Belgrave & Powell, a specialist engineering services group, has acquired 100% of the shares of Birmingham-based Sharpe Tooling Ltd. The acquisition will form part of Belgrave & Powell’s Machine Technology Group (MTG) in Preston. Sharpe Tooling, which specialises in bend die tooling, has relocated to Preston with the creation of six additional jobs in high-precision toolmaking and further investment by the group in capital equipment. The acquisition, the terms of which are undisclosed, represents the 5th SME deal by Belgrave and Powell within the past 18 months.

For further information www.belgrave-powell.com

The UK’s composites research and development facility, the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol, has unveiled the latest of its state-of-the-art capabilities in the form of a new automated AFP-ATL cell. The cell, created in partnership with Electroimpact, combines both AFP and ATL in a single system. Notably, the dual system can be used individually or together to collaborate and create large, complex structures with minimal downtime. NCC’s new cell is the final piece in a £36.7m jigsaw of 10 fully digital automated composite manufacturing capabilities to arrive in the last 18 months.

For further information www.nccuk.com

A UK training provider is throwing its weight behind the UK’s economic bounce back by announcing a new apprenticeship campaign designed to give firms the talent they need to grow. In-Comm Training, which already supports more than 750 apprentices across three technical academies, has launched ‘Equip the Recovery’ to help more employers look at investing in apprentices by removing some of the barriers. The firm has committed to creating an additional 200 positions for young or mature learners between now and September and is asking businesses to get involved by creating roles within their companies.

For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Northern Industrial has made two new appointments and one promotion in its sales and customer service team to support ongoing expansion. Keith Gledhill joins as customer service account manager, Clive Piercy as sales account manager, while Lydia Chatterton has been promoted to the same team from her existing role as marketing & sales assistant. Blackburn-based Northern Industrial is a provider of new, reconditioned and obsolete parts and repair services, exporting to 146 countries.

For further information
https://nicontrols.com/uk

Derby’s bid to establish a world-class advanced manufacturing research centre at Infinity Park has moved a step closer, with the submission of a full planning application for the new Nuclear AMRC Midlands building. The Nuclear AMRC will operate the new facility, which will initially create up to 70 high-value jobs, rising to 120 at full capacity. With around 4400 sq m of floor space, Nuclear AMRC Midlands will further extend the centre’s ability to help manufacturers develop and adopt innovative technologies that will deliver maximum impact for the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

For further information
www.namrc.co.uk