The company, which is a member of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA), joined the UK-wide supply chain programme as part of its strategy to increase efficiencies and performance throughout the business.

SC21, which was launched at Farnborough in 2006, is a change programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chain.

SC21 companies are committed to achieving common industry development and performance plans derived from a common diagnostic framework. These companies also commit to working with suppliers in order to implement common, shared improvement plans.

CHH CoNeX, which joined the General Dynamics SC21 cluster in the West Midlands earlier in the year, will be sharing the benefits of the programme on its business to date at Farnborough whilst showcasing its innovative design, manufacturing, logistics and related services capabilities.

Tim Hughes, Managing Director at CHH CoNeX, said: “SC21 is designed to improve the performance of companies, thereby helping them compete better in the global aerospace and defence markets”.

“This modernisation programme aligns well with our strategy to continually add value and minimise waste, thereby becoming a true extension of our customers’ business.”

Tom Townsend, at TPT Consultancy, who has been supporting CHH CoNeX through the business and manufacturing excellence diagnostics stages of the programme said:  

“Signatories to SC21 are committed achieving improvement in performance that can be measured across the supply chain is crucial to achieving SC21. Member companies have agreed to implement four strands of development and performance processes; sustainable improvement, performance metrics, improvement framework and recognition. All of these four areas must be addressed in order to achieve improvement through the supply chain.”

Commenting on CHH CoNeX’s journey to date, he said: “CHH CoNeX has completed both the Business and Manufacturing Excellence Diagnostics and is now developing the CSIP (Continuous Sustainable Improvement Programme). The CSIP will be used to drive the process within the company.

“CHH CoNex’s delivery and quality performance is 99.29% and 99.9% respectively and I believe the business will both benefit from SC21 and add enormous value to the defence and aerospace industry due to its exceptional focus on on-time delivery and quality.”

Mr Hughes added: “Farnborough is one of the most prestigious and well-respected aviation events in the world and is exactly the right stage for CHH CoNeX to showcase its capabilities to an international audience.

“In achieving this recognition and our success to date, SC21, the MAA and the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM) have all played a valuable role.

“We will continue with our strategy of being an end-to-end solutions partner for the defence, aerospace, security, telecoms, transport and industrial markets and to becoming the employer of choice within the region.”

CAPTION:

Taking off – the newly strengthened team of Directors at CHH CoNeX, (l-r) Shaun Ashmead, Andy Whitmore, Steve Turner, Alan Coley and Tim Hughes.

Ends.

The NEW.i.D play, which will take place in the Pink Pavilion on The Works site, Ebbw Vale, the night before the official start of this year’s National Eisteddfod, will unveil a magical underworld filled with fairies tasked with bringing together more than 200 stories and 2,000 people.

Inspired by the poems, art, photography, music, dance and performances of local residents as part of the community arts organisation, Head for Arts programme, which services the Heads of the Valleys East; the play is the culmination of six months research and the tireless contribution of hundreds of volunteers.

Lleucu Meinir, Co-Artistic Director, said: “We wanted to create a completely different type of community play that showcases the unique traditions and heritage of our Heads of the Valleys communities.

“The play is consciously bi-lingual Welsh and English to celebrate the National Eisteddfod coming to Ebbw Vale and to act as a bridge for those whose knowledge of the Welsh Language or the Eisteddfod traditions may have prevented them from attending these types of events in the past.”

Co-Artistic Director, Einir Sion added: “NEW.i.D is by the community, for the community.

The performance is intended as a multi-arts visual spectacle which will mix the old and new, fantasy and reality and tells the story of what happens to our identity when our communities’ stories and traditions are forgotten from generation to generation.”

Kate Strudwick, Creative Project Manager at Heads for Arts said: “As well as delivering workshops at a very local level, we want the play to create future opportunities for people to come together across the region to participate in this type of high quality and inspirational arts experience.”

Commenting on the initiative, Beverley Humphreys, singer, BBC Wales broadcaster and High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan said: “NEW.i.D. is more than a play – this is a fascinating, living statement made by real people, to remind us that our past and our heritage makes us who we are now. Our Welsh identity is moulded by memories and experiences passed down from generation to generation.

“How can we understand who we are as Welsh people if we deny the route we have travelled – how can we understand where the journey will take us in the future?

