Warwick Manufacturing Group aspiring to support more businesses with innovation

05 Feb 2024

Published in: Member News

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The Black Country Chamber of Commerce speaks to the Business Development Manager at Warwick Manufacturing Group.

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In the latest Ready for 2024 interview, Russ Noble, Business Development Manager at Warwick Manufacturing Group, an engineering department at the University of Warwick, says he will be focussing on continued engagement with industrial partners and supporting manufacturing businesses with innovation.

Through Ready for 2024, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the companies looking forward to building success in 2024. We are featuring member firms, ranging from start-ups to large companies, on the Chamber website and social media channels to get their views on the opportunities ahead during the next year.

A Bronze member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Warwick Manufacturing Group is an engineering department at the University of Warwick with over 700 scientists, engineers and teaching personnel. An international role model for collaboration between academia and the public and private sectors, it drives innovation in science, technology and engineering to develop talent for the future.

What will your business be focussing upon in 2024?

We will be focusing on continued engagement with industrial partners through collaborative technical support programmes and industrial innovation. WMG’s SME group will focus on helping manufacturing SMEs to innovate around digital transformation, net zero, low carbon and sustainable manufacturing initiatives, all linked to the UK Government’s industrial strategy and funding.

What are your hopes for the Black Country economy and its businesses in 2024?

We look forward to supporting and collaborating with many Black Country manufacturers to accelerate their uptake and implementation of innovative technologies, processes and products, which will ultimately help them to grow and increase productivity in their businesses.

Why will the Black Country be a great place to do business in the 12 months ahead?

The Black Country has an established manufacturing base. There is opportunity for Black Country businesses to make a real difference, increasing their appetite for, and success in, innovation. There is strong academic support from regional educational establishments including the Institutes of Technology, colleges and universities.

What will you use your Chamber membership for in the year ahead?

We will use our membership for networking with manufacturing SMEs, targeting established manufacturers who are Chamber members for WMG support. We hope that our membership will also help with WMG events and support programmes for SMEs.

What do you hope will happen for the UK economy as a whole?

We hope for some sense of stability and long-term industrial strategy – although this is difficult to imagine in an election year!

What does your company do?

WMG is an engineering department at the University of Warwick with over 700 scientists, engineers and teaching personnel. We provide educational programmes including degree apprenticeships, degrees, master’s degrees, PhDs and bespoke engineering courses across a range of scientific disciplines. WMG also undertakes industrial research and development with industry partners, from start-ups and SMEs to large multinational businesses, often collaborating on funding initiatives including Innovate UK, Niche Vehicle Network, Advanced Propulsion Centre and Low Carbon. WMG’s key technical resources and capabilities span materials, manufacturing processes, energy, transportation, business transformation, digital and electric vehicles. Visit warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg to learn more.

Address: International Digital Lab, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL