• In-flight Broadband Connectivity and Experimentation for Beyond 5G Networks “AeroNet”

    This work is supported by the HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01-01, Project ID 101236523 and Innovate UK. Total amount is €1.8 million for five Universities and 3 Industries in EU and UK. Raed A Abd-Alhameed, Viktor Doychinov, Vuong Mai, Ifiok Otung University of Bradford, (UoB), Organisation in United Kingdom London South Bank University (LSB), Organisation in United Kingdom Technische Universität Dresden (TDN) - Organisation in Germany University of Athens (UoA) - Organisation in Greece University of Trento (UDT) - Organisation in Italy Fogus Innovations and Services PC (FGS) - Organisation in Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT) - Organisation in Cyprus JIO Platforms (JIO) - Organisation in Estonia Fogus Innovations and Service P.C. (FGS), Athens, Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT), Nicosia, Cyprus…

  • New Voltage Matters Forum attracts 300+ members as grid transition causes growing voltage issues

    More than 300 members have joined a Voltage Matters Forum to address the problem of uncontrolled voltages, as the grid comes under increasing pressure from millions of new distributed energy resource (DER) connections, including intermittent renewable generation, electric vehicles and rooftop solar installations. Co-created in January 2025 by voltage control specialists Fundamentals and power engineering experts Threepwood Consulting , the forum has attracted representatives and contributions from across the electricity industry, including network distributors, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, consultants and regulators. Fundamentals CEO Dr Jon Hiscock said: “It’s clear that uncontrolled voltages are increasingly causing problems across the grid. Complaints from consumers…

  • Booth Welsh Moves to Employee Ownership

    Booth Welsh has transferred ownership of the company into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), securing the long-term future of the business and placing its people at the heart of its success. The company, based in Irvine, Ayrshire was founded in 1989, and has grown to employ more than 300 people, serving clients throughout the UK and internationally. CEO Martin Welsh and the leadership team will all remain in their existing roles. The company says the move to employee ownership will secure the long-term future of the business and help attract and retain the best staff. Martin commented: "Employee ownership is something we've been planning for some time. Our people have always been at the centre of Booth Welsh's success. Today's announcement not only safeguards the long-term future of the…

  • Smarter Switching and the Energy Equation: A New Focus for Data Centre Efficiency

    As the digital economy continues to scale, the pressure on data centres to deliver performance without excessive power use is rising fast. Operators are being asked to do more with less - less space, less carbon, and less certainty about future demand. This challenge has triggered major investment in more efficient power and cooling systems. But a less obvious part of the infrastructure stack is starting to demand attention: switching. Whilst switching has long been seen as a stable, almost background function of data centre operations, its role in energy consumption is growing. As data volumes surge and workloads become increasingly complex, especially in AI-rich environments, the traditional model of optoelectronic switching is struggling to keep pace. The result is unnecessary power consumption…

  • Validating a Megawatt Charging System for Heavy Goods Vehicles

    Project background Voltempo became the first industry partner to trial at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre (ANZIC), running early validation of its next-generation HyperCharger—a modular Megawatt Charging System (MCS) designed and manufactured in Birmingham for electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) and commercial fleets. The architecture is scalable beyond 1 MVA and supports simultaneous rapid charging across multiple outlets, positioning it for depot and hub applications central to the UK’s freight decarbonisation plans. The ANZIC engagement was delivered with PNDC (a University of Strathclyde facility), marking the first full-scale industrial trial at the centre and showing how academic–industry collaboration can de-risk grid-connected, megawatt-scale…

  • Prime Minister launches UK’s new Industrial Strategy at HORIBA MIRA

    Earlier this year HORIBA MIRA was proud to host Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds for the launch of the UK’s new Industrial Strategy (Monday 23 June 2025). The announcement provided a national spotlight on the people, capabilities, and ground-breaking work being driven from the heart of the Midlands and took place at HORIBA MIRA’s Kinematics & Compliance facility. Bringing together media, government, and members of the community, the event marked not just a proud moment for HORIBA MIRA, but a celebration of the shared purpose, collaboration, and capability that runs throughout HORIBA globally. A significant milestone for British industry, the Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term…

