Engineers from WMG, at the University of Warwick, are providing advanced technology support for Stratford-Upon-Avon’s Pashley Cycles, England’s longest established bicycle manufacturer based in who, with Serco, who this week won the contract to supply the next generation of bicycles for the Transport for London (TfL) Cycle Hire Scheme.

Under the new contract Serco will introduce bicycles, made by Pashley, with the first ones available at the start of October 2017. The new bicycles, which will be produced in the company’s home town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, used WMG’s technical support and advice to help create cycles that are 10% lighter than the current model and that are designed to give a more manoeuvrable and comfortable riding experience.

Through the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, based at the University of Warwick, and renowned for its expertise in light weighting, the WMG SME Group provided “additive layer manufacturing” and 3D printing assistance to enable Pashley to develop the new bicycle. This support played a significant part in creating the bike prototype, which in turn helped secure the TfL contract.

In July our SME team welcomed a group of interns as part of the 2017 Summer Internship Programme. They are working with local SMEs on a range of projects covering design and manufacture, tool development, electronics, materials testing and characterisation, and lean methodologies.

Over the past five years, we have delivered 110 internship projects and will deliver another 25 as part of this year’s programme. The interns work alongside our team of experts, giving them valuable work experience, and in turn our SMEs get to work with talented up and coming undergraduates, and access to the state-of-the-art research facilities at the University of Warwick.

If your company is interested in our Internships Programme contact Jen Manerova, Internships Officer, on 02476 523 776 or email: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk for more details.

This summer, WMG has 20 places available for Midlands manufacturers to host a talented student or graduate to work on a strategic project in their business.

Part funded by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, WMG’s SME group at the University of Warwick has been delivering this internship scheme since 2010, with over 120 businesses so far benefiting from a range of impactful outcomes.

The scheme encourages students studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects to consider careers in the manufacturing supply chain. Coupled with this, it supports SME manufacturers to increase productivity by embedding new technologies and processes into their businesses for minimal cost (£2000 per 8-week project).

On Wednesday (22 March), our SME Group presented ‘Why Innovation Matters’ to SMEs across the Black Country.

The exclusive invite-only event took place at the NatWest Manufacturing Hub in Wolverhampton with speeches from Alison Rose, CEO of Commercial and Private Banking, and Richard Hill Head of Sector Automotive and Manufacturing at NatWest. Archie MacPherson CEO, WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Paul Milne, Innovation Manager in our SME team, represented WMG.

Attendees were given a chance to hear first-hand about our SME Group’s specialist Product Innovation Accelerator Project. The Project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It was developed to help manufacturing SMEs, based in Coventry and Warwickshire and the Black Country, develop new products, processes and access new technology through collaboration.

We were delighted to welcome SMEs to our ‘Get Connected: Practical Digital Solutions to Transform your Business’ event on the 7th February 2017.

The event aimed to show SMEs the variety of support available at WMG to help evaluate current processes and implement cost-effective and practical digital solutions to overcome a range of business challenges. In attendance were small businesses, academics and large companies spanning a range of sectors, including automotive, motorsport, marine, digital health and aerospace.

Chris White, MP for Warwick and Leamington, gave the keynote address, speaking passionately about why adopting the techniques and philosophies of ‘Industry 4.0’ are vital to our economy, output and competitiveness, both as a nation and as a region.

 The WMG SME Team is offering FREE Lean Six Sigma Assessments to assist SME manufacturing businesses seeking to improve their processes, for better efficiency and productivity gains.

Onur Eren, Technology Transfer Engineer and qualified Lean Six Sigma practitioner, at WMG, is leading the project which will help businesses evaluate their current operations and receive ideas on how they can transform current processes for the better.

The first stages of the project usually involve collecting data and gaining a better understanding of specific business issues, prior to applying a range of technologies and methodologies to develop and implement the necessary solutions.

Projects are being allocated on a first come-first served basis, email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk to register your interest in receiving a free Six Sigma assessment.

WMG’s SME Group is giving food for thought, with two exciting events scheduled for next week.

Internet of Things (IoT) Midlands

On Tuesday 12 July, the 12^th Internet of Things (IoT) Midlands UK event will take place. The theme for this event is Data and Security. There’ll be an opportunity to network with the SME team and other delegates, as well as hear from key speakers including: Steve Robbin, MD of Kairos CyberTec Ltd; Hugh Boyes Principal Fellow at WMG’s Cyber Security Centre, and Craig Heath, Working Group Chair IoT Security Foundation.

To register visit: https://www.meetup.com/IoTMidlands

Six senior managers from the UK’s Midlands Assembly Network (MAN) are among the first to complete a new Innovation Business Leadership (IBL) postgraduate programme at WMG, University of Warwick designed to create new Midlands’s business leaders who can bring significant benefits to their businesses.

Neil Carmichael MP has joined forces with Gloucestershire suppliers to launch a national research study at the Frocester George Inn which is playing a key role in the study.

The study led by researchers from WMG at the University of Warwick is examining the importance of supply chains. The research team chose the local Inn as a core part of the study because it uses so many local suppliers and is a perfect example of the chain reaction in the supply chain that occurs within the local economy when a new business flourishes.

In addition to serving local beers, the Frocester Inn sources many local ingredients for its menu, including local Cheese, meat products from Frocester Fayre and fruit and vegetables from Bramleys Cirencester. But their recent refurbishment has also benefited many other local businesses including phone contractors and builders, a local window cleaner and linen company.