Gilbert catapulted into top manufacturing support role
A FORMER senior partner of Birmingham law firm Wragge & Co is to chair a new body set up to assist UK manufacturing businesses to innovate and bring new cutting edge commercial products to market.
Bob Gilbert will head up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult which brings together seven institutions of excellence including the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick.
Gilbert, who is chairman of Paintbox Group and of the Government’s Intellectual Property Office, will chair the supervisory board of High Value Manufacturing Catapult. His responsibilities will include ensuring the Catapult team meets its strategic objectives, agreed with the Technology Strategy Board, as well as ensuring good corporate governance for the organisation.
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said: “As a proven leader and experienced board chairman, he will make a valuable contribution to help realise the vision for the Catapult which will help the growth of high value manufacturing in the UK.”
Gilbert said: “The High Value Manufacturing Catapult is a bold new concept which will undoubtedly change the landscape of manufacturing in the UK. I look forward to playing my part in the provision of cutting edge technology, equipment, investment and the necessary skills to ensure that manufacturing plays its proper part in the Government’s growth agenda.”
The Catapult is part of a network of world-leading technology and innovation centres established and overseen by the Technology Strategy Board as a long-term investment that is intended to open up global opportunities for the UK and generate economic growth for the future.
