High Value Manufacturing Catapult

Can-Do Britain With the 5th anniversary of the pandemic upon us I wanted to reflect on an extraordinary engineering endeavour that was a life changing experience for those involved. In early March 2020 we saw images on our televisions of Italian hospitals turning patients away as they had insufficient intensive care ventilators to treat them. The UK realised that it did not have enough either and it was impossible to purchase them. As we do not manufacture intensive care ventilators in the UK it looked like we were stuck. UK government sent out an appeal to “industry” to ask if our manufacturing companies could repurpose themselves to make ventilators. There was no shortage of offers to help, but no organisation to manage the process . At the time I was leading Europe’s largest manufacturing research institute (The HVM Catapult) and I volunteered to pull a consortium of manufacturers together. Leaders from Airbus, McLaren, Siemens, Ford and many others joined in the challenge. We were introduced to a tiny anaesthesia equipment maker who had configured some of its equipment to make a ventilator but it was just a prototype and its production quantities were minuscule - the country needed thousands of them and fast. The newly named Ventilator Challenge UK Consortium started work immediately with the small company, Penlon. In the first 4 weeks we procured over 15 million components, built 5 factories, in Broughton, Dagenham, Woking, Hook and Abingdon, conducted clinical trials and secured approval from the medical regulator, the MHRA. We started production and over the next 12 weeks built over 13,000 ventilators peaking at a production rate of over 400 a day. Every patient that needed one got access to a ventilator. 5000 people were involved in this extraordinary endeavour with a stop at nothing culture and belief that anything was possible with the right engineering focus applied. It showed what was possible with extreme collaboration, teamwork and a focus only on the outcome - the delivery of ventilators. I remain deeply proud of the efforts of those 5000 and of my colleagues in the consortium who put the nation ahead of company and self. There’s always been a lot of negative news about the UK’s response to the pandemic, but hidden amongst all of it was one of UK engineering’s finest hours.

🎧 We’re ending this series with a special episode celebrating the nationwide impact of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult 🎧 Since 2011, CPI and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult have been at the heart of the UK’s industrial strategy—driving innovation, accelerating high-value manufacturing, and transforming regions into thriving technology hubs. But how did we get here, and what’s next for UK manufacturing? In our final episode of People in Innovation: A CPI podcast, ‘In Conversation With’ series, our CEO, Frank Millar, sits down with Katherine Bennett CBE, CEO of HVM Catapult, and Steve Bagshaw, Chair of HVM Catapult, to reflect on CPI’s journey as part of this powerful network. They explore how Catapults de-risk innovation, support businesses, and help turn pioneering ideas into real-world solutions. With many centres across multiple regions, HVM Catapult plays a crucial role in strengthening supply chains, creating high-value jobs, and ensuring the UK remains a leader in innovation-led manufacturing. 🔊 Listen here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ecuN3tRG   📺 Watch here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e6mfYfx8  AMRC MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre National Composites Centre National Manufacturing Institute Scotland Nuclear AMRC WMG, University of Warwick Innovate UK UK Research and Innovation #CPI20 | #Innovation | #Podcast  #LetsInnovateTogether | #Manufacturing | #OneHVMC 

Happy #BritishScienceWeek from the Innovate UK Catapult Network! 🔬 This year’s theme, 'Change and Adapt' celebrates innovation, resilience, and adaptability, values that are at the core of the Catapult Network. Across our centres, we’re driving transformative change to tackle global challenges and shape future generations. Here’s just a few of the ways we’re making an impact: Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult partnered with the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) to launch the Welsh Sparc Bursary Programme, empowering the next generation of engineers and addressing the skills shortage in electronics⚡ Connected Places Catapult is hosting the Connected Places Summit 2025, bringing together leaders from transport, mobility, cities, and academia to showcase innovative solutions for sustainable growth. This provides a platform for young innovators to connect with industry leaders and learn about future opportunities 🌍 Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, in collaboration with the Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CRSI), launched the Regulatory Network for Advanced Therapies to develop efficient regulatory frameworks, integrate patient perspectives, and ensure timely access to advanced therapies 🧬 High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Digital Catapult have collectively launched a new joint programme to tackle sustainability challenges in UK manufacturing. With funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the ‘Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator’ will help to decrease cost and time needed for the adoption of industrial digital technologies (IDT) in manufacturing 🚀 Medicines Discovery Catapult has worked with almost 300 partners, helping them raise over £1.24bn of R&D investment and accelerated 5 compounds into clinic 💊 Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is driving change through its flagship Launch Academy 2025, a nine-month technology accelerator programme aimed at advancing innovations in offshore wind energy 🌊 And this is just the tip of the iceberg! All Catapults across the network are helping to shape a brighter future by accelerating science across key UK sectors through innovation and adaptability 🌍✨ Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult Connected Places Catapult Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Digital Catapult High Value Manufacturing Catapult Medicines Discovery Catapult Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

🚀 Tomorrow is International Women’s Day! 💜 We celebrate the incredible women shaping science, technology, and innovation across the Glasgow City Region every day. But with women making up just 29% of the UK’s STEM workforce, it’s clear we need to break down barriers and inspire the next generation. 🌟 Meet just a few of the trailblazers driving change across the city region: 🔹 Pamela Smith (Anderson) – VP of Future Programmes at AAC Clyde Space , shaping Scotland’s space sector with her expertise in aerospace engineering. 🔹 Dr Lynne O'Hare – Chief Portfolio Officer at High Value Manufacturing Catapult, driving collaboration across the UK’s advanced manufacturing network. 🔹 Coreen McCubbin – CTO at National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, leading strategic innovation and industry partnerships to transform manufacturing. 🔹 Dr Gillian Lang – Director of Experience Development at Glasgow Science Centre, helping to spark a lifelong interest in science and raising awareness of future careers in STEM. 🔹 Dr Dr Susie Mitchell – Programme Manager at Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, fostering inclusive innovation on the banks of the Clyde. To all the women pushing boundaries in STEM – and beyond – thank you for everything you do. 💜✨ #IWD2025 #WomenInSTEM #Inspiration #BreakingBarriers