HVM Catapult celebrates fifth year of growth and success
Despite difficult economic conditions, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult explains how it continues to grow, supporting 3,000 industrial clients last year alone.
The HVM Catapult has continued to grow in both output and influence this past year. That is particularly positive in light of a number of global factors impacting UK manufacturing such as the slowdown of the Chinese economy, a challenging steel market and uncertainty in the Eurozone.
It is perhaps no surprise that factory output was hit in 2015-16, but it is very encouraging that UK manufacturers maintain a commitment to robust levels of investment in buildings, plant and machinery. “Investment in disruptive technology innovations will help us generate step-change improvements in productivity and help the UK compete in high growth markets of the future and the HVM Catapult is playing its part in this”, says Bob Gilbert, Chairman of the HVM Catapult.
The 2015-16 HVM Catapult performance figures speak for themselves.
Through the year over 3,000 industrial clients worked with the HVM Catapult to deploy innovation in manufacturing. Many of these are repeat customers, who have come to trust and value our services, but there are also many new customers.
The organisation now employs over 1,900 staff – the majority of whom are scientists, engineers and technicians – and worked on over 1,800 projects.
The HVM Catapult made a conscious commitment to increase its work with SMEs and those efforts have clearly been successful. SMEs now make up over 50% of the customer base.
Dick Elsy, CEO of the HVM Catapult, thinks a combination of factors have contributed to the steep rise in SME customers which is up over 150% from last year. The good geographic spread of the HVM Catapult centres makes the offer accessible to businesses across the country. The strong network with partners such as the Knowledge Transfer Network, trade bodies such as the Manufacturers’ Organisation (EEF), and Regional Aerospace Alliances helps the organisation gain credibility with a very big industry audience. The regional outreach activities of centres, such as the MTC’s new presence in Merseyside, a proposal to develop a North West Advanced Manufacturing Centre (NW-AMRC) at the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone and the HVM Catapult support for the Manufacturing Strategy for Scotland, help the organisation engage with companies in areas which do not have a centre in their vicinity.
Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the HVM Catapult will be joined by Secretary of State Sajid Javid at a showcase reception from 4pm – 6pm in the Churchill Room. The organisation will look back on five years of growth and success, and delegates will receive the Annual Review for 2015-16.
To mark the 5 year anniversary, Secretary of State Sajid Javid joins HVM Catapult at its reception at the House of Commons Churchill room on 28 June from 4pm to 6pm. The 2015-16 Annual Review will be distributed to delegates at the event.
The document can also be downloaded from the HVM Catapult website www.hvm.catapult.org.uk, or requested by email on info@hvm.catapult.org.uk or telephone 0121 6059780.
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