Daily Manufacturing News Digest – the industry stories you should be aware of today

Posted on 21 Jun 2023 by The Manufacturer

Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web. To make your life a little easier, we trawl through all the major trade publications, broadsheets and business magazines to find you the most important manufacturing news each morning. Don't forget to bookmark this page and check back daily.

Get It Made launches new fund to champion women in innovation

London-based manufacturing specialist, Get It Made, has launched a new 2023 grant to support the potential of women in innovation and to boost the growth of female employment within UK industry.

To mark International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, the initiative is tailored exclusively to female-led, engineering, design, tech and manufacturing enterprises, including start-ups, with the grant recipient set to receive £5,000. Read more via The Manufacturer

Govt announces £200m to help UK lead the way on greener air travel

Projects to help the UK lead the way on greener air travel and deliver on one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities to grow the economy, are to receive more than £200 million in funding, Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani confirmed yesterday.

A total of £218m combined government and industry funding has been announced to develop new green innovative landing gear, and lower carbon and more efficient aircraft wings, engines and sensors.

The funding, being delivered through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, will secure more high-skilled jobs and increase investment in aerospace technology across the UK. Read more via GOV UK

Metals chief warns that a faltering ‘Apprenticeship Levy’ is hampering industrial growth

Manufacturing’s growth is being hamstrung by an out-of-date Apprenticeship Levy scheme that is failing to address key labour shortages in the workforce.

Rachel Eade MBE, Chair of the UK Metals Council, is calling on the Government to review the current system, tearing up the unnecessary bureaucracy and ensuring that entry level apprenticeships benefit from the same level of funding and importance as higher level qualifications. Read more via The Manufacturer

Boost to batteries, electric powertrain production in Oxfordshire

Australian metals company Fortescue is significantly expanding its battery and electric powertrain production operations in the UK with the announcement of an additional facility in Oxfordshire, creating more than 120 jobs. Read more via Production Engineering Solutions

Leonardo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries sign contract for additional MCH-101 helicopters for Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force

Leonardo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) signed a contract for additional MCH-101 naval helicopters for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and it marked the start of a mid-life update (MLU) programme for the type in Japan. The MCH-101 is a license-built version of the Leonardo AW101 helicopter. The signing, which follows the order for one aircraft placed in 2022, was made as Leonardo, KHI, and Marubeni Aerospace Corporation celebrate a 20-year partnership in the helicopter market and the Japanese AW101 programme. Read more via Leonardo

Bradford’s Power Sheds is among 10 fastest-growing private firms in UK

A Bradford manufacturing firm has been named among the top ten fastest-growing private businesses in the UK.

It is the latest accolade for Power Sheds, a firm which was only set up in 2019.

It has ranked 6th nationally in the FEBE Growth 100 list which recognises the UK’s fastest-growing founder-led private businesses. Read more via Telegraph & Argus

New review on interventions to increase girls’ aspirations for engineering and tech careers

As the sector gears up to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (23 June), EngineeringUK has released a new report which brings together the available evidence on interventions that aim to increase girls’ aspirations for engineering and technology careers. Read more via The Manufacturer

Wheelbarrow manufacturer on a roll with £80k investment in robotics

A family-owned wheelbarrow manufacturer in Walsall has introduced new robotic machinery to help increase its efficiency and production capabilities, thanks to support from Lloyds Bank.

The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of wheelbarrows and has seen a surge in demand for its products following the post-pandemic DIY and construction boom. Read more via Express & Star