RESEARCH NEWS
New centres for innovation for business
A £ 100 million investment from the Innovation Accelerator programme has unlocked a new innovation hub launched at University College Birmingham ( UK ). The hub , which will have a focus on future housing and retrofit , will support manufacturing and construction businesses in getting up to speed with new technology adoption .
One of the areas for support will be in Industry 4.0 , a next-generation automation suite for production lines using AI in machine control . The steps taken by businesses in this area of development are being dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution due to their importance to industry in utilising machine learning to improve and automate processes .
“ The programme will deliver 26 transformative research and development projects accelerating growth in three highpotential innovation clusters across the UK , one of which is the West Midlands . Funded by UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ) and running until 2025 , the programme targets a key priority in industry to support smaller-sized , high-need businesses with the tools required to adopt digital technology to enhance their business operations ,” highlighted University College Birmingham .
“ One of the barriers to many of these businesses ’ aims to evolve and develop their workforce is the ability to engage with Industry-4.0 technology . The Innovation Hubs will build on a strong existing foundation of business engagement between colleges and employers , by enhancing existing offers of apprenticeships and bootcamps , with bespoke training developed in tandem with the employers ,” it continued .
“ Outlined in the West Midlands Combined Authority ’ s ( WMCA ) plan for growth and the Local Skills Improvement Plan ( LSIP ), business support services will be able to take advantage of the services on offer alongside the regional growth sectors of Healthtech , MedTech , Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering and Construction ,” it added .
University College Birmingham is one of the six West Midlands-based further education colleges involved in the UK programme . The university will also offer new support pathways to businesses with challenges around sustainability , using the most advanced tools in its new Centre for Sustainable Construction . It will also provide support in the face of the growing threat of cyber-attacks and an urgent need for businesses to take preventative measures to protect themselves and their clients . The Innovation Hub will offer services around cyber security preparation and identifying training needs .
The success of the pilot will be determined by the uptake of the range of services and support on offer by the Innovation Hubs and the beneficial impacts on businesses using them . The University has invested over £ 200 million into its facilities over the past decade and opened a Centre for Sustainable Construction in the 2023 academic year . n
www . ucb . ac . uk
People , knowledge and collaboration
The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre ( in the UK ) recently brought together apprentices and alumni , colleagues , key stakeholders and businesses to an event which celebrated more than a decade of delivering apprenticeships , impact and skills .
“ To date , the AMRC Training Centre has recruited more than 2,200 apprentices , worked with 400 different businesses of all sizes and has an apprenticeship success rate of 25 per cent above the national average . This cements the impact it is having on people of all ages ; unlocking business potential and helping to close the UK ’ s manufacturing skills gap ,” it told ISMR .
Invited guests heard firsthand about how the AMRC Training Centre is developing a highly skilled workforce for the advanced manufacturing sector , while building strong industry partnerships .
Professor Geraint Jewell , vice-president and head of the Advanced Manufacturing Group at the AMRC , opened the event , saying : “ What I believe makes the AMRC
The AMRC Training Centre brought together apprentices and alumni , colleagues , key stakeholders and businesses to celebrate more than a decade of delivering apprenticeships , impact and skills .
Training Centre so special is the integration it has with manufacturing innovation at AMRC and the engineering expertise and facilities at the University of Sheffield . The AMRC Training Centre is core to an environment which offers a perfect combination of manufacturing innovation , engineering science and skills .”
Leader of Sheffield City Council , Cllr Tom Hunt , added : “ The work that takes place at the AMRC Training Centre changes lives . It is inspiring to hear how apprentices from the AMRC Training Centre have gone on to have success in industry and have helped to increase productivity for their businesses . Every young person should believe that success can belong to them and that is why the AMRC Training Centre is so important .”
A panel of apprentice alumni provided an insight into their experiences and achievements since beginning their learning journey at the AMRC Training Centre .
Nikki Jones , director of the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre , stressed that the AMRC Training Centre ’ s work is far from done , explaining : “ With the changes going on in the UK government , as it progresses with a ‘ Growth and Skills Levy ’, I want to improve and increase our portfolio . I want to address the needs of industry and the skills gap that seems to be getting wider . Although apprenticeships are suitable for most in engineering , there are still many people who need reskilling ; I want to ensure that we are ready for that .” n
https :// amrctraining . co . uk
20 | ismr . net | ISMR November 2024