Bentley named Top Employer

Bentley Motors has been namedon the UK Top Employer 2025 list, underscoring the company’s commitment to developing an increasingly innovative and inclusive workplace. It is the 14th consecutive year that Bentley has appeared in The Top Employer Institute’s list. This year, Bentley has been listed for exceeding benchmarks in its approach to strategic direction, working environment, learning and development, as well as diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). Bentley’s progress reflects the company’s ongoing effort to achieve key goals in its Beyond100+ strategy, announced in November 2024, alongside plans for the brand’s first fully electric car in 2026.More information www.bentleymotors.com

MP takes office space at NMC

The National Metalforming Centre (NMC), which is home to and owned by the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), has made a political appointment by welcoming its latest tenant: Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich.The CBM’s chief executive Geraldine Bolton says: “Sarah has already shown in seven months that she’s a passionate advocate for manufacturing. We’ve built strong lines of communication with her so she can take our message and the views of our members back to Whitehall. Basing herself at the NMC puts Sarah in the heart of the action.”

More information https://thecbm.co.uk

Goodfellow set to hit acquisition trail

International expansion and accelerating the acquisition trail will be key priorities for a UK supplier of advanced materials and metals in 2025. Goodfellow, which employs 140 people globally, has set its sights on increasing group sales to more than £30m through a combination of new material ranges, organic growth and targeting potential companies that add new capabilities, additional products or geographic reach.CEO Simon Kenney believes last year’s investment in ERP software and the launch of a new intuitive website will be key to achieving these aims.

More information www.goodfellow.com

Funds Boost Vacuum Investment Casting

Wall Colmonoy Ltd (UK) has secured funding from the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) to support its latest initiative: Project EVaCC (Experimental Vacuum Investment Casting Capability). Project EVaCC aims to develop an advanced vacuum precision investment casting (VPIC) facility that will strengthen the UK’s sovereign capabilities and ensure a robust supply chain for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Wall Colmonoy and Rolls-Royce Bristol will partner on retrofitting the technology, leveraging over 100 years of combined metallurgical expertise.Once operational, Wall Colmonoy will produce complex vacuum castings using nickel-based superalloys – critical for most engine programmes. A key innovation will be the implementation of microstructural refinement technology for the improvement of mechanical performance.

More information www.wallcolmonoy.com

JATCO UK Established In Sunderland

Global automotive automatic transmission manufacturer JATCO Ltd has provided a boost to the UK automotive industry by officially opening a new factory, creating up to 183 jobs.Situated on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, Sunderland, the factory will produce electrified powertrains for the nearby Nissanplant (NMUK).

The 138,840 ft² facility represents a £48.7m investment into the UK. JATCO UK hopes to reach a production capacity of 340,000 units from its Sunderland plant.Localisation to NMUK models will begin from 2026, when the facility is scheduled for completion. The new facility was supported by a grant from the UK Government.

More information www.nissan-europe.com