The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, championed the University of Sheffield AMRC’s pivotal role in strengthening the UK defence sector through its research and development capabilities during a visit to South Yorkshire. 

Joined by South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard and Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, the Minister toured the AMRC’s Factory of the Future facility in Rotherham, where world-leading research is turned into huge practical improvements for a range of UK industrial sectors, including defence and security. 

The Minister was visiting the region to promote the government’s £50 million Defence Growth Deal for South Yorkshire. This is a plan to harness the region’s strengths in R&D to deliver the innovations in engineering, materials and advanced manufacturing that are critical to the next generation of UK defence capabilities. 

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

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

The AMRC, part of the University of Sheffield and a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, sits at the heart of the region's R&D ecosystem. Together with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, the two centres work with companies ranging from local SMEs to some of the UK’s largest manufacturers to drive innovation and train the next generation of engineers for a range of industries, including defence. 

Professor Ben Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “The manufacturing sector is a critical and vital part of the UK’s defence capability, and as such it was good to show the Minister the important role of translational research and development work taking place at the AMRC and wider High Value Manufacturing Catapult. 

"We are working with manufacturers to drive technology acceleration that directly supports both sovereign capability and economic resurgence; a position well-illustrated by the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and its role as a cornerstone of the Don Valley Corridor.”

Professor Ash Tiwari, Deputy Vice-President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield, who led the Minister’s tour, said: “Research-led universities have a crucial role to play in supporting UK industries, including the defence sector. At the University of Sheffield, we’re using our world-leading research and innovation to support the UK’s security and sovereign capabilities at a time when defence is a national priority. Our apprenticeships and engineering degree programmes are also helping to create clear pathways into high-quality careers for young people in the region who wish to work in the defence sector.”