World-renowned research institutions, leading innovative companies and a highly skilled workforce are key to Sheffield City Region’s success in attracting inward investors, a government minister said this week.

Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Investment, praised the region’s innovation following a visit to the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) this week when he met with AMRC CEO Colin Sirett to discuss our position as a centre for excellence and key role in Yorkshire’s offer to inward investors.

Mr Stuart was given a brief history of the AMRC and how it had helped drive regeneration of the former Orgreave Colliery site, with founders Prof Keith Ridgway and Adrian Allen taking the centre from a ‘one man in a shed’ set up in 2001 and growing it into a world-leader for innovative research for advanced machining, manufacturing and materials; and creating a desirable model for collaborative research involving universities, academic and industry.

Colin explained how the AMRC had played a fundamental part in attracting global companies to the region including Boeing Sheffield and McLaren and working to bring more business to the area. He told the minister: “We are supporting inward investment with the backing by the Sheffield City Region and giving companies a degree of confidence to come to the region.”

The Minister later toured the neighbouring £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre, which the AMRC played a role in bringing to the region. The innovation and manufacturing facility was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in November last year and aims to be a world-leader in innovating lightweight carbon fibre and composites.

On his visit Mr Stuart said: “With world-renowned research institutions, leading innovative businesses, and a highly skilled workforce, Yorkshire boasts a strong offer to international investors seeking partnerships in the UK.

“As the leading destination for FDI in Europe and third in the world, these two organisations typify the UK’s attractiveness among global investors.

“My department will continue to support industry in the Northern Powerhouse to ensure increased investment, opportunities for business and high-quality jobs for local residents”.

His visit follows recent figures for the region that show goods exports from Yorkshire and the Humber increased by 7.8 per cent to £18.1m in 2018, the second fastest growing region in the UK.