufacturing.

Joe Elfort, plant director at the McLaren MCTC, said: "It means we can make the material as strong as possible where it needs to be and as light as possible where it can be. Think of it like human skin - it can be thin and flexible like your eyelids but also strong and durable like your elbows.

"With this new technology we've taken an aerospace scale manufacturing process and enhanced the rate capability so that it becomes viable for a supercar component. What's really unique is we can very accurately control the directionality of the strength the stiffness and the flexibility which allows us to optimise the design for the highly loaded and complex components like you see in the aerodynamic devices of the W1.

"Landmark supercars like W1 always usher in the next big technology trickle down. This is only the beginning of a remarkable new era in lightweight supercar engineering and performance."

The advantages Automated Rapid Tape technology can deliver in terms of manufacturing time and reduced costs creates the possibility of greater use of carbon fibre, in more areas of a vehicle. Looking beyond the carbon tub, wider use of ultra-lightweight body panels constructed of McLaren ART carbon fibre become more feasible and cost effective.

The Artura is McLaren’s first model to be built on all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) that was developed in Rotherham. The latest advancement now unlocks immense possibilities for the next generation of carbon fibre architectures. Integrating ART technology into the structure of an ultra-lightweight, ultra-strong carbon fibre tub – manufactured with minimal waste material generation - that can underpin the next-generation of McLaren supercars is already under consideration.

McLaren website

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News: Liberty Steel asks for creditor support over restructure

Liberty's Speciality Steels UK (SSUK), which has operations in Rotherham, is pressing ahead with a restructure.

The move will likely impact on the company's creditors, but not lead to redundancies.

The company, part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, was hit by the collapse of Greensill, a specialist in invoice financing that operated with less regulation than the traditional banks. Liberty put in place a specialist committee to accelerate a restructuring and refinancing project which has seen investment and focus on Aldwarke in Rotherham.

In April, Liberty signed a new framework agreement with its major creditors that would enable it to consolidate its UK steel businesses "under a new entity with a simpler structure, a strong balance sheet and greater access to third party finance and investment."

Reports now say that approval through the courts is being sought for the restructuring which would reduce the company's debts but needs the approval of the majority of creditors.

An update from Liberty Steel said that creditors will be presented with a detailed proposal and will have the opportunity to vote on the plan, adding: "The proposed plan has no impact on SSUK employees.

"Once implemented SSUK will be better positioned to attract new capital and further expand its operations into strategic steel segments with environmentally conscious products."

UK operations have since October 2021 been supported by £210m loss funding by Liberty's shareholder to maintain employment, operations, and growth potential. 2023 included a restructuring programme affecting 440 roles - including 185 roles at its Rotherham sites.

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Jeffrey Kabel, Liberty Steel group chief transformation officer, said: "After making significant progress to stabilise the business and refocus it on high value specialist products, we're now addressing the debt position of the company to create a stronger speciality business going forward.

"Our plan, which is backed by customers, is the best route forward for all stakeholders and we're confident in winning the support of our creditors for the essential actions required to complete SSUK's recovery."

In recent months there has been little sign of production at the Rotherham electric arc furnace (EAF), at least during the day, and there have been reports of the workforce remaining on furlough and late wage payments.

In 2022, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued a petition to have the speciality steel company wound up, but later backed down. Financial firms Citibank and Credit Suisse were considering whether to continue with their own winding up petition.

The operational restructuring plan has focused Liberty’s steel businesses in the UK on supplying strategic aerospace, defence and energy customers, strengthening financial performance significantly. This is said to have improved operational and commercial viability and has enabled development of a comprehensive plan that aims to take EAF melting capacity at Rotherham to 2 million tonnes per annum quickly and cost effectively, and with significantly lower emissions compared with coal-based blast furnaces.

Liberty Steel website

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News: Magtec powers pioneering zero-emission aircraft refueller with Fluid Transfer International

Rotherham-based Magtec has unveiled a new partnership with Fluid Transfer International, a leading UK manufacturer of refuelling solutions for the aviation, military and marine sectors.

Fluid Transfer is a trusted provider to major oil companies and refuelling plane operations around the world.

Magtec supplied fully electric chassis for the new Meteor MKII hydrant dispenser, which has the operational flexibility to refuel the largest commercial aircraft or the smallest regional jets.

Magtec specially modified its base frames to house Fluid Transfer’s innovative pumping systems.

The Meteor’s twin-deck hoses have flow rates of up to 3,800 litres per minute – around 75 times faster than a standard service station pump for cars.

