'State of the art' training facility opens at Sheffield's Forgemasters

The steelmaker says the 6,700 sq ft facility will help upskill its staff for the 'next generation of nuclear-grade engineering.'

The new training base at Forgemasters
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 13th Oct 2025

A state of the art new training facility has opened at Sheffield Forgemasters.

The steelmaker says the 6,700 sq ft facility will help upskill its staff for the 'next generation of nuclear-grade engineering.'

It includes 18 high-tech engineering machines, including a state-of-the-art five-axis milling and turning machine.

Forgemasters has been working with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre on the project.

Jay Shaw, Head of Machine Shops at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The launch of our new training and development facility marks a significant step-change in the skills that we can deliver for our apprentices.

“We are now able to prepare trainees for the next generation of machines and operating systems that will be housed in our new 30,000 m2 machining hall, creating a highly focused engineering facility for the world’s most complex nuclear grade forgings and castings.

“Partnering with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, we will build a workforce which is fully conversant in Industry 4.0 manufacture to deliver one of the world’s most advanced defence manufacturing facilities.”

Louise Cowling, Head of Apprenticeship Programmes Delivery at the AMRC Training Centre, said: “The new facility at Sheffield Forgemasters will allow us to support Sheffield Forgemasters’ delivery of a highly advanced workforce.

“The combination of such excellent facilities, combined with a clearly defined training programme, will offer apprentices the opportunity to develop engineering techniques which are far in advance of contemporary practices.”

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