NEW.i.D is an exciting theatrical experience – our music, our poetry, magical stories, myths and legends reclaiming the best of our past.  Without apology let’s renew our pride in our Welsh heritage –let’s put it once again where it belongs – in the beating heart of our communities.

“I am thrilled and reassured that so many people in the valleys have put their passion and vision into the creation of NEW.i.D.

“Change is inevitable but we need a strong foundation to give us the confidence in our hearts, to help us hold our heads up high and find our place in the world. “

Gwyn Morgan, 74, from Ebbw Vale is among the hundreds of people who will be performing on the night.

Originally from Fochriw, Gwyn always wanted to be an artist, but he ended up working in the pits, first in Ogilvie Colliery for 12 years and then Deep Navigation Colliery in Treharris, before joining the steelworks in Ebbw Vale until the 1980s.

He subsequently set up a taxi firm and started sketching portraits in his spare time. After drawing hundreds of famous people including Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and Hywel Teifi, he joined a local writers’ group in Abergavenny.

He has contributed significantly to the script and will also be performing as a minstrel whose music has been ‘taken away’ by the fairies on Thursday.

He said: “I’ve always loved the arts and this was my opportunity to participate in something much bigger than myself. I originally went to enquire about some scriptwriting support and before I knew it I was writing large portions of the play alongside fellow writer, Mary Jones, a school teacher from Cwm Primary School.

“I also submitted a poem which has been set to music and I am thrilled to be sharing my first ever stage performance with my grandchildren, Nansi and Jonah, daughter Tracey from Swansea and my son, Robert on the night”

Ends.

Kevin Wilcox and Jim Eadie have been appointed as Business Development Managers, with each having responsibility for growth in existing and new niche markets – specifically aerospace and defence, medical, transport and security.

CHH CoNeX currently offers cable assembly concept, design and manufacturing, box-build, rack integration and test, process audit and redesign and supply chain solutions to the telecoms and industrial markets. The company has also introduced a programme of continuous improvements including the review of current operations and new quality accreditations.

Kevin, who lives in Caerphilly, South Wales, joins CHH CoNeX from his previous role as Business Development Manager at Newbridge-based Axiom Manufacturing Services.

Kevin brings with him more than 26 years experience in manufacturing and sales having worked for a variety of electronics and manufacturing companies including Remploy Manufacturing, AB Automotive Electronics and Alpha 3 Manufacturing.

Jim, who’s originally from Sauchie in Scotland, has nearly 30 years experience in electronics business development and sales prior to which he worked in diesel powered electricity generating set sales.

Jim is a qualified electrical engineer, obtained during a five year apprenticeship with Burntisland Shipbuilding Co, and worked as an Electrical Technician on Concorde at British Aircraft Corporation in Bristol.

Director, Andy Whitmore, who is responsible for Marketing, Sales and Business Development, said he is delighted with the two key appointments.

He said: “As we embark on a very ambitious three-year growth strategy, CHH CoNeX is well placed to leverage its existing strengths in the telecoms and industrial markets for the benefit of companies in the aerospace and defence, medical, transport and security markets.

“Both Kevin and Jim have extensive industry experience and their particular expertise in these sectors will be put to good use as we continue to enhance our products and service offering across all our chosen markets.”

Commenting on his appointment Kevin said: “CHH CoNeX has an excellent reputation and I look forward to using my strengths in customer development and understanding of the sales and commercial process to assist the company in fulfilling its growth ambitions over the coming years.”

Jim added: “My role will be to develop our existing relationships with key customers, making them aware of our total design to after-sales solution and focussed approach to total acquisition cost.”

CAPTION:

Sky’s the limit: (l-r): newly-appointed Business Development Managers, Kevin Wilcox and Jim Eadie look to the future as CHH CoNeX targets growth.

The three-year strategy, which will focus strongly on growth in existing and new niche markets, people development and quality assurance, will start with the implementation of new systems and processes to streamline its end-to-end operations, business development functions and further develop the CHH team.

Among other benefits, the new-look business will offer customers innovative design, manufacturing, logistics and related services to create value and minimise waste, thereby becoming a true extension of its customers’ business. This builds on existing strengths in cable assembly concept, design and manufacturing, box-build and rack integration and test, process audit and redesign and supply chain solutions.

