our-journey
Our journey
WMG through the years
Some of our highlights
Founded by the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) was born out of a singular mission: to reinvigorate UK manufacturing through research and knowledge transfer. Since then, we’ve grown in scale, in breadth of expertise, and in knowledge.
1980
Discussions between Professor Lord Bhattacharyya and Lord Jack Butterworth, then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, led to the creation of a manufacturing, teaching, and research group, designed to encourage industry and academia to work together.
1981
Launch of the modular Master's degree in recognition that technology was moving beyond established skills and knowledge in industry.
1990
The Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) opens, a joint venture with industry. It was opened by the former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Two decades later, the ATC was transformed into a hub for cutting-edge battery innovation, equipped with industry-scale machinery to allow businesses to understand and adopt processes for successful battery development.
1990
WMG partners with Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityLink opens in a new window to offer its first overseas education programmes, including the Integrated Graduate Development Scheme (IGDS). 2025 marked 35 years of this partnership.
1992
Engineering Management Building opens with a focus on educating executives.
1992
WMG pioneers the first Engineering Doctorate Programme (EngD), launched with EPSRC support. The first person to complete the award was Professor Paul Jennings, WMG’s current Pro-Dean for Research.
1994
First programmes offered in Thailand with Chulalongkorn University.
1995
Engineering business management course launches with 22 students.
1995
The International Manufacturing BuildingLink opens in a new window (IMC) opens and becomes WMG’s HQ. The building was specifically designed to accommodate industrial-scale equipment and to teach students how to use it to maximise productivity.
1995
WMG launches programmes in India with the Confederation of Indian Industry, and in Malaysia with the University Teknologi Malaysia.
2000
WMG’s full-time Master’s programme expands to include Engineering Business Management, Project Management, Logistics Management, and Technology Management.
2002
WMG Business-to-Business Centre opens, launching WMG’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the West Midlands. By 2022, WMG had helped create over 14,000 jobs, engaged with over 5,550 businesses, and helped launch over 800 new products and processes.
2003
£72m Premium Automotive Research and Development Programme (PARD) launches, enabling industry partners to be more competitive. 4,087 learning opportunities were delivered in JLR and its supply chain. The programme produced some of the UK’s first work on hybrid drivetrains.
2008
International Digital Laboratory Link opens in a new window(IDL) opens with a focus on digital technologies, including cyber and visualisation. WMG expanded into this field in response to the increased use of digital control systems in industry and the growing need to secure factories and vehicles. IDL was officially opened by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
2009
WMG awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for providing a bridge between industry and academic research teaching, as well as UK industry and research and global thinking and innovation.
2010
£19m low-carbon vehicle project launches to enable industry to design and develop low-carbon vehicles.
2011
WMG High Value Manufacturing CatapultLink opens in a new window centre launches with a focus on strengthening UK industry through innovation and technology transfer. With over 30 years’ experience, WMG strongly influenced the Technology Strategy Board’s design of the Catapult system.
2011
New EPSRC-funded Doctoral Centre in High Value Low Environmental Impact Manufacturing launches.
2012
International Institute for Product and Services InnovationLink opens in a new window (IIPSI) opens, focusing on future digital and connected technologies.
2013
Launch of the Applied Engineering Programme, the first part-time undergraduate degree for apprentices.
2014
The late Mr Ratan Tata opens the first WMG Academy for Young EngineersLink opens in a new window in Coventry in response to industry concerns over a decline in technical education pathways. A second academy opens in Solihull two years later to support the pipeline of young engineers.
2014
Energy Innovation CentreLink opens in a new window opens, focusing on the development of battery research for electric vehicles.
2014
The International Institute of Nanocomposite ManufacturingLink opens in a new window opens, focusing on developing polymer processing to enable scale-up.
2015
WMG partners with JLR Lifelong Learning Academy – the first partnership of its kind in the UK automotive sector.
2016
Advanced Materials Manufacturing Centre (AMMC)Link opens in a new window, which focuses on steels, opens to investigate the feasibility and stability of new manufacturing processes.
2017
WMG launches the BEng Engineering Degree Apprenticeship in partnership with the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. The programme ran until 2024 and equipped 160 graduates with the skills needed to thrive in industry.
2018
Materials Engineering CentreLink opens in a new window opens, dedicated to application-driven material research.
2019
Degree Apprenticeship CentreLink opens in a new window opens, enabling students from industry to study and upskill while working.
2020
The National Automotive Innovation Centre is officially opened by the then HRH The Prince of Wales in the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya BuildingLink opens in a new window, driving the future of the automotive industry from the heart of the UK. A beacon for automotive research, it brings together the brightest minds from industry and academia to develop future vehicles and mobility solutions.
2022
WMG Skills CentreLink opens in a new window opens to provide expert-led, flexible, and cutting-edge short courses designed for groups and individuals who will shape the future of business and industry.
2023
WMG starts hosting T Level students on industry placements, one of the first institutions to do so. Since April 2023, we've welcomed 24 students; 20 of them completed their placement, and three progressed to our Technical Apprenticeship Programme.
2024
Global Training Programme launches in collaboration with JLR to upskill engineers in Smart, Connected, and Autonomous Vehicle Technologies.
2024
WMG founds Partners for Automated Vehicle Education United Kingdom (PAVE UKLink opens in a new window) with the Department for Transport, Department of Business and Trade, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, and Transport for West Midlands. It is the UK’s first initiative designed to build public trust and acceptance of self-driving technology through inclusive and accessible public awareness and education programmes.
2025
High Value Manufacturing Catapult Baglan opens, managed by WMG in collaboration with AMRC CymruLink opens in a new window.
2025
To support sustainable food production and accelerate agricultural innovation, Warwick Agri-Tech launches a new Pilot Facility with state-of-the-art robotics at Warwick’s Innovation Campus.
2025
The University of Warwick and Tata Group win the Royal Academy of Engineering’s highly esteemed Bhattacharyya Award for their pioneering partnership, in which WMG plays a key role.
“It’s very important to build an institution – that’s the difference from a one-man enterprise which disappears after him. An institution that does better after your time – that is a true legacy.” - Professor Lord Bhattacharyya
Our people
Our people are at the heart of what we do
Since 1980, we have embraced an ethos of doing things differently. Our people reflect that difference as we have sought to attract a diverse community of talented individuals from across the globe.
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