Harland & Wolff, which is preparing to resume shipbuilding at its recently acquired Appledore Shipyard, is planning to launch an apprenticeship scheme in 2021 in North Devon and Belfast. It will offer apprenticeships across three distinct functions: trade, (welders, pipefitters, electricians, riggers, fabricators, etc); technical, (engineers, naval architecture); and business support (sales, administration). Highlights of … Read more
Make UK, the Manufacturers’ Association, and business advisory firm BDO have published a survey showing that South West manufacturers are continuing the long road back towards growth from the historic lows experienced earlier in the year. The survey also highlights the brutal impact of the pandemic with the sector forecast to see a 12% drop … Read more
TDK Corporation has announced an £11.5m investment package to redevelop its TDK-Lambda manufacturing facility in Ilfracombe, North Devon. The investment will be staged over the next three and a half years to increase production capacity by 50%. The original factory was built more than 50 years ago with further expansion in the mid-1980s. While the … Read more
Barum & Dewar (B&D), the UK-based specialist packaging company, has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to design and deliver a wide range of specialist packaging solutions in support of the New Style of IT (Deployed) Projects (NSoIT(D)). NSoIT Deployed is the MoD-designed-and-owned deployable communications and information system for UK … Read more
A combination of circumstances has resulted in the closure of the Spur Shelving manufacturing facility in Torrington on Friday 31 January 2020. Founded in 1953, since when it has grown into one of the most respected names in the shelving industry, manufacturing of Spur Shelving was resumed in Torrington in 2007 by Storage Solutions. Storage … Read more
Entries are now open for the North Devon Manufacturers Association’s North Devon Technology Awards – for students 13-19 years – which aim to encourage the manufacturers of the future. These awards enable school and college students to showcase their technology projects to win an industry award. There is also a £100 cash prize. Winners will … Read more
The 2019 North Devon Manufacturers Association Awards are now open for entries with the aims of identifying and celebrating the expertise, technical specialisation, innovation, growth or other success of manufacturers and schools within North Devon. The 10 categories are: Manufacturer of the Year Team of the Year Apprentice of the Year Trainee of the … Read more
Petroc is in the early development stages of its new Centre of Technology and Innovation Excellence (CoTIE), which is likely to house a clean room and proof of concept/prototyping labs and design facilities, together with a small flexible conference/office space to support SMEs who are looking to develop new and innovative products and ideas. The … Read more
Manufacturing is an important part of the North Devon economy and local businesses are struggling to recruit candidates for roles requiring higher level technical skills. National shortages in technical skills compound this problem for businesses in North Devon and Torridge, who see young talent leaving the region for Higher Education elsewhere, and not returning after … Read more
Many visitors, and even residents, think that North Devon is simply a beautiful place to visit and relax in, unaware of the extent of industry here. Business Action is keen to highlight what businesses, especially manufacturers, are achieving, particularly in terms of exports. Diamedica not only manufactures and exports from North Devon to 70 countries … Read more
Diamedica, the designer/manufacturer of anaesthesia and respiratory solutions based in Bratton Fleming in North Devon, has won two out of the six awards at the recent Africa Healthcare Summit in London: the International Innovation of the Year and the Solution of the Year. Diamedica won the awards for its Helix Portable Ventilators. Their design builds on earlier ventilators … Read more
A report published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking warns that the Apprenticeship Levy, to be introduced this April, is still viewed by many manufacturers as a tax on business, with many more firms potentially falling into scope than previously expected. And, while the manufacturing sector has warmed to some of the Levy’s perceived benefits, … Read more
Engineers from TDK-Lambda UK in Ilfracombe, North Devon supported a team of students from the town’s Ilfracombe Academy with its entry to the international STEM competition, F1 in Schools. This is part of an extensive programme that TDK-Lambda engineers are engaged in to help promote, encourage and support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education to … Read more