The company also plans to increase its turnover to £21million over the next three years by diversifying into the aerospace and defence, medical, transport and security markets.

CHH CoNeX currently employs around 105 people at its 85,000 square feet Witton plant.

Managing Director, Tim Hughes, who started the company with eight employees in 1990, said:  “CHH CoNeX is a very well-established cable assemblies, integrated products and logistics services provider with a solid track record in the telecoms, and industrial markets.

“The appointment of Shaun Ashmead as Director responsible for operations is a great win for the business and will enable CHH CoNeX to deliver our products and services at the optimum total cost of acquisition across all of our chosen markets.”

Mr Ashmead, who joins CHH CoNeX from his previous role as Managing Director at contract electronics manufacturer, Axiom Manufacturing Services in South Wales, says he is looking forward to his new role:

“CHH CoNeX has a reputation for flexibility, inspired thinking, unparalleled service and financial stability, making it a trusted project partner for its existing customer base. My role will be to leverage the company’s strengths for the advantage of both new and existing customers, enabling them to benefit from a total design to after-sales solution, improved efficiency, added value throughout strong supply chain management and focussed approach to total acquisition cost.”

Mr Ashmead joins other Company Directors, Alan Coley who heads up Design and Technology, Steve Turner who takes over responsibility for Supply Chain Management and Planning, and Andy Whitmore with responsibility for Marketing, Sales and Business Development. Managing Director, Tim Hughes, retains responsibility for HR and Finance.

CAPTION:

The newly strengthened team of Directors at CHH CoNeX (l-r): Shaun Ashmead, Steve Turner, Andy Whitmore, Alan Coley and Tim Hughes.

Undoubtedly, the breakdown in public trust in our political system, our financial system, etc has been a major influencer. So too has been a certain lack in clarity in just how exactly our decision makers are planning to get us out of the financial quandry we continue to find ourselves in.

Let’s be clear, as communications professionals and business owners, we have a duty to be optimistic and to have confidence that we will get through to the other side. However, it’s virtually impossible to ignore that there will be some tough choices in getting there for all of us!

Here are just some of our top tips for staying calm and dealing with a crisis:

1. Find out all the facts. There’s no point in shooting from the hip, find out the who what, why, where and how first and then determine your position. This is essential for maintaining trust and reputation.
2. Tell the truth.  Say in simple language what’s gone wrong without assigning blame or covering things up. This type of overreaction invariably comes back to bite you and will certainly not help your credibility or reputation.
3. Stay in control. Pretending the problem doesn’t exist will not make it go away! Decide what you need to do to deal with the issue and put an action plan in place.
4. Identify a suitable spokesperson. This doesn’t have to be the MD, but often the more senior the person, the better. Make sure before they speak to anyone or the media, they are fully briefed on the company’s position.
5. Don’t be afraid to communicate. Stay calm, keep the message clear and simple and reinforce your position as often as possible. Not only do you retain a measure of control on the time spent answering questions from all angles, but you go a long way to ensuring the info that is used by the media is as accurate as possible.
6. Think before you speak or act. It’s perfectly OK to think through your response first. This also helps you come across in the best possible way when speaking to the media or members of the public or your team.
7. Take swift action. It’s always advisable to have a crisis comms protocol and plan in place which can simply be implemented in the event of a crisis. It also helps to practise this from time to time so that it can be implemented without too much alarm.
8. Copy the best. If you see someone who’s calm under pressure and comes across as credible when facing a barrage of questions – learn from them and practise, practise, practise.
9. Get professional advise. If you don’t know how to proceed, get in a crisis management professional. You can then spend more of your time dealing with the issue at hand.
10. Learn from your mistakes. No one’s perfect, but learning the lessons and acting responsibly will help you should you ever find yourself in a crisis situation again.

Specialist Welsh-speaking recruitment firm, Job Trac Cymru, received top honours in the category Bilingual Business of the Year as part of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Annual Business Awards for the third year running in recognition of its efforts to promote the use of Welsh in the workplace.

Managing Director, Tracey Williams, who started the company after spotting a gap in the recruitment market, believes the secret of success lies in the company’s ability to assist employers find high-quality Welsh speaking employees.

