Construction of AMRC North West to begin in September

The University of Sheffield has appointed the construction firm to build its dedicated Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the North West of England.

The move will extend the AMRC’s footprint across the North of England.

AMRC North West will be constructed at the heart of the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone in Preston, part of the wider Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster.

A £20 million grant from Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal will be used to build and equip the 4,500m² applied research centre, which will accelerate and demonstrate innovative technologies, tools and techniques.

Work is expected to start on site in September and complete during the second half of 2021.

Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “We are pleased to have appointed Robertson as the contractor for our new dedicated applied research facility in the North West. This is an important step in realising our vision for the North and beyond.

"The new facility will not only place Lancashire at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and technologies, but it will be a catalyst for inward investment, supporting businesses in the region to innovate, drive up productivity, and lead manufacturing towards a smart, sustainable and resilient future.”

AMRC North West will play a key role in driving recovery, growth, productivity and innovation, supporting Lancashire firms to compete nationally and internationally. The creation of a high-performing technical R&D team will enhance the manufacturing base of Lancashire, working with both manufacturing companies and their supply chains.

Currently operating from an interim facility provided by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the centre of Preston, the growing AMRC North West team is dedicated to working with manufacturing businesses, from global aerospace giants to local SMEs.

In addition to long-term collaborations, the team has already worked with more than 100 Lancashire manufacturing SMEs on one-off projects, as part of its mandate through ERDF/Growth Deal funding to enhance the regional economic base and its supply chains.

AMRC www.amrc.co.uk