RSS Press releases

Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils, along with Dumfries and Galloway and  Borders Colleges, South of Scotland Enterprise and key stakeholders including Skills Development Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Engineering Forum and Scottish Borders Training Association have successfully bid to deliver the Advancing Innovative Manufacturing in the South of Scotland (Aims) project.   

The overall aim of the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund (AMCF) is for projects to have the scale and level of ambition required to have a significant impact on developing the manufacturing capabilities of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) within Scotland, which should lead to long-term transformational change. 

This project is for manufacturing SMEs in the South of Scotland and will provide access to advanced manufacturing technologies. The project will focus on supporting SMEs who have potential new products, to help develop them for market, as well as upskilling the workforce and encouraging innovation. 

Services will include: 

• Training and upskilling
• R&D investment/innovation/concept development
• Product realisation
• Enabling a manufacturing ecosystem

The project will be delivered through a regional hub and spoke approach aligned with the Skills and Learning Network launched by Dumfries and Galloway and Borders Colleges.  Hosted from The Bridge in Dumfries and linking with the Textiles Centre of Excellence in the Borders, partnership working will be developed through siting the advanced equipment within hub and spoke arrangements in both colleges.  Additionally, the project will investigate the feasibility of siting equipment within an appropriate host business premises. 

Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Resources Committee, Rob Davidson said: “This is the ground work for the future of many of our area’s SMEs and the start of a brighter economic future through increased manufacturing, on a larger scale, for our region. AIMS will play a central role in our efforts to build a successful, vibrant and diverse manufacturing sector for future generations.” 

The award of this funding is a significant milestone, and I look forward to seeing how the new equipment will help companies across the South of Scotland to develop their skills, perfect the latest techniques, and push forward with cutting-edge research.” 

Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) said: “The South of Scotland economy is affected by several well-documented challenges brought about by the rural nature of the region and that’s ahead of the immediate challenges we are now facing with the impact of Covid-19. We are working extremely hard with partners to respond to the immediate challenges but we must also look to the future of our economy. We have already agreed at our Board to commit up to £1.5m towards this project as it enables open access for SMEs to advanced manufacturing resources within the south of Scotland. This will also support inward investment, inclusive growth as well as develop skills, career paths, and encourage the development of innovation and new ideas by giving SMEs to the latest equipment and software to help them with product testing and development. 

This will add to the investment already made through SOSEP to the development of Digital and Skills Network with the two colleges. The network is providing new facilities to improve access to digital learning, opening up new opportunities and helping meet the needs of local businesses industry by addressing skills gaps in key sectors.” 

For more information, please visit:  https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/develop-products-and-services/innovation-support/advancing-manufacturing-challenge-fund