Industrial Plant & Equipment

Unlocking Growth and What the Leeds Reforms Mean for UK Manufacturing’s Access to Finance

It may have flown under the radar for many, but when the Government announced its “Leeds Reforms” in July this year (2025), it introduced more than just regulatory change, it marked the beginning of a significant reshaping of the UK’s financial ecosystem. 

Here, Rory Crisp-Jones, MD of Jones and Co Finance, examines how the reforms will help channel new funding into UK businesses, giving manufacturers and SMEs more opportunities to access the capital they need to grow.

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Inside the Royal Navy supply chain

WHEN PEOPLE think of warship building, images of massive vessels being floated out of shipyards might spring to mind. But behind every frigate, destroyer or support vessel is a distributed network of suppliers consisting of component makers, metallurgists, engine builders and materials specialists – many of them rooted far from the coast. The Midlands, often better known for its automotive and aerospace prowess, plays a critical but under-appreciated role in marine procurement, explains Simon Farnfield, event director at Advanced Engineering, the annual gathering of engineering and manufacturing professionals.

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Accu looks to roll out robotics STEM challenge across West Yorkshire schools

PRECISION ENGINEERING component distributor Accu, based in Huddersfield, has completed a groundbreaking STEM pilot project with Holmfirth High School that challenged pupils to design and build their own Antweight combat robots, with the company now looking to gather interest from schools with a view to rolling out the programme across the West Yorkshire region.

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Cambridge students gear up for another season of electric boat innovation with support from igus

A TEAM of engineering students from the University of Cambridge is once again preparing to compete in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC), continuing their mission to design and build a cutting-edge, all-electric catamaran racer.

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Global rise in extreme weather drives £27m ABB investment in new Nottingham factory

ABB HAS opened a new manufacturing and R&D facility in Nottingham to expand research and development and production of its Furse earthing and lightning solutions.

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Downstream manufacturers to foot the bill again warns the CBM, as non-commodity electricity prices set to soar

A TRIPLE whammy of changes is set to see energy costs soar for the downstream manufacturing supply chain, warned the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM).

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New West Midlands Festival offers manufacturers direct access to future talent

A NEW festival is launching with the goal of helping manufacturers across the Midlands and the wider UK to secure their future workforce and address the skills gap.

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UK Bakers expand equipment recovery operations in the Scottish region with appointment of investigations officer

BAKERS BASCO, the membership scheme set up by Allied Bakeries, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts and Sons, Hovis and Warburtons to manage an industry wide bakery equipment solution has recruited Richard Morrice to head up its investigations team in Scotland as it continues to expand their operations in other territories.

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Manufacturing leaders warn of worsening skills crisis

A new industry survey has revealed deepening concern among UK manufacturers over the ongoing skills shortage, with 62% of firms reporting recruitment struggles and two-thirds believing the situation has worsened in the last six months

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Government restructure tackles ‘hideous waste of talent’

SKILLS MINISTER Angela Smith has spoken of the ‘hideous waste of talent’, due to nearly a million young people in the UK not in employment, education or training and the need for skills to be at the epicentre of government if growth targets are to be met.

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