She said: “After working as a Human Resources manager for a number of companies across Wales, I quickly realised there was a definite divide between the number of jobs which showed a preference for Welsh language speakers and those candidates who could actually speak and write fluently in Welsh.

Quick to turn this into a lucrative business opportunity, Mrs Williams who is a fluent Welsh speaker herself founded Job Trac Cymru with the idea of creating a Welsh speaking recruitment firm which would not only recruit, but fully vet Welsh speakers for business.

Within three years of setting up Job Trac Cymru and providing Welsh-speaking candidates to dozens of companies and public sector organisations across Wales, the firm was recognised by the RCT Business Awards as the winner in the Bilingual Business of the Year category 2008.

Job Trac Cymru also repeated this success in 2009 and now again in 2010.

Paul Cannon, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Housingat Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said: “Congratulations to Job Trac Cymru on their well deserved award for Bilingual Business of the Year in Rhondda Cynon Taf.  Our annual Business Club Awards were another big success this year and recognised the achievements of companies like Job Trac Cymru. The Council is pleased to continue supporting local businesses through running the Business Club and also offers a range of other services and interventions.”

Mrs Williams added: “We are incredibly proud to receive this honour for the third time. I also believe we’re the only company to have received an award three years running! It just goes to demonstrate the increasing importance of Welsh in the workplace and the number of companies wanting to ensure they have the right candidate for the job.”

This trend, Mrs Williams believes, is being fuelled by the introduction of the Welsh Language Act of 1993 which stipulates that Welsh speakers should be able to have access to all public services in Welsh. The recent Welsh Language Legislative Competence Order is also playing a role.

Since setting up Job Trac Cymru, Mrs Williams also spotted another online business opportunity resulting in the creation of safleswyddi.com.

Safle Swyddi functions as an interactive employment website for Welsh speakers and allows candidates to be informed of any vacancies in Welsh and then link up directly with the potential employer via the website.

Safle Swyddi currently attracts around 15,000 unique visitors per month and has displayed in excess of 600 vacancies ranging from temporary placements to prestigious vacancies for experienced architects and managing directors since its inception.

Mrs Williams is hopeful that her success will inspire more candidates and businesses to actively promote the use of Welsh both inside and outside of the workplace.

“Studies indicate that those who understand more than one language are able to think more flexibly and creatively and can communicate with a wider variety of people. This can only be a good thing in an increasingly competitive global marketplace and should be actively encouraged.”

After successfully completing an Honours degree course in Welsh Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter, Paul is now putting years of experience in dealing with people to the test when he answers all manner of enquiries through the medium of Welsh in his new role working in a busy Welsh Assembly Government contact centre in Morganstown.

“Although I completed an O level in Welsh, at the time, the language was not seen as a useful language to master when seeking your first job or a career. I subsequently joined the Post Office and for more than 20 years communicated mainly in English with the odd European language greeting when appropriate. I always felt that I was missing out!”

Paul subsequently enrolled for night classes to learn Welsh and after the encouragement from an inspirational tutor, applied and signed up for a full-time degree course at Llanbedr Pont Steffan (University of Wales, Lampeter).

Paul added: “I used to borrow Welsh language books from my local library and it was then that I rediscovered my interest in Welsh heritage and history. Making the move from working full-time to full-time student was difficult financially, but I wanted to be able to speak and work in Welsh, and with the fantastic support of my wife, I persevered.”

Keen to put his newly rediscovered Welsh skills into practise, Paul applied for a number of posts after his graduation. It was after contacting Job Trac Cymru, a recruitment company which specialises in finding jobs for Welsh speakers, that Paul found out about the job at the Welsh Assembly Government.

“Although I commute from Talyllyn, Powys to Morganstown every day, I really enjoy my new role. I also get to practise my Welsh with my colleagues all the time, which is great!”

Tracey Williams, founder and managing director at Job Trac Cymru said: “Paul is a terrific example of a first language English speaker who’s mastered Welsh as an adult. Not only is his written and spoken language ability of a very high standard, but Paul is able to carve out a whole new career path because of his courage and perseverance.”

