UK NEWS

£1.9 Million Investment

Northwest SME manufacturers are investing £1.9m in digital technologies to boost productivity, create jobs and accelerate growth, with support from Made Smarter. Some 30 manufacturers have secured a combined £604,000 of funding through the Government-backed technology adoption programme. Among them are businesses producing everything from industrial machinery to advanced engineering components. The latest tranche of projects includes investments in automation and robotics, digital inventory systems, production monitoring, cloud-based platforms, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

More information www.madesmarter.uk

50 Years of Support

Mclennan is celebrating 50 years of supporting the UK automation, manufacturing and science sectors with precision motion control technology, engineering expertise and technical support. Founded in May 1976, the company has established itself as a specialist partner to OEMs, machine builders, systems integrators and specialist equipment designers requiring motion solutions for industrial and research applications. Notably, the company’s very first customer, Metham Engineering – now part of the Will-Burt Company – remains a customer to this day.

More information www.mclennan.co.uk

Quadruple Royal Recognition For Skills Charity

Skills charity Enginuity, the former Sector Skills Council for engineering and manufacturing (SEMTA), has received a quadruple accolade from His Majesty King Charles, marking the importance of its work. CEO Ann Watson and trustee of the board Alexia Williams have been awarded with MBEs in His Majesty’s birthday honours, for services relating to skilling the engineering and manufacturing sector. Deputy chair Dr Ian Ritchey has been awarded an OBE. In addition, Enginuity chair Sir Jim McDonald had been appointed to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honour from the monarch.

More information www.enginuity.org

Anochrome acquired by its management team

Private equity firm Endless LLP has supported a management buyout of the Anochrome Group, a UK-headquartered surface finishing and coatings specialist. Anochrome, which has its headquarters in Wolverhampton, has been trading for over 80 years, providing surface coatings, corrosion protection and thread-locking sealants services to a diverse customer base across a range of sectors, including automotive, construction, industrial fixings, motor sports and renewables.

Anochrome operates from sites in the UK, Poland and Czechia. The transaction represents a transition from long-standing family ownership and the start of a new phase for the business. Endless’ investment will support Anochrome’s next stage of development and growth. The business will continue to be led by its existing senior management team, headed by Mark Jones.

More information www.anochrome.com

Manchester Best City For Manufacturing Growth

Manchester has been named the UK’s leading city for manufacturing in 2026, according to the Tadweld UK Manufacturing Index, a new study ranking Britain’s manufacturing hotspots based on growth, workforce strength, investment, transport connectivity, property affordability, business support and long-term manufacturer success. The index shows that Manchester tops the rankings with a manufacturing momentum score of 9.1 out of 10.

The city’s position reflects strong manufacturing investment, excellent transport links, a highly skilled engineering workforce, thriving industrial clusters and a proven track record of manufacturers succeeding and expanding over the long term. Manchester was followed closely by Sheffield (9.0), Birmingham and the West Midlands (8.9), and Liverpool (8.8), creating a competitive top tier of manufacturing destinations.

More information www.tinyurl.com/8bcm8kjd