Robertson Construction North West has started work at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) North West.

The UK's regional growth minister said as he welcomed construction starting on the £20 million University of Sheffield AMRC in the North West of England.

Luke Hall, Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government, marked the first steps in building the 4,500m2 applied research centre at the heart of the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone in Preston, Lancashire.

"We are delighted to be backing the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) North West with a £20 million Local Growth Fund investment," said MP Luke Hall.

"This project will place Lancashire as a leader in innovation-driven, sustainable economic growth and will act as a catalyst for further inward investment.

"It will also support the creation of highly skilled jobs, bringing opportunities and prosperity to the local community."

The facility is being built using a £20m grant from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal and extends the University of Sheffield AMRC's footprint across the north. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a turf cutting will be held virtually bringing together key figures involved in the major development.

-- Advertisement --

Steve Foxley, CEO, University of Sheffield AMRC, said that while the ceremony will take place in the virtual world the new facility will have real-world impacts for the region. "We've taken another huge stride in realising our vision to make things better, for Lancashire and for the North," he said. "This state-of-the-art facility will keep the Lancashire region at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and technologies and support its businesses to innovate and drive up productivity, leading industry towards a green recovery and a smart, sustainable and resilient future."

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: "The University of Sheffield AMRC has a long history of driving manufacturing and productivity growth in the Sheffield City Region and we're really proud to be sharing our world-leading expertise and experience in Lancashire.

"AMRC North West is already having a significant impact in supporting businesses to innovate and strengthened by this new facility, will be a beacon for innovation and advanced manufacturing across the north. It is collaborations like this that will be crucial to levelling up the regions and supporting the country's post-Covid recovery."

James Hughes, Research Director for AMRC North West, said: "It is hugely exciting for everyone involved in the AMRC North West project to see our new facility becoming a reality. This new state-of-the-art building will really enable us to showcase the cutting-edge R&D we are conducting in advanced manufacturing. We are looking forward to supporting the region's manufacturers with innovative solutions to their manufacturing challenges and welcome them to come and visit us, to see it in action for themselves."