  • Path-finding a way to be more nature-positive in the water sector

    The shift toward Nature-based Solutions (NbS) marks a fundamental change in how we manage one of our most precious resources: water. As a cornerstone of all life, water must be managed holistically, and NbS enables this by supporting integrated water cycle management at a catchment scale. These solutions bring together what are currently fragmented efforts to address flooding, drought, and water quality, delivering multiple environmental, social, and economic benefits through a unified, nature-positive approach. While the move to NbS has been a long time coming, its significance is now undeniable. Investment has increased from £2.2bn at Draft Determination to £3.3bn at Final Determination for AMP8; a clear signal of the sector’s direction. And this is only the beginning; AMP9 promises…

  • Viper Innovations: Proud Winners of the Autonomous Dynamic Cable Inspection Competition

    Viper Innovations has been selected as the winner of an Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence challenge, delivered in partnership with Flotation Energy and Simply Blue Group, to identify autonomous floating offshore wind turbine dynamic cable inspection solutions. The challenge was delivered through the Innovate UK Innovation Exchange (iX) programme. The purpose of the competition was to identify innovative solutions for monitoring defects inside dynamic cables on floating offshore wind farms. Viper Innovations’ entry builds upon their record of providing electrical monitoring and asset integrity solutions for a broad range of applications and industries. Daniel Denning, Viper Innovations Engineering Manager, said: “Our journey through this…

  • Silver Fox and Fluke LinkWare Live: Transforming Cable Labelling

    Silver Fox has partnered with Fluke Networks to integrate its Advanced Labelling Software with Fluke LinkWare Live , bringing a faster, smarter way to manage cable labelling. This powerful integration allows engineers to import test data directly from LinkWare Live, eliminating manual entry and ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance . For network professionals, accuracy is critical. This solution streamlines workflows by automatically matching test results with printed labels , reducing errors and improving documentation. Whether you’re working in data centres, telecoms, or electrical installations, this integration saves time and enhances project efficiency . By bridging cable testing and labelling, Silver Fox and Fluke Networks offer a seamless solution that simplifies large-scale…

  • Apprentice's 5,000-mile trip to become a training master

    An apprentice at the University of Sunderland took a trip of a lifetime to become a training master. Steve Simm, who studies on the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) Apprenticeship at the University, travelled over 5,500 miles to Japan to be certified as an Overseas Monozukuri Education Master Trainer for Unipres. Receiving this accreditation means that Steve will be able to deliver in-house Japanese-style training in the UK, enhancing the teaching he already delivers through a range of level 2 apprenticeships at the Unipres Training Academy. Steve said: “This trip to Japan was fantastic. Over the four-day training course, I’ve been able to enrich my own professional development which now enables me to incorporate Japanese-style teaching into the training academy here in the UK. “While…

  • Positive impact of apprentices celebrated at awards ceremony

    The achievements of University of Sunderland apprentices have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony to mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week. The University’s annual awards recognise the efforts and contributions that its current and graduate apprentices make in the region and amplifying the organisations that create these opportunities. The apprentices taking home prizes this year are: Steph Capewell, founder and CEO of Sunderland-based baby bank charity Love, Amelia – Community Impact Award ( Senior Leader Apprenticeship ) Yan Cunningham, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – Impact and Research Award ( Advanced Clinical Practitioner ) Hannah Woodward, Bright Futures NE – Apprentice of the Year ( Community and Youth Work ) Scott Simpson, Kasai UK …

  • BMT and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK collaborate to advance autonomous maritime navigation with SEAS testing

    Advancing maritime autonomy safety: BMT’s SEAS testing paves the way for uncrewed vessel operations BMT has successfully partnered with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK (AEUK) to advance autonomous maritime navigation by utilising BMT’s proprietary Synthetic Environment Assurance Service (SEAS) testbed. This collaboration rigorously assessed AEUK’s cutting-edge autonomous navigation system, ARCIMS, delivering critical insights into its decision-making capabilities and compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). ARCIMS, a leading-edge maritime platform designed for modularity and adaptability, offers advanced capabilities for autonomous mine warfare and unmanned vessel operations. Leveraging its proprietary SEAS testbed, BMT evaluated the ARCIMS system’s ability…

