Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) – a network of world-leading research and innovation centres working with advanced manufacturing companies around the globe – has inked a Memorandum of Understanding to become a Foundation Partner at the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Under the agreement with the NSW State Government, the AMRC will help establish a world-class advanced manufacturing centre at Aerotropolis, creating thousands of highly skilled job opportunities for young people in Western Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the MoU would help transform Western Sydney into leading centre for manufacturing, research and technology in the Asia Pacific.
“This facility has transformed Sheffield’s job market and trained more than 1300 highly-skilled technical apprentices who are now working with Rolls-Royce, Boeing and BAE Systems,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“With the support of AMRC young people in Western Sydney will soon have the same opportunity to work with 130 leading industrial companies to develop skills in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and medical devices.”
The announcement comes shortly after global defence giant BAE Systems inked a similar agreement to deliver a new state-of-the-art space R&D facility at Aerotropolis.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres, said attracting another tech giant at Aerotropolis was another vote of confidence for the project, which aims to create 200,000 jobs in and around the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, with a significant proportion to be located within 30 minutes of where workers live.
“The Aerotropolis will make Western Sydney the Australian capital for advanced manufacturing and at the same time delivering future jobs closer to where people live,” Mr Ayres said.
AMRC founder Professor Keith Ridgway added:
“It’s been wonderful to tell Premier Berejiklian how a small group of passionate and committed people, backed by a visionary partner in Boeing, are using science, technology and skills training to transform a region that seemed locked into a spiral of terminal decline,” the Professor said.
“It’s truly an honour that our economic and social experiment in Sheffield and Rotherham has attracted the attention of such a dynamic and ambitious government on the other side of the world.
“We are delighted to be invited to help Premier Berejiklian turn her vision for a Western Sydney Aerotropolis into a reality. This is also a massive opportunity for the Sheffield City Region to learn and benefit from the partnership with NSW, as this inspirational project takes wings.”
