Manufacturing Communities Spotlight: Innovation 4 Machinery at AMPI

This session will introduce the I4M programme, which provides funding and technical support to help manufacturers in the Greater Manchester and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority areas adopt advanced machinery and digital technologies. Attendees will hear directly from the programme team, along with academic and industry experts from the AMPI consortium. There will also be time for audience Q&A.

Innovation 4 Machinery is a £5.6 million programme led by AMPI and funded by UKRI’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). It aims to help manufacturers across the Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire to innovate and grow through access to funding, technical expertise and cutting-edge machinery and productivity solutions.

If you’re considering applying, we recommend reviewing the programme briefing slides (PDF) in advance to check your eligibility and start preparing your ideas.

Why Attend?

• Learn about funding and support available through AMPI’s Innovation 4 Machinery (I4M) programme, designed to help manufacturers adopt advanced machinery and productivity solutions.
• Hear directly from programme leads, academic researchers, and industry partners involved in delivering I4M.
• Understand the eligibility criteria and application process to assess whether your organisation could benefit.
• Ask your questions live during the panel Q&A and connect with others interested in advanced manufacturing innovation in the Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Who should attend?

This webinar will be valuable for:

• Manufacturing and engineering businesses interested in innovation funding and support
• Academics and RTOs working on advanced machinery and productivity
• Innovation leads and technology developers in industrial automation and digitalisation
• Regional stakeholders focused on manufacturing growth and productivity

Agenda

10:30 – Introduction & UK opportunities
Becky Bolton, Knowledge Transfer Manager, Innovate UK Business Connect

10:40 – Innovation 4 Machinery: Programme Overview
Emma Green, Project Controller, AMPI

11:00 – Research Partnerships: National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Matthew Stewart, Principal Engineer, NPL

11:15 – Industrial Case study: Craftsman Tools
Tim Thorburn, Managing Director, Craftsman Tools

11:30 – Panel Q&A
All speakers

11:55 – Wrap-up and final messages