  • River Thames to help power University of East London net zero campus of the future

    The University of East London (UEL) is extending its strategic partnership with global technology company Siemens in a contract that will see the business design and install a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) to help power its net zero campus of the future. The new WSHP is set to be the largest fitted at any university and will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings, replacing existing gas boilers – and together with campus existing green energy infrastructure, achieve carbon zero in these spaces. Submerged in the River Thames, the closed-loop system will use a series of pipes to extract natural heat from the water in the Royal Albert Docks, providing a cost-effective heating system which will reduce annual CO2 emissions by 258 tonnes…

  • Empowering the Next Generation: How Apprenticeships Can Transform the Engineering Profession

    By Kate Grant CEng MIGEM, Director of Asset Operation at National Grid Electricity Transmission In the several years that I have worked as an engineer, the profession has consistently faced what at times feels like an existential question about what can be done to develop a skills pipeline that can meet demand. This question has seemed most acute for the country’s energy sector, where the UK’s ambitious targets around transitioning to a low carbon economy will require the sector to both recruit and train for thousands of new roles over the coming years. Discussions about addressing skills gaps facing the profession often focus on how STEM education can be improved in schools and how to encourage more young people to pursue engineering degrees at university. However, the role of apprenticeships…

  • Award-winning engineer spotlights the importance of apprenticeships

    This National Apprenticeship week (10-16 February) a University of Sunderland apprentice continues to shine a light on the importance of apprenticeships for kickstarting a career. Since starting a Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Sunderland, Ross Merryweather has seen his career go from strength to strength. Now Ross has taken an extra step and is studying on a degree apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering at the University whilst continuing to work at Nissan. Ross said: “My apprenticeship journey working as a Quality Engineer at Nissan Sunderland Plant whilst studying engineering at the University has been incredibly rewarding and valuable. “The whole experience has been absolutely fantastic. I’ve been in two different departments now and…

  • Career launchpad for ambitious aerospace engineer

    New statistics released by The Association of Apprentices (AoA) have confirmed that apprentices working in industry have reported significant personal growth (78%), additional training opportunities (66%), and increased confidence (62%) as key benefits of their apprenticeships. This upward trend is being reflected in the career success of Luton’s Elin Esnard, even though she only completed her apprenticeship just over a year ago. Senior Systems Technician Elin Esnard had no idea that she could turn her passion for aviation into a full-time career when she first took up her apprenticeship at global security company Leonardo. But now she is regularly taking to the skies to test equipment that protects RAF Typhoons which defend UK air space from rogue aircraft, as part of the UK’s Quick…

  • Playfords Ltd Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence in Building Services

    Playfords Ltd, a leading name in building services, is proud to announce its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1925, Playfords has grown from a small electrical contracting firm to a national company renowned for its high standards of engineering, reliability, and quality delivery. Over the past century, Playfords has been at the forefront of i nnovation in electrical and mechanical services, voice and data cabling, and audio-visual and IT networking. The company has successfully completed numerous high-profile projects, including work for the NHS, the Royal Opera House, and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. "Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, both past and present," said James Tuohy, Managing Director of Playfords Ltd. "We are proud of our heritage…

  • iconsys Scales Up to Meet Energy Transition Demands Amid Net Zero Push

    iconsys, a leading system integrator with expertise in control, automation and power conversion solutions, is ramping up its operations to meet the growing demand for energy transition solutions. With the UK Government committing nearly £22bn to carbon capture and storage projects and an urgent drive to achieve Net Zero by 2050, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformative market. Recognising the increasing complexity and scale of decarbonisation projects, iconsys has bolstered its expertise by appointing Professor Joe Howe as their Energy Transition Specialist. This move reflects a broader strategy to address the shifting needs of industrial and manufacturing sectors, providing the critical technology and integration services required to support businesses on…

  • The Fundamentals and EcoJoule partnership - a world first in end-to-end grid voltage control

    The newly announced partnership between UK-based Fundamentals and Australia-based EcoJoule Energy has created the world’s first combination of products and expertise, capable of delivering intelligent voltage control across entire HV, MV and LV distribution networks. While remaining independent companies, their combined portfolios now cover everything from maintaining and upgrading legacy tapchangers at the HV end of the grid, modernising automatic voltage control (AVC) schemes in primary and secondary substations incorporating the market-leading AVC relay, to ground-breaking new solutions for making local LV networks more efficient and reliable, including voltage regulation, phase balancing, and energy storage. Driving low carbon energy integration Fundamentals CEO Dr Jon Hiscock explained…

  • L3Harris Promotes STEM Skills Across the UK

    It’s been a busy year for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) outreach for L3Harris Technologies. Big advocates for STEM-related skillsets, given the critical role these play in delivering innovative technologies for their customers, L3Harris proactively promotes the importance of these subjects within the local community, be that at schools, colleges, universities or regional events. This year has been of particular significance for STEM outreach in the UK: L3Harris UK Early Careers Network L3Harris held its first networking event for early career professionals this summer in the UK. Held at the ADS Group building in London, members of the Early Career Professionals (ECP) Employee Resource Group came together to connect and learn more about the full range of L3Harris capabilities…

  • Barrow school children enjoy Road to Engineering event

    The Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK) successfully delivered the Road to Engineering event, incorporating a Neurodiversity version of the annual event. Around 300 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aimed to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Energy' exploring how we use energy and why renewable energy sources are key for our future. Supporting the event was the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining who contributed insights, merchandise and additional information about engineering careers. Children were able to enjoy a variety of hands-on workshops including building Hot Wires electrical circuits, designing and making solar-powered cars, programming Sphero robots…

  • Emma-Jane Houghton Discusses Unlocking Construction’s Transformative Potential

    Construction is about creating transformational outcomes for the people and nature in our society, with each project making its own lasting impact on the communities around it. From experience working in central Government, I have a strong understanding of the huge aspirations it has for the UK’s construction industry. AWE’s Future Materials Campus (FMC) has the potential to deliver on these and enable nuclear science for generations to come. The FMC programme is part of a multi-year, multi-billion-pound portfolio of infrastructure investment being undertaken across the AWE estate. A critical element of the National Endeavour for the delivery of the UK’s nuclear deterrence programme, AWE will deliver the Replacement Warhead announced by Parliament in 2020 and continue to maintain the current…

  • Graduation 2024: Engineering Student secures dream job after disaster delays his graduation

    A budding engineer from the University of Sunderland postponed his graduation after catastrophic floods hit his home state. Now he has graduated from the University last week with his dream job secured. Bryan Groselli, who studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University, was set to graduate earlier this year. But when disaster hit his home state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, Bryan made the decision to postpone his graduation to be with his family. Bryan said: “It’s considered one of the worst natural disasters in Brazil. Me and my wife, we felt like we needed to go there to help people and to stay with our family. It wasn’t right for us to be here and celebrate. “Graduation is important for me, to get a nice job, to have a nice future, but I think family is always important…

  • New Siemens partnership to strengthen cyber security for manufacturers

    Technology company Siemens and digital transformation consultants Digital Technologies Group (DTG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance manufacturers’ ability to measure and manage cyber security risks in their operations. The new MoU will see DTG’s Cyber Assessment Tool (CAST), which provides users with access to a robust industrial cyber risk management hub, rolled out across Siemens’ open business platform Xcelerator, and deployment of the solution to their joint customer base begin. Integrated with Mendix – Siemens’ low-code software development platform – CAST builds a digital inventory of all Operational Technology (OT) assets like robotic manufacturing arms, sensors, and controllers, allowing users to assess, quantify, and visualise cyber risks. The multi-site product…

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