UK NEWS

Thousands of new apprenticeships promised

A £725m package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, with as many as 50,000 more young people expected to benefit over the next three years. As part of the package, the Government will cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 at SMEs. Businesses will also gain from a boost in flexibility as new short courses in cutting-edge areas including AI, engineering and digital skills will commence rollout from April. This includes working closely with the defence sector to develop a suite of flexible, work-based training options.

More information www.gov.uk

EngineeringUK welcomes three new trustees

Not-for-profit organisation EngineeringUK has appointed three new trustees to its board: James Murnieks, Jo Passingham and Neil Young. Murnieks is CFO and executive director at Siemens UK and Ireland, while Passingham is currently interim CEO of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Young is global engineering capability director at Babcock International Group, where he leads engineering strategy areas around people, process and tools. EngineeringUK chair Iain Conn says: “Our new trustees bring new perspectives that I’m sure will provide insightful contributions to our work.”

More information www.engineeringuk.com

AI initiative boosts 250 Scottish manufacturers

A £2.2mproject led by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has so far supported 90 organisations and upskilled 250 people in the exploration of how data science and artificial intelligence (AI) can boost productivity, efficiency and competitiveness across Scotland’s manufacturing sector.

The Data-Driven Design and Manufacturing Colab (D3M Colab), delivered by NMIS, is helping to close the gap between manufacturing and digital technologies by giving engineers the confidence and practical skills to apply data-driven methods within their own businesses. Through hands-on projects and tailored training, participating companies are learning how data can solve real-world industrial challenges, from improving production processes and quality control to enhancing equipment reliability.

More information www.nmis.scot

Mazak open house draws over 500 visitors

Over 500 manufacturing professionals visited Yamazaki Mazak’s open house in Worcester last month as the machine tool builder recorded strong interest in its latest UK-made models, such as the Integrex j-200 NEO multi-tasking turn-mill machine and the next-generation CV5 five-axis machining centre. The three-day event included over 19 live-cutting demonstrations. Visitors were also invited to take part in dedicated ‘Technology Tours’.

Alan Mucklow, UK managing director, said: “My key takeaway is that there’s strong appetite for investment and that manufacturers are ready to turn to technology as they seek higher productivity. This sentiment has been backed up by a high level of post-event interest, especially in our UK-made machines. This feedback vindicates our strategic decision to enhance further the capability and range of models manufactured here in Worcester.”

More information www.mazak.com

Ceratizit transforms production at Atkinson Equipment

Located in Westbury, Wiltshire, Atkinson Equipment has been at the forefront of precision engineering since the late 1960s. What began as a family business developing oil heating, refuelling and liquid transfer equipment has evolved into a sophisticated manufacturing operation serving multiple demanding sectors.

In February 2025, Atkinson Equipment took delivery of a Citizen L32-VIII LFV sliding-head turning centre, a significant investment driven by a contract to manufacture gym equipment. The machine acquisition was primarily for a four-component project, each part was required in quantities of 30,000, totalling 120,000 parts.

To streamline the supply chain, Atkinson Equipment wanted a single-source tooling solution for the new Citizen machine. The RFQ went beyond cutting tools. The ISO9001-certified company needed collets, bushes, sleeves, tool holders, drills and peripheral equipment to create a seamless transition into production. The OFTEC-approved company approached Ceratizit.

“The breadth of products was impressive, but what really set Ceratizit apart was their technical knowledge and support,” says Ben Hale, engineering production manager. “The Ceratizit team was actively involved in maximising productivity and delivering prolonged tool life to optimise machine performance.”

Ceratizit systematically evaluated existing inventory, identifying opportunities to swap out standard products for equivalent or superior alternatives from its own catalogue. This like-for-like exchange delivered immediate benefits, reducing cutting tool costs while improving tool life by up to 20% on most product lines while simultaneously enhancing productivity by anything from 10 to 50% in certain cases.

“The difference between working with a distributor and working with Ceratizit became crystal clear during the project,” notes Hale. “Ceratizit engineers can tell you what will work best for your specific application, material and production volume. That expertise enabled us to push cutting parameters further than we thought possible.”

More information www.ceratizit.com