The vehicle has an elevating platform reach of 4.6 metres, capable of the refuelling of the latest long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jetliners such as the Boeing 777-9.

The Meteor conforms to the latest European aviation ground support standards and is powered by an 80 kWh battery, meaning it is lighter than the diesel-powered equivalent.

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Keith Townsend, international sales manager at Fluid Transfer International, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Magtec on this important milestone in the journey towards meeting carbon neutrality targets.

“The Meteor MKII offers zero emission refuelling and silent operations without sacrificing quality and performance for global operators.

“We are looking at other aviation vehicle applications for Magtec’s chassis including hydrant pit cleaners and Avgas bowsers and are very impressed with the dynamic capabilities and short charge time.”

The chassis is based on Magtec’s fully homologated MEV75. The standard 80 kWh version has a range of 65 miles, a full charge time of just three hours and 20 mins and a battery life of 10 years.

Andrew Sloan, engineering director at Magtec, added: “We are proud to partner with Fluid Transfer International on this state-of-the-art aircraft fuelling system, powered by Magtec.

“This is another example of a world-leading UK manufacturer turning to Magtec for our best-in-class electric drive technologies. It’s great to work together on such an innovative project.”

Magtec website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AML website
Advanced Alloy Services website
SBD Apparel website

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News: Additive manufacturing tech start-up expands into new Rotherham base

Innovate enterprise, FORG3D, has expanded already, only a matter of months from taking space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The company is spearheading the Green Fourth Industrial Revolution and is on a mission to transform the realm of large-scale metal additive manufacturing by offering the repeatable quality of forgings combined with the benefits of 3D printing.

Through a novel additive manufacturing process, FORG3D can deliver a greener, smarter and faster alternative to castings and forgings for companies in the aerospace, space and defence sectors that are looking to innovate in this area – whether that is to reduce carbon emissions, speed up production, or for something as specific as solving the problem of how to manufacture in space.

After operating remotely from Scotland, founder and CEO Richard Mincher secured office space within the AMP Technology Centre - the operation at the heart of the AMP that offers first class office space, workshop facilities and conferencing / meeting room resources.

Continued growth saw FORG3D move to a recently completed unit on the AMP as it looks to double staff numbers this year.

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Richard Mincher, said: “We’ll be recruiting heavily in the region in 2024. South Yorkshire is the heart of the UK advanced manufacturing sector and access to the rich talent pool that gravitates around this industry was a key attractor for us.

“We also knew that we wanted to be based close to The AMRC and within a community at the forefront of innovation. The other occupiers here all work in the same industry as we do. They are all potential or existing partners, customers or suppliers. It’s the ideal location for us.”

To keep pace with demand and opportunities, FORG3D will be recruiting for a number of highly skilled and experienced engineers, software developers and robotics engineers in 2024. Other priorities in 2024 include exploring emerging markets in the US and launching a new fundraising drive to further scale the business.

FORG3D website

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News: Liberty to press on with Rotherham plan after signing new creditor framework agreement

Liberty Steel says that it has a comprehensive plan that aims to take its electric arc furnace (EAF) melting capacity at Rotherham to two million tonnes per annum quickly and cost effectively.

The opertator, part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, has confirmed for the first time that the South Yorkshire sites could use hydrogen to power steelmaking in the future. It is part of the company's GREENSTEEL plan which aims to recycle and upcycle the growing amount of scrap steel, using electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy.

Hit by the collapse of Greensill, a specialist in invoice financing that operated with less regulation than the traditional banks, Liberty put in place a specialist committe to accelerate a restructuring and refinancing project which has seen investment and focus on Aldwarke in Rotherham.

Now Liberty has signed a new framework agreement with its major creditors which will enable it to consolidate its UK steel businesses "under a new entity with a simpler structure, a strong balance sheet and greater access to third party finance and investment."

UK operations have since October 2021 been supported by £210m loss funding by Liberty's shareholder to maintain employment, operations, and growth potential. 2023 included a restructuring programme affecting 440 roles - including 185 roles at its Rotherham sites.

Liberty said in a statement that it aims "to consolidate its steel businesses under a new entity and corporate structure. It is proposed that the existing companies will transfer their assets and employees to the new company, subject to final structuring and agreements. Employees will carry over existing terms and conditions, with continuity of employment preserved. There will be no impact on operations, suppliers or customers."

