Sheffield Forgemasters has opened a 6,700 sq ft training and development centre to strengthen its apprenticeship programme and support future nuclear-grade manufacturing.

The new facility, located within the company’s South Machine Shop at Brightside Lane, includes 18 advanced engineering machines and 800 sq ft of office and teaching space. Among the equipment is a five-axis milling and turning machine designed to train apprentices on complex machining processes used in large-scale industrial manufacturing.

The company has partnered with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre under a four-year agreement that embeds a full-time engineering skills coach at the site. The collaboration will deliver specialist training aligned with Industry 4.0 standards, preparing apprentices for the digital and precision manufacturing systems that will underpin Forgemasters’ new 30,000 sq m machining hall.

The initiative forms part of Sheffield Forgemasters’ wider investment in modernising its operations and developing a technically skilled workforce capable of supporting the UK’s growing defence and nuclear sectors.

Family-owned and owner-managed businesses across the UK continue to struggle with recruitment due to a shortage of skilled candidates, according to Armstrong Watson’s latest annual survey. The report, based on 858 responses from companies across multiple sectors, highlights persistent challenges in finding suitable staff, particularly in rural areas.

Around a third of firms described recruitment as “very difficult”, with many pointing to a lack of qualified applicants. While Yorkshire performed better than most regions, with 26% reporting severe hiring issues, businesses there have focused on referral incentives, flexible working, and improved recruitment processes to strengthen retention.

Across the UK, only half of employers offer salary sacrifice schemes, despite their benefits for structuring pay and reducing tax costs. Many appear to be delaying changes until after the Autumn Budget.

Nearly half of Yorkshire businesses are already engaging with artificial intelligence, either using or exploring AI to streamline operations, figures that exceed national averages. Nationally, companies are also addressing labour shortages by raising wages and expanding apprenticeship programmes.

Rising costs remain the top concern for the next three years, followed by regulatory uncertainty and workforce gaps. Many firms are tightening investment plans, with 22% not seeking new finance and almost half relying on personal or retained capital to fund operations.

Succession planning is emerging as a key issue. Eighteen per cent of owners plan to exit their business within two years, and although over 40% see family or senior management as their successors, most have not yet formalised these discussions. Only a third intend to pass their business to family members, suggesting a gradual shift in succession models.

The Dormeuil Group has completed the acquisition of Alfred Brown (Worsted Mills) Ltd, taking full ownership of the Yorkshire-based textile manufacturer. The move strengthens Dormeuil’s UK manufacturing base and signals a renewed investment in British-made fabrics.

Alfred Brown, established in 1915, operates its own weaving mill and is recognised internationally for producing high-quality worsted fabrics. The acquisition brings together two long-established family companies known for their craftsmanship and dedication to quality.

The deal reinforces Dormeuil Manufacturing Ltd.’s position within the group and expands the company’s production capacity in the UK. It also supports Dormeuil’s goal to enhance its global reach while maintaining its commitment to domestic textile production.

Both Dormeuil and Alfred Brown will continue to operate under their own brands, with plans to grow Alfred Brown’s market presence and international profile. The integration is expected to position Dormeuil among the leading fabric producers in the UK, ensuring that both companies’ heritage and technical expertise remain at the centre of their future growth strategies.

Energy companies Centrica and National Gas have completed the UK’s first live hydrogen blending trial, marking a milestone in the country’s push to decarbonise its energy system. A 2% blend of green hydrogen was injected into the national gas grid and supplied to the Brigg power station in North Lincolnshire, where it was used to generate electricity for the power network.

Previous hydrogen blending tests in the UK had been limited to decommissioned gas network sections, making this the first instance of hydrogen being used in an operational setting. The trial demonstrated that existing infrastructure can accommodate low-level hydrogen blends without compromising grid reliability or safety.

The initiative supports wider efforts to integrate hydrogen into the national energy mix, reducing emissions from power generation and hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable electricity through electrolysis, is viewed as a key pathway to achieving net-zero targets.

Centrica and National Gas are now advocating for regulatory approval to allow up to 5% hydrogen blends in the national transmission system. The companies said the move would encourage private investment, strengthen energy security, and create new opportunities for the UK’s industrial regions.