Professor Dave Mullins, interim Head of WMG, was delighted to welcome Andrew Stephenson MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to WMG today (Thursday 16^th May).

Andrew Stephenson MP was keen to hear more about our world-class research and meet the lead academics and research teams involved in collaborative R&D projects across the transport sector.

Andrew had a tour of a range of research facilities including our Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) and Centre for Imaging Metrology and Additive Technologies (CiMAT) facilities. He learned more about our battery technology, vehicle electrification projects, intelligent vehicles research and the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme.

Professor Dave Mullins explained: “We are delighted to have hosted the first official visit of Andrew in his new role as the Under Secretary of State at BEIS and share with him how we are helping to deliver on the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.”

Business and Industry Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

“The world-class research being delivered at WMG is evidence of our modern Industrial Strategy in action – driving innovation in applied science, technology and engineering to create good jobs and increase earning power.

“The West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy launched today - the first of its kind - is tailored to the specific challenges in the region, and sets an example for other regions to follow.”

The visit co-insided with the launch of the West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy, at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, on the University of Warwick campus. We’re honoured that West Midlands Combined Authority chose to dedicate the West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy to Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder of WMG. It is a poignant testament to Lord Bhattacharyya’s dedication to manufacturing, Coventry and to the West Midlands region.

Prior to the West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy launch, Andrew was at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre site to announce a further £28m funding from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund for the development of the Centre. WMG, along with Coventry City Council and Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership are leading the creation of this scale-up battery facility of the Faraday Battery Challenge.

WMG was delighted to welcome Alison Rose, Deputy CEO of NatWest Holdings, to a special SME event at the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Building at the University of Warwick.

Alison, and her colleague Richard Hill, Head of Automotive and Manufacturing at NatWest, joined CEO of WMG Centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Archie MacPherson to meet with a series of SMEs that NatWest and WMG are currently supporting on the ‘Create Test Launch’ (CTL) Programme.

The CTL Programme was launched in 2017, with WMG experts providing hands on advice and support with new product development.

The potential of the Programme was recognised by NatWest, who then partnered with WMG to subsidise ten clients through CTL.

At the event Alison, described as ‘the most influential woman in investment banking’, spoke with passion about the need to prioritise innovation in the boardroom and sparked a lively discussion. Key topics included the challenges of balancing operational pressures against the desire to innovate, the crucial role of good leadership, understanding the innovation process, and support for SMEs in an uncertain political and economic climate.

With 50,000 manufacturing clients nationally, NatWest is keen to promote innovation and leadership in industry. Following the visit, WMG will continue to work closely with NatWest to strengthen the UK manufacturing sector.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, visited WMG at the University of Warwick today (4 May 2018), as part of his ‘homecoming’ tour around Coventry, the city where he was first ordained.

During his visit to WMG, Archbishop Welby toured world-class automotive research facilities, including the Energy Innovation Centre and the new £150m National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) with WMG Chairman Professor Lord Bhattacharyya.

He also joined a small group of business leaders to discuss the future of smart, connected and electrified vehicles, and the renaissance of the automotive industry in the West Midlands– topics which are at the heart of WMG research and development...

WMG was delighted to welcome today, Professor Sir Mark Walport FRS, the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, accompanied by Dr Rupert Lewis, Director of the Government Office for Science.

Sir Mark had the opportunity to discuss science, engineering and wealth creation innovations from WMG and how WMG works side-by-side with industry to enable the creation and delivery of innovative new products, processes and services. After meeting with Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, he undertook a tour of WMG’s world-class research facilities, including the International Manufacturing Centre and the Energy Innovation Centre.