Member Article

£4.7m funding boost for North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers

The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers has secured £4.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help secure its long term future.

The money, which includes development funding of £600k, will be used to preserve the Institute’s 165-year heritage, whilst restoring its Newcastle base on Neville Hall.

Plans include restoring the exterior of Neville Hall, celebrating the Institute’s industrial and engineering heritage and digitising its archive, creating online access for research.

The Institute says its vision and commitment to identify new opportunities to support economic growth, through working with partners across the public and private sectors, are pivotal to its development plans. The Reece Foundation has also granted £100k in support.

Catherine Miller, President of the Institute, said: “This is a momentous day and is a major milestone in securing a future for a Great North Institute.

“We are delighted that HLF is investing in our mission to celebrate an esteemed industrial heritage and our vision for current and future generations”.

Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said: “Lying in the heart of Newcastle, this new resource will bring fresh life and energy to the legacy of the North East’s industrial and engineering heritage.

“Plans to restore the existing Institute and to create a Common Room for the Region with a programme to illustrate this far-reaching story are already well developed. We look forward to working closely with the Institute over the coming months”.