Why there's growing paranoia over Sheffield University research centre's future

It’s hard to overstate the importance of The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to our region’s identity and reputation.
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This Sheffield University-owned but government-funded asset has attracted more than 100 firms to South Yorkshire, including - incredibly - Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren.

It is also key to our home-grown capabilities, working on projects with everyone from heavy castings specialist Forgemasters to digital firm Razor. The AMRC ‘family’ employs 700 highly-skilled people and makes millions from research for industrial partners, some £70m in 2019.

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So any perceived threat to its position provokes a strong reaction in South Yorkshire.

The AMRC is the heart of advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire.The AMRC is the heart of advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire.
The AMRC is the heart of advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire.

The Star is reporting 67 staff are at risk of redundancy, although bosses say only 15 will eventually go.

It is believed to be the first time in its 20 years it will have shed staff. But it comes after plans to double the size of the AMRC Training Centre were quashed a couple of years ago, as was a potential link-up with legendary Sheffield engineering firm DavyMarkham, which later went bust.

Last summer, CTI Ltd, a castings firm owned by Sheffield University with close ties to the AMRC, was earmarked for closure by university leaders. The business, which has had £25m of government money, was on the point of commercialising new technology when the decision was made.

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It caused a row, not least because it is a world-leader in castings for aerospace and defence. That led to a U-turn and the firm was eventually sold in a management buy-out. The deal last month saved 60 jobs. The new bosses promptly raised £2m for growth and are hiring 15 staff.

The Star Business Editor David Walsh.The Star Business Editor David Walsh.
The Star Business Editor David Walsh.

In this context, it is no surprise people are paranoid that the AMRC is being dismantled, deliberately or not.

Some question whether academics have the expertise or appetite for complicated commercial deals.

Vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts has said he remains positive about the centre.

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But It seems this once all-conquering, globally-renowned advanced manufacturing powerhouse has been dogged by more bad news than good recently.

If that continues, its ties with the university could eventually snap.