WMG professor welcomes West Midlands’ reindustrialisation plan
Friday 9 October 2026
WMG professor welcomes West Midlands’ reindustrialisation plan
Expert comment from Professor David GreenwoodLink opens in a new window, Director for Industrial Engagement and CEO of WMG HVM Catapult at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick.
"Reindustrialisation is a priority for jobs and investment in our region, so I am pleased that Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, announced it as a key theme for the next phase of the region’s Growth PlanLink opens in a new window at the West Midlands Growth Summit yesterday.
"The Plan recognises the essential part universities and HVM Catapult centres play as engines for regional and national growth. At WMG, helping industry be more productive, innovative and cost-effective has been our mission since we were first established in 1980. We bring together the technologies, knowledge, and people needed to secure the future of UK industry while cementing the West Midlands as a global destination for innovation and advanced manufacturing.
"Over the last 20 years, we have delivered around 6,000 company projects, helping to create over 16,000 jobs, 800 new products and processes, and 350 new companies. We have supported over 5,500 local businesses and pioneered new technologies, such as electrification and sustainable lightweight materials, with industry giants like JLR and Rolls-Royce.
"We’ve also supported the pipeline of engineering and manufacturing talent in the region by championing lifelong learning and skills development through our world-leading education programmes, apprenticeships, WMG Skills Centre coursesLink opens in a new window, and the WMG Academy for Young EngineersLink opens in a new window.
"We are proud to lead the Advanced Manufacturing and Createch strands of the Local Innovation Partnerships FundLink opens in a new window — delivering £50m of support to regional companies looking to grow through innovation — and to be principal partners in the West Midlands Made SmarterLink opens in a new window and Supply Chain TransitionLink opens in a new window Programmes.
"These initiatives help local SMEs adopt the latest technologies, innovate, and diversify into new markets, while developing the leadership skills needed to manage change, improve productivity, and build more resilient and competitive manufacturing businesses.
"Growth in five key areas — Automotive; Aerospace; Clean Energy; Agri-Tech; and Defence — is integral to the success of the West Midlands Growth Plan. These areas closely align with our areas of expertise and decades of experience translating research into real-world industrial impact.
"We can help businesses adopt new technologies at scale, strengthen supply chains and accelerate growth, making us well placed to help the region achieve the priorities outlined in the UK's Modern Industrial StrategyLink opens in a new window.
"As the lead for the West Midlands Automotive and Battery ClusterLink opens in a new window, we also welcome the creation of the new Regional Battery Taskforce to help drive battery innovation across the region. With state-of-the-art facilities and expertise at our Energy Innovation and Advanced Materials Battery Industrialisation Centres, we are committed to helping the West Midlands fulfil its potential in the sector.
"Yesterday's Summit — coupled with the launch of the UK’s new Scale-up PathwayLink opens in a new window earlier this week — brings renewed hope for growth and investment, and we look forward to helping the West Midlands deliver on the Plan’s promise of reindustrialisation and regional devolution to enable its people and industries to thrive."