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The operational restructuring plan implemented focused Liberty’s steel businesses in the UK on supplying strategic aerospace, defence and energy customers, strengthening financial performance significantly. This is said to have improved operational and commercial viability and has enabled development of a comprehensive plan that aims to take EAF melting capacity at Rotherham to 2 million tonnes per annum quickly and cost effectively, and with significantly lower emissions compared with coal-based blast furnaces.

The country’s largest electric arc furnaces in Rotherham and associated downstream mills around the country, "benefit from product diversity with significant capacity in both long and flat products, scalable grid connections, scrap metal processing and proximity to future hydrogen trunkline delivery and planned carbon capture and storage (CCS) networks," the company said.

Jeffrey Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer at Liberty, said: “Following our successful capital raising in 2023 we are now in a position to execute this new updated creditor framework. The completion of the deal will enable our businesses to build on the operational, commercial and governance improvements we’ve made across the group over the past three years.

"In the UK our focus on specialised steel products serving strategic supply chains in aerospace, defence and energy, has allowed us to stabilise operations and significantly improve business performance. Our restructuring agreement now paves the way for a new company structure that will allow us to significantly increase our lower carbon emissions steel production in Rotherham feeding our network of downstream mills around the country.

"While we still operate in challenging market conditions, these changes will put our UK businesses in a position to reclaim its leading position as champion of green steel and sustainable industry. Upon completion of the deal, this will enable us to raise new capital, rebuild stakeholder confidence, and ultimately reach our full potential.

"With our existing strengths in sustainable UK steel and aluminium production, and our magnetite mining resources in Australia to supply the production of DRI, we are prepared to play a leading role in the UK’s Net Zero strategy, and the development of a clean and thriving UK steel sector.”

Liberty Steel website

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News: England's first Newton Room opens in Rotherham

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Magna website
Boeing website
Newton Room website

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News: Aerospace firm set to soar as it prepares to land on Rotherham's AMP

Yet another world-leading engineering firm has set out plans that would enable it to move from Sheffield to Rotherham, build upon their success, and grow.

Under the proposals, Technicut, the UK’s largest cutting tool manufacturer, would move into a purpose built unit on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), alongside McLaren.

A global leader in rotary cutting tools for the aerospace industry, Technicut announced a move to Shepcote Business Park from its Attercliffe base in 2019, before the aviation sector was hit by a downturn following COVID.

Now plans from the Harworth Group show a 86,800 sq ft warehouse for Technicut on land fronting the Parkway, next door to McLaren and SBD.

Drawn up by Stantec, the application states: "The proposed development will provide a new headquarters for Technicut. [It] will provide a dedicated building comprising a mix of production, lab, office and meeting room space. The new building will allow the company to build upon their success and grow in a new high tech high quality new site whilst remining within close proximity to the AMRC to allow Technicut to continue their collaborative involvement."

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Professor Keith Ridgway CBE worked with Technicut's then sales director, Adrian Allen OBE, to launch the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in 2001 and the founding company continues to be a Tier 1 member at the AMRC.

The plans add: "Technicut continually invest in ongoing research and development (R&D) to advance pioneering tooling innovations that redefine manufacturing standards. They utilise both internal R&D facilities and external centres for collaborative technology development to develop new tooling concepts across both milling and drilling platforms to solve advanced production problems.

"Techinut also in addition to their own R&D activities have the capacity to collaborate with customers to utilise the AMRC to pioneer new engineering programmes and manufacturing methodologies for both the problems of today and the requirements of tomorrow. The AMRC provides a collaborative environment to allow aerospace industries and manufacturers to develop ground breaking scientific theory to deliver new solutions for advanced production problems."

With a highly skilled engineering team, the proposed development has been futureproofed and includes a first floor of office space which will facilitate employees working in the labs and research spaces. It is envisaged that the first floor will not be occupied from the outset but rather be occupied as and when the company operations demand it and/ or as the company grows.

The new location will enable the company to remain local to their origin whilst providing them the space they need to further grow their business

The application conculdes: "In short, this application seeks to build on the success of both the AMP and Technicut’s success which contributes towards the advanced manufacturing success of the region. The proposed development will facilitate the attraction and retention of highly skilled jobs on the AMP."

In recent months, Rothbiz has reported on plans for a number of new occupiers on the AMP including Vulcan Engineering Ltd, Insight, and Danieli.

The AMP was recently confirmed at the heart of a new South Yorkshire Investment Zone, the first in the UK.

Technicut website

Images: Technicut / Harris Partnership

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