MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman has been appointed to head a new body aimed at leading the resurgence of manufacturing industry in the Midlands.

The Midlands’ Manufacturing Resilience Commission, to be known as M2R, will review the Midlands’ manufacturing landscape post-COVID, contribute to the creation of a wider Midlands’ manufacturing strategy, and develop recommendations to help build the region’s manufacturing resilience and its subsequent economic impact. Contributions will be invited from senior industry, academia and government representatives.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

A Birmingham-based metal pressings and stamping specialist has secured funding to help it develop a solution for easing global shortages of PPE.

Brandauer is one of the first companies in the country to be awarded Innovate UK-backing through the ‘COVID-19 Business-Led Innovation in Response to Global Disruption’ competition, and is now setting its sights on increasing its capacity to produce more than 100 million nose clips for use in face masks every year.
The company will use the £50,000 grant to develop its ‘Quick Clip Tool’ modular tooling that will add a quick changeover capability to a progression tool, something that has never been offered to the PPE marketplace before. This innovation means the clips can be developed and manufactured in multiple materials, such as steel or aluminium, and can be produced in various widths, thicknesses and lengths. The project will take about five months to complete and will allow Brandauer to increase supply to existing customers and open up production capacity to other clients.
For further information www.brandauer.co.uk

Make UK has highlighted the case for government to help manufacturing recover from COVID-19 by implementing a new scrappage scheme for old plant and machinery.

It is hoped the proposed scheme will incentivise cash-strapped firms to invest in the latest technologies. The challenge faced by manufacturers as they start to rebuild their businesses and bring staff slowly back into the workplace is vast, says Make UK. To survive, manufacturers will need to take every advantage they can of the latest technologies and equipment to boost productivity and get back on track in the coming months.
For further information www.makeuk.org

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland has appointed John Reid as CEO to lead the growth and development of this industry-led manufacturing research and development facility at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland.

Reid will take up position in August after successfully leading the Michelin-Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee. In recent times he was also one of the original members of the independent advisory body, the Fair Work Convention, a member of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board and a director of the Centre for Engineering Education and Development.
For further information www.nmis.scot

Companies looking to return back to work safely can tap into a new service launched by In-Comm Training that will help them become COVID-19 secure.

Health and safety experts from the Aldridge-based training provider have created a new consultancy package that will walk firms through the different measures and policies they need to put in place to protect their staff and conform to Government guidelines. The support will also help businesses with more than 50 employees, who must have a COVID risk assessment available for staff and visitors before they can open.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk