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Expert engineers sought to drive manufacturing revival

A MULTI-MILLION pound programme providing process support and funding to North East manufacturers is seeking three engineering experts to join its growing team.

The Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (SAM) Project is a £10.9m initiative to support the implementation of product and process development and the introduction of technology within the SME manufacturing base in the NE LEP area.

Initially launched in 2014, the project was set to end this year, however, due to the popularity of the initiative and a rapid uptake of support, the programme has since been extended until 30th June 2023.

This will see the project expand its unique support on offer to the region’s SME manufacturing community over the next three years and – as a direct result – has led to the creation of three high-skilled, industry-facing job roles.

This includes the recruiting of an Automation and Robotics Specialist, Industry 4.0 and Electronics specialist and a Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Engineering Specialist, all three of which will be based at the University of Sunderland’s AMAP Industry Centre.

Ken Teears, project manager at SAM, said: “We are delighted to be recruiting for these three highly-skilled roles and would urge anyone with a passion for manufacturing and a willingness to support the sector’s revival post-pandemic to get in touch.

“The sector has faced huge challenges over the past few months, with entire production lines grinding to a halt during the crisis, making projects such as SAM pivotal to keeping the sector moving in as productive and safe a fashion as possible as we bounce back.

“The SAM Project works shoulder-to-shoulder with industry to help the region’s manufacturers innovate and grow, not only through funding, but also through process and product improvement, making it a dream opportunity for anyone who relishes a challenge and would like to help shape the future of industry.”

The programme is a collaboration between ERDF, which is providing £5.77m funding (£2.6million from 2014-2020 and £3.1million from 2020-2023) and the University of Sunderland, which is managing and, alongside industry, investing £5.15m in delivery of the project.

The University of Sunderland has committed significant academic resources and recruited a team consisting of industrial and research specialists to support the delivery of both practical and research projects all fully-funded to eligible SME’s. Eligible manufacturing SMEs can receive up to 15 days of support depending on the scope of their technical R&D project.

The project has over £1m of industry leading capital including 3D printers, I4 rigs and VR/AR equipment and software to encourage SME engagement with advanced technology. Eligible SMEs can access the technology and knowhow in the five ‘micro factories’ through workshops, knowledge exchange activity or as part of a technical R&D project.

The project also has grants of up to £50,000* available to support capital/product validation/tooling and other financial inhibitors to driving strategic development of both product and process.

To find out more about the roles, or to apply, visit: https://samprojectuos.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing .