As part of a £74m investment in green automotive technology, more than 200 value-added jobs could be created in Sheffield thanks to a partnership between an electric automotive drives manufacturer and the University of Sheffield’s AMRC.

Funding has been awarded to Magtec to allow it to scale up the UK production of electric motors. Magtec will work with the AMRC and fellow HVM Catapult centre, the MTC, in the £6m project. Four transport sector OEMs will also participate – Dennis Eagle, Paneltex, Volta Trucks and strategic partner Angel Trains.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

TRB Lightweight Structures is investing in the development of staff to meet the needs of its growing customer base.

The company takes an active role in funding and supporting individuals with their studies, with 20% of its total workforce in training or attending vocational courses. The Composites Technician Apprenticeship scheme is a key part of this initiative, with two apprentices from TRB already enrolled on the scheme. The course offers a great opportunity to improve knowledge and skills, and graduates earn a BTEC Level 3 Diploma and an NVQ Level 3 in Composites Engineering.
For further information www.trbls.com

Furloughed apprentices and employees are being given the opportunity to learn new skills thanks to a new package of support from the Training and Manufacturing Group (TMG).

The not-for-profit organisation is working with its technical partners to deliver a suite of technology courses to members that will help bridge the skills gap, increase R&D and support the post COVID-19 recovery.
Industry experts Bauromat, Guhring, ETG, Hexagon MI and Ceratizit WNT, alongside business specialists BDO, FBC Manby Bowdler and In-Comm Training, have agreed to host the interactive sessions completely free of charge and will cover crucial topics ranging from automation, robot/CNC programming and cutting tools, to arc/resistance welding, PLC programming and pneumatics. The courses will initially be delivered through short webinars or one-to-one sessions at partner sites, adhering to social distancing rules.
For further information www.in-comm-tmg.co.uk

Rocol will be donating 5% from sales of its new semi-synthetic cutting fluid to NHS Charities Together for the remainder of 2020, the company has confirmed. Ultracut 370 EP has been specially formulated for use on a range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in both cutting and grinding operations.

Ian Fenney, Rocol metalworking fluids segment specialist, says: “As is the case for many businesses, we wanted to show our support to the NHS and the amazing work that people working in the health service have done during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Ultracut 370 EP is bright blue when diluted, it seemed fitting to donate a percentage of each barrel we sell for the rest of 2020 to NHS Charities Together.”
For further information www.rocol.com

Manufacturing output across the UK increased significantly in May from its record low level as factories started to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown, according to figures from the latest BDO Business Trends report.

BDO’s Manufacturing Output Index jumped by 16.58 points to 69.55 in May, regaining around half of the losses sustained between March and April as manufacturers benefited from the easing of UK lockdown measures. Kaley Crossthwaite, Partner at BDO LLP, say: “Output remains drastically below where it would be in ordinary times, but the latest readings suggest we have passed the rock bottom of this crisis.”
For further information www.neweconomy.bdo.co.uk