Mrs Williams, a fluent Welsh speaker herself, also vets candidates in Welsh on behalf of her 50-strong client base. “The use of Welsh in business is becoming increasingly important and we’re keen to see more people learn and use Welsh to their advantage. The Welsh Language Act 1993 and Welsh Language Legislative Competence Order are also having a significant impact in helping to promote the use of Welsh in the workplace and we expect more organisations to follow suit.”

 For more information see www.jobtraccymru.com

So how do you go about boosting your presence online, without having to give up your day job, family and social life?

The first suggestion is to look again at who you are trying to target. If you’re audience is young people or teenagers, you’re probably better off setting up a MySpace or Bebo page. Facebook or LinkedIn typically appeals more to the average business user, whilst YouTube is suitable for video links, online demonstrations, etc.  

Two, what are you trying to achieve? Are you looking to inform, raise awareness, get people to sign up, buy something or attend something? In defining what you’re trying to achieve, it’s much simpler to narrow down which channels to use.

Three. Relevance. Whether you’re looking for a new job, building an online network or fan page, ask yourself if what you’re trying to say is relevant or of interest to the people or audiences you want to talk to.

Four. Think of the medium you’re using and consider your message, the language you use, etc. The language you use when posting your profile on LinkedIn will understandably be different to the way you communicate on Twitter.

Five. Be yourself. Remember that to get to where you are in business, you’re currently or potentially able to do something different, better or faster. Don’t be afraid to let potential customers, users or business partners see this.

Six. Choose the right tools for the job. Social or online media are great, but they are not necessarily the only or even best way to reach your target market or audience. So do your homework and listen to what your customers have to say.

Seven. Use the best person for the job. If you can’t think of anything you’d less rather do than spend hours every week updating your Facebook page of fan page, get someone else to do it. After all, many of your employees are already spending hours on these supposedly timewasters, so why not get them to promote your business or service at the same time while monitoring your competitors.

Eight. Collaborate. Just as there are different tools for different outcomes, using a combination of traditional and new media tools is a safe bet for maximum reach and minimum criticism.

Nine. Keep up with the news. After all, they say there’s nothing new under the sun, it’s just your interpretation that makes it interesting, fresh or relevant. Also, by keeping up with the news, you have a ready source of angles for your blog, your twitter messages, etc.

10. Consider the law. Although Social Media is still in its infancy, there are laws affecting usage, obtaining leads for marketing campaigns, etc. If you’re not sure, get some legal advice before you jump aboard!

 Known as a cryo-scanning electron microscope, the device is capable of examining single cells or even single molecules and will be used to help researchers within the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC) carry out high level research and development in a range of sectors from healthcare and steel to printed electronics and solar cells.

 The microscope has been custom built to ensure it incorporates a number of highly specialist features, making it one of only two in the UK with this functionality. Capable of magnification of up to one million times or a thousand times more than that of a typical optical microscope, the device will be used as a vital tool for examining organic or biological samples that would typically be destroyed or damaged during traditional imaging.

 Commenting on its capabilities, Dr Thierry Maffeis, lecturer at the MNC said: “The crucial development from basic research to prototype and commercialisation of nano-devices would be very difficult to achieve without this facility. The microscope enables us to examine objects such as mammalian cells, neurons, etc. under very low temperatures making it possible, for example, to see how engineered nanostructures interact with cells. This will tremendously assist ongoing projects within the nanotechnology centre and the institute of life science such as the development of biosensors used to detect cancerous cells, scaffolds for tissue engineering and literally thousands of other applications.”

 Dr Owen Guy, who specialises inelectronics for biosensor applications added: “Access to world class facilities is critical to the success of any modern engineering department. The MNC has a superb range of surface science and device fabrication tools but there is a glaring absence of a scanning electron microscope with truly nanoscale imaging capabilities.

 “There are an increasing number of nano innovations emanating from the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre, the Materials Research Centre and the Centre for NanoHealth and this cryo-scanning electron microscope is an essential facility that will be utilised by knowledge transfer projects from across the university.

 “Few industrial organisations have such a sophisticated and multifunctional tool and access to it through collaborative projects or contract work is a vital resource for Welsh and UK industry.”

 The Assembly Government’s A4B programme is designed to stimulate and encourage universities and institutes of higher education to collaborate with industry on R&D and knowledge transfer projects and help bring new products and processes to the market.

