Sheffield Liberal Democrats welcome major new R&D manufacturing facility

Sheffield Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news of a major new R&D facility linked to  the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.  It will also be a key part of the new South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

The new facility, named COMPASS (Composites At Speed And Scale), will develop new ways to manufacture lightweight components for global aviation, supporting the industry’s transition to net zero. The centre will be supported by a £29.5m grant from the government funded Aerospace Technology Institute, along with £7m from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and £7m from Sheffield City Council.

The facility’s first R&D project is with Boeing, which will research the technological advances needed to make ‘lightweight aerostructures’ – key components that make up the fuselage, wings and stabilisers of passenger planes.

The new project builds on Boeing’s presence in Tinsley where their facility manufactures actuator components for 737 aircraft, currently supporting 520 jobs and contributing over £55 million to the South Yorkshire economy annually.

Boeing’s announcement comes on the same day that the SYMCA announces the details of Sheffield’s long awaited ‘Investment Zone’. This zone will direct £80m of central government funding to Sheffield over five years to support the city’s advanced manufacturing industry.

The zone will centre on the city’s Innovation District, City Centre and the East End corridor from Castlegate through to Attercliffe, with other ‘opportunity areas’ in Doncaster and Barnsley.

£80m in funding for the Investment Zone will support investment in infrastructure, supply chain capabilities and skills programmes. The full proposal is expected to be ready for government approval in the autumn.

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats said;

“This new facility and the upcoming Investment Zone shows the effectiveness of Liberal Democrat economic leadership. We have led on business recovery, support, and co-development of the Investment Zone with SYMCA. Investors and businesses want stability and support from the public sector, and that’s exactly what Liberal Democrats deliver.”

Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee, said:-

“These announcements are great news for the local and regional economy. Sheffield is still a city of makers, and our advanced manufacturing industry is going from strength to strength.

Boeing’s decision to expand their presence in Sheffield and the Government’s allocation of an Investment Zone in South Yorkshire shows that we are recognised nationally and internationally as a great place to do business, with a highly skilled workforce, excellent universities, and an innovative approach to industry.”