Simon Collingwood is stepping down as director of external relations, marketing and communications at the University of Sheffield AMRC to take up a new role supporting the growth of the UK’s offshore wind industry as director of communications at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

Simon joined the AMRC in the teeth of the Covid pandemic in October 2020, and has supported the business through a number of key milestones, from the opening of AMRC North West in Lancashire through to securing funding for the COMPASS facility.

Simon, as a key figure of the AMRC’s political representation in rooms spanning local, central and international government, helped nurture bridges between the AMRC and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, and Innovate UK, supporting the University of Sheffield’s wider objectives. He has facilitated and supported countless political visits, and spearheaded the AMRC’s marketing and communications team strategy and culture, as well as the AMRC’s STEM offering.

Following five-and-a-half years of building political relationships on behalf of the AMRC, Simon will be working alongside the AMRC’s former CEO, Steve Foxley, who joined the ORE Catapult as chief executive in 2025.

Simon said it has been an honour to serve the AMRC.

“I’m incredibly proud of my time at the AMRC - for me it’s been an absolute career high,” he said. “For a number of years before joining, I saw the AMRC as just a very inspiring, globally significant installation and then I got to be part of its journey.  A huge honour. I’m looking forward to watching (from Hillsborough) and cheerleading the next 25 years.”

Simon will step down from his position at the AMRC in early July 2026, before joining the ORE Catapult later that month.

Ben Morgan, chief executive officer at the AMRC, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the experience, passion and energy that Simon has brought to the role since he joined us in 2020. He has developed some really key relationships for the AMRC in that time and for that, we are very thankful. His quiet wit and questionable fashion choices will be missed greatly by the whole team.”

The AMRC will shortly be advertising for a successor for Simon’s role and hope to have the candidate in place by Autumn.