 The application for funding from the A4B programme has been supported by a number of companies including Corus, Haemair, Cyden, Surface Technology Systems, GE Healthcare and Pure Wafer – highlighting the strategic importance of the equipment to Welsh industry.

 Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said the acquisition would provide academia and industry with an ability that was currently lacking in Wales but had the potential to significantly advance a host of existing projects and create new avenues of innovative, collaborative research.

 “Knowledge transfer from our universities to industry is key to supporting and developing a knowledge based economy and this investment will enable business operating at the leading edge of key industry sectors to maintain that edge.

 “The availability of this equipment will lead to new collaborative or research bids that will stimulate further research investment. The need for it is readily demonstrated by the range of companies supporting the bid from Swansea University.

 “The unique capabilities of this piece of equipment, coupled with its unparalleled resolution, will greatly aid and encourage research and development activity in many technology based SMEs. It will give them access to equipment that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive for them to acquire.”

 Professor Steve Wilks, Deputy Head of the School of Engineering said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for both the MNC and Swansea University to further its advances in partnership with industry in developing new products and processes which takes advantage of the growth in the Nanotechnology, Photovoltaic (solar energy) and Plastic Electronic markets.”

The Rolls-Royce/EPSRC award to the Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications, further underpins the world-leading research in structural materials carried out at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) at Swansea University. The funding will also help secure Rolls-Royce’s involvement in the University’s Science and Innovation Campus.

The Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications will harness key academic expertise via a three-way collaboration between Swansea University, Cambridge and Birmingham Universities.

Over the next ten years, the UTC at Swansea will undertake fundamental materials research necessary to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of gas turbine engines and help train the next generation of world-class materials scientists and metallurgical engineers in structural metallic.

Ric Parker, Director Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce said; “Materials research is a vital part of ensuring we have the technology and skills needed to produce future gas turbines that will meet our customers’ needs. We look forward to working with all three universities and building on the excellent relationship we already share with them.”

Commenting on the funding, Swansea University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B. Davies said: “This is a historic day for Swansea University. The Rolls-Royce/EPSRC announcement is the first major announcement by a leading multi-national company, which will enable Swansea University to realise its ambition of a Science and Innovation campus. The announcement clearly demonstrates that a 21^st Century campus which intermingles industrial research and development, academic research and postgraduate and undergraduate students, is being positively received by companies wanting to have a presence on the site.

“This Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications builds on the long established collaboration in the field of advanced structural materials and will enable Swansea University to expand its applied research strengths in Engineering Materials which in turn will help support many small and medium-sized companies across South West Wales.

“This announcement further demonstrates the world-leading research undertaken in the School of Engineering at Swansea University and I would like to applaud my colleagues who have brought about this enhanced reputation.”

The Director of the Swansea UTC, Professor Martin Bache and his co-investigators Dr Karen Perkins and Dr Mark Whittaker will now embark on a number of individually designed packages of research. These will address more efficient use of existing metals (mainly titanium and nickel based superalloys) together with the development of novel materials for future engine applications – the so called “Vision 20” alloys. 

The expansion in knowledge transfer between these academics and the company will also help to generate a greater understanding of the performance of key components whilst in service, including safety critical parts such as rotating turbine discs and aerofoils, shafts and combustors.

Professor Bache said: “To develop, optimise and evaluate any new structural alloy to the stage where it can be approved for service application by the International certification authorities can take anything up to 15 years. Our research aims to reduce this lead time, whilst at the same time providing a more efficient use of existing materials and reducing the environmental impact of gas turbines. Such long–term funding is essential to sustain a stable team of academics and support staff at Swansea that can then establish a close working relationship with the company.

“This announcement is not only a welcome boost to the present UTC team but also recognises the tremendous efforts by former materials colleagues who have forged such a strong relationship between Swansea and Rolls-Royce since the 1970s.”

Professor Javier Bonet, Head of Swansea University’s School of Engineering said: “The School of Engineering is world-leading in this research field where close working relationships with key industrial players like Rolls-Royce are crucial. Along with Cambridge and Birmingham, Swansea will transfer its cutting edge technology to real industrial benefit, also providing training for the next generation of engineers.”