Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres (DER-IC) has supported its partners in successfully winning two bids in the latest Driving the Electric Revolution funding call from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): Building Talent for the Future.
The successful applicants were announced on the 21 October 2022, with 16 projects sharing £4 million to help create the workforce of the future.
Delivered by Innovate UK, part of UKRI, the funding focuses on power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) manufacturing and supply chains.
These projects will:
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create and deliver course content and materials that build awareness of PEMD
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fill gaps in the UK’s workforce talent and training capabilities.
Details of the two successfully funded projects involving DER-IC are as follows:
Institute of electrification and sustainable advanced manufacturing (IESAM): building talent for growth of North East PEMD supply chain
The Institute of Electrification and Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing’ (IESAM) will be first to address industry needs by developing a flexible, high-quality PEMD training pipeline in the North East.
Launching in November 2022, and estimated to benefit 7,500 learners, the institute will create PEMD content to enrich T-level, Higher Technical Qualifications as well as Advanced and Degree Apprenticeship programmes. IESAM’s curriculum development team will be closely working with its education and industry partners to ensure that current and future industrial needs are reflecting in the education offer, including Robotics, Automation and Control, and Digital Manufacturing.
IESAM will also offer a Level 6 PEMD degree apprenticeship programme, short courses to support professional development and an online toolkit for careers advisors in schools, colleges and Job Centres to inspire young people towards further and higher education and careers in PEMD.
Professor Stephanie Glendinning, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, said:
“I am really excited about the launch of IESAM: it is a true collaboration that will support the work of industry, universities, colleges and government to grow the UK PEMD supply chain, providing new jobs in the region and helping the global transition to net zero. The launch builds on success of the Newcastle University-led DER Industrialisation Centres and is critical in supporting industry as they build this PEMD supply chain.”
Read the press release from Newcastle University here: Newcastle University is to lead new institute to support training and skills development in the field of Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD).
Warwick electrification deployment (WELD)
This new programme will be contributed to by WMG’s Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) Group and the School of Engineering’s Power Electronics group. These two world class research groups will use Warwick’s unique facilities, as well as the university’s manufacturing and testing capability to help in the new education programme.
The new initiative will include industry workshops, outreach activity in school and increased teaching provision within PEMD. New content in power electronics, eMachines and drives will also be created at the University to use current expertise to both up-skill the existing workforce and support the pipeline of talent for future generations.
Finally, WELD will also focus on the design of IP-free eMachines, with parts manufacture, assembly and testing on campus to allow for hands-on learning.
WELD will benefit from the two DER-IC facilities at the university: the Winding Centre of Excellence and the power electronics reliability and failure analysis space, both launching in Autumn 2022. The trained workforce will help UK businesses to develop and scale new PEMD technologies and manufacturing processes.
Dr Juliette Soulard, Associate Professor Electric Machines at WMG says:
“Through our close collaboration with UK industry, we witness the huge difficulties faced when trying to recruit people with the right skills for PEMD research and development projects. The expertise exists in the UK, but the knowledge and skills transfer needs dedicated and urgent actions which normal higher education courses cannot deliver. WELD’s industry workshops with unique, hands-on learning about manufacturing and device testing aims to address this issue.”
Read the press release from the University of Warwick here: University of Warwick wins £1 million grant to help UK get ready for electric vehicles