Business Secretary Sajid Javid opens new facility at Rotherham's Advanced Manufacturing Park

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid, has officially opened a new 32,000 sq ft state-of-the art facility at the 100-acre Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The new building, which is funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has specialist office and work shop spaces for advanced manufacturing and technology companies.

The purpose of the facility is to provide SME companies from the neighbouring AMP Technology Centre the opportunity to expand into larger premises, as well as attract high technology companies from further afield.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “South Yorkshire has long been synonymous with manufacturing. This new building will be a welcome addition to the next generation of advanced manufacturing and technology innovators in the Northern Powerhouse.

“Many of the companies here are inventing, designing, developing and manufacturing products and technologies years ahead of their time, giving them a vital role in the region’s growth and the UK economy.”

During his visit, Mr Javid was introduced to the first tenant of the new building, MetLase, a new joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Unipart, which has taken 10,000 sq of office and workshop space and will create 30 technical engineering jobs over the next two years.

The company will make its laser cutting technology and patented assembly systems which originated in the aerospace industry, available to companies in other sectors for the first time.

The Business Secretary also visited the AMP Technology Centre, which is home to more than 40 SMEs working at the cutting-edge of engineering, research and manufacturing.

Added Jacquie Boulton, area manager at the Homes and Communities Agency, commented: “The official launch of this new building marks a significant milestone for us.

“The AMP Technology Centre opened in 2006 and since then we’ve worked hard alongside managing and lettings agent Creative Space Management to ‘cluster’ similar businesses which benefit from sharing knowledge and expertise from like-minded companies.

“The Technology Centre is now at almost 100% occupancy and to ensure that these companies, which generate valuable high-net worth jobs, stay in South Yorkshire, we need to make sure we provide the type of specialist office and workshop space in which they can grow and develop. This building will allow them to do exactly that.”

The new building is already 50% pre-let in deals facilitated by managing and lettings agent Creative Space Management.