Vice-Chancellor unveils ambitions for manufacturing and technical education

UNIVERSITY of Sheffield vice-chancellor, professor Sir Keith Burnett, has unveiled his hopes for major growth in the city region’s manufacturing sector and ambitions for a High-Value Manufacturing Valley along the M1 corridor.

Speaking at the 378th Cutlers’ Feast last night – an annual dinner for members of the Cutlers of Hallamshire – sir Keith outlined these hopes for major growth in the City Region’s manufacturing sector, drawing on the success of the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Looking beyond the success of the AMRC and its partnership with industry, sir Keith described the potential for a further step change in the partnership between the University, industry and the region in the interests of the economy and opportunity.

He said: “I believe we have the potential for a great deal more, something which could transform the AMRC site at Waverley into the hub of advanced manufacture in the UK: a High Value Manufacturing Valley along the M1 corridor and renewing our city region and nation through the possibilities of investment and major new production.”

Sir Keith described his belief that the UK faces three choices in relation to manufacturing: Buying from the rest of the world and accepting the subcontract work they pass down to us; developing new products and processes in SMEs – difficult to move quickly for reasons of investment; or accepting the challenge of large infrastructure projects – working together to make in the UK, develop our intellectual property in the UK and to sell what we make to the rest of the world.

A member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Science and Technology who also advises the Treasury on major infrastructure projects, sir Keith outlined particular opportunities around the manufacturing for civil nuclear energy and high speed trains.

He said: “Why shouldn’t small modular reactors which can play a key role in our energy infrastructure – and indeed in keeping the lights on – be made here in Sheffield? New build nuclear energy will be an investment of approximately £60bn. Should the ability to manufacture the civil nuclear energy which will be needed to power a nation which began in this country be lost to France or to China?

“And why should our region not only have a station for High Speed 2 but actually produce the trains which will run on that track? Because we can. The HS2 market is worth £7bn. What would that mean to our region and to our nation? We have the skills to do this kind of work better and more efficiently.”

Sir Keith has also described the University’s willingness to think in new ways about partnerships with industry to ensure the development of the very highest quality apprenticeship routes into Higher Education which would support this activity.

He added: “Might the first of a new form of industry-led university be imagined and developed here in Sheffield? Could we see the foundation of a world-leading Manufacturing Institute of Technology, a Royal College which would ensure that the arrival of new companies from around the world did not sap our local industries of the talent which is so crucial to your own future?”

Master Cutler Tony Pedder said that new innovation is required as we continue to reengineer our world.

He said: “If we get it right, there is a real opportunity for UK to be, where it has been before, at the forefront of a global demand for world-leading engineering. If we get it right, we in UK can, at the same time as participating strongly in this global growth, also achieve a much needed rebalancing of our own economy away from over-dependence on the service sector.”

The Cutlers of Hallamshire was founded in 1624. For 400 years the Cutlers’ Company has sought to maintain the standards and quality of Sheffield manufactured cutlery and steel products and to promote the name of Sheffield.

The company today highlights innovation in the region, encouraged the development of skills and is a national voice advocating the importance of manufacturing to the UK.

The Cutlers’ Feast is the most important event in the Cutlers’ calendar. This year’s speakers included The Master Cutler – Tony Pedder; senior warden – David Grey and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.