Harworth Estates last week welcomed surveying professionals to Waverley for an insight into the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) to explain the continuing employment development across the site. This was held as part of a series of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities organised by the South Yorkshire committee of RICS Matrics.
20 delegates from across the region learnt more about the developments at the Advanced Manufacturing Park and Waverley, with presentations given by Business Space Director Campbell Carruth and Development Manager Duncan Armstrong-Payne. The attendees then took part in a tour of “Factory of the Future”, which is one of the advanced manufacturing research centres developed at the AMP by the University of Sheffield. Working with partners such as Rolls-Royce, the University undertakes practical research to achieve greater efficiencies in advanced manufacturing techniques and materials, for example exploring the use of carbon fibre composite in aerospace manufacture, as reducing the weight of an aeroplane by just 1 kilogramme can result in a cost saving of £1 million over its operational life.
Liz Askam, Surveyor at Harworth Estates who organised the event, commented: “It was great to see this event fully booked which is testament to the interest in the AMP and Waverley, and I hope it provided the opportunity for those who attended to learn something new. Seeing the work of the University of Sheffield reiterated the importance of the collaborative research environment in place at the AMP and made us all realise the far reaching impacts of advanced manufacturing.”
Shirley Harrison, Regional co-ordinator at the University of Sheffield AMRC said, “A world-class industrial cluster needs to have world-leading research and development at its heart. The AMRC was the cornerstone of the Advanced Manufacturing Park a decade ago, and together we’ve helped put South Yorkshire back on the map as a centre for high-value manufacturing and innovation. It’s fantastic to see so much continuing investment and interest in the region.”
The development of Waverley continues apace, with Rotherham Council due to make a decision over the next few weeks on R-evolution – the next phase of employment space on-site being taken forward by Harworth Estates. The planning application for R-evolution includes around 100,000 sq. ft of business and manufacturing floorspace as well as access roads, service yards and car parking.