The Productivity Improvement Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, delivered by AMRC and BIC Innovation in partnership with Cheshire East Council.
Who We Are
AMRC Cymru
AMRC Cymru is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a consortium of leading manufacturing and process research centres backed by Innovate UK.
BIC Innovation
For 20 years, colleagues at BIC Innovation have been helping clients to find practical solutions to their growth and innovation ambitions. The business has grown in terms of its turnover, client base, the value of the projects it works on, productivity is up, as is client satisfaction.
BIC Innovation’s strengths lie in facilitating innovation, building effective strategies, enhancing performance, internationalisation, marketing and scaling up. Using their deep functional expertise and sector knowledge, coupled with strong relationships with the public sector and industry to grow sustainable businesses.
AMRC
With over two decades of expertise in manufacturing engineering, Rob has navigated diverse sectors including piezo-ceramics, plastics, aerospace and defence. During his 15-year tenure at Airbus, Rob spearheaded the implementation of numerous automated systems across all product variants at the Broughton site, culminating in the leadership of a team of research engineers on the Wing of Tomorrow program. Joining AMRC Cymru in 2022, Rob is actively engaged in a range of aerospace research projects.
Matthew began his career in the automotive industry before transitioning to the aerospace sector, working with numerous Tier 1 suppliers and technology integrators. Joining AMRC Cymru in 2019 as Workshop Manager, he played a key role in establishing the facility. Matthew's passion for sustainability led to his current role as 'Cymru Sustainability Lead,' where he spearheads sustainability projects. He is currently pursuing a degree in 'Low Carbon Energy, Efficiency, and Sustainability' at Wrexham University.
Anmar joined AMRC Cymru in 2022 as a Senior Manufacturing Research Engineer. Over the years, Anmar has amassed extensive experience collaborating with diverse industries. Within AMRC Cymru's dynamic environment, Anmar benefits from access to a wide array of engineers specialising in various fields and has spearheaded numerous cross-disciplinary projects. This collective expertise enables Anmar to offer comprehensive support and innovative solutions across different industries.
BIC Innovation
Gwyn is a Project Manager at BIC Innovation with over thirty years of experience in manufacturing and engineering across a spectrum of small and medium-sized businesses.
He confidently leads and supports strategic initiatives across multiple teams, employing Lean Six Sigma and various business improvement tools to innovate practical solutions to business problems. With a strong grounding in project and change management techniques, Gwyn excels in delivering transformational change and operational excellence.
​Hilary brings over 25 years of exceptional programme delivery, performance, and contract management experience. As the Enterprise Lead at GM Growth Co, Hilary managed projects in the Northwest exceeding £20m in value over the last 5 years. She has expertise in various funding streams including ERDF, CRF, RDPE, ESF, DfE, HEI’s, and commercial projects, with recent projects averaging £6m annually. With prior roles at S&E Cheshire TEC and Cheshire & Warrington Business Link, Hilary is well-versed in the business landscape of Cheshire East.
Owain has over 20 years of experience in process improvement, specializing in operational excellence, lean methodologies, and strategic delivery. He spent eight years as part of a blue-chip site leadership team and holds an MBA, BEng, MRes in Materials Engineering, NEBOSH certification, and ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor training. His career includes leading teams to high safety and productivity levels, driving cost-saving projects, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. His skills include lean and six sigma methodologies, change management, and coaching.