Up to 70 jobs could be created at an R&D facility aimed at helping small manufacturers win work in the nuclear sector
The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) has won more than £9 million towards its plans to become a centre of excellence for the sector in Derby.
A pilot facility opened February 2019 and plans are underway for a full-scale manufacturing centre covering 46,000 sq ft.
The type of business that will benefit from its support will include companies involved in areas such as new welding technology, lubrication for environmentally-friendly machining, and supply chain support for manufacturing and material engineering projects in the nuclear sector such as new build and decommissioning.
Now the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has granted Derby City Council almost £7 million from its Getting Building Fund and £2.2 million from its Growing Places Fund to support the development of the research centre at the city’s Infinity Park.
It is hoped it will establish Derby as a key advanced manufacturing and innovation hub for the UK nuclear sector.
City council chief executive Paul Simpson said: “This is another step forward for this fantastic project. The proposed facility is great news for Derby’s SME businesses.”
Elizabeth Fagan, chair of the D2N2 LEP board, said: “Our investments into Infinity Park and the Nuclear AMRC will play a critical role to in developing clusters of highly productive and sustainable businesses across D2N2 and supporting local economic development.”
The facility will carry out research, innovation, supply chain development and teaching and will bring together the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC and the University of Derby’s Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing (IISE).
Workers based there will have access to specialist training and development to equip them for more productive and higher paid roles.
The Nuclear AMRC Midlands will deliver 70 direct jobs, support 35 collaborative R&D projects and support 100 businesses through the Fit For Nuclear supply chain development programme in its first five years of operation.
Andrew Storer, chief executive of the Nuclear AMRC, said: “We’re delighted to secure funding for the new facility at Infinity Park, and will continue to work with D2N2, the University of Derby and other local partners to deliver high-value jobs and support the region’s economic recovery.
“With the transition to net-zero emissions at the top of the national and international agenda, there will be huge long-term opportunities for manufacturers of all sizes in nuclear and other low-carbon sectors such as offshore renewables, hydrogen and carbon capture.
“It’s part of our job to help the supply chain in and around Derby to win that work.”
Professor Warren Manning, provost for innovation and research at the University of Derby, said: “Co-locating our Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering with the Nuclear AMRC opens up new possibilities for our academics, who are already engaged in work to help achieve the UK’s decarbonisation and Net Zero goals in sectors such as rail and logistics.
“The support of D2N2 to enable this collaboration will also further enhance Derby’s international reputation as a centre for industrial innovation and help drive the recovery and future prosperity of our city and region.”
