AMRC Ferretworks aims to boost start-ups in South Yorkshire

Rich Gardiner, senior innovation fellow at the AMRC

A new startup programme launched by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is set to bolster South Yorkshire’s innovation economy by transforming ambitious ideas into investable ventures. The initiative, titled FerretWorks: Startup, is co-funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the University of Sheffield in its first year, and aims to support early-stage entrepreneurs in developing scalable, sustainable businesses.

The programme is designed to derisk innovation at its most vulnerable stage by offering access to world-class engineering capabilities, commercial guidance, and investment networks. It targets companies either based in or planning to establish themselves in South Yorkshire, with a focus on sectors supported by the AMRC, including aerospace, energy, defence, automotive, construction, medical and healthcare, space, food and drink, and agri-tech.

Richard Gardiner, senior innovation fellow at the AMRC, said: “We are not just supporting innovation, we are helping create the right environment for it. One that gives business founders the confidence, technical backing and commercial structure to succeed. Our aim is to provide early-stage business founders with access to world-class engineering capabilities, commercial guidance and investment networks.”

Participants will work closely with AMRC engineers to refine their ideas, develop prototypes and accelerate their route to market. They will also gain access to more than £200 million of advanced manufacturing capability, including design for manufacture, product testing, and ‘state of the art’ machinery, all underpinned by commercialisation frameworks and mentorship.

Technical feasibility
The programme is backed by three key commercialisation partners: the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub, Sheffield Technology Parks’ Cooper Project, and the University of Sheffield’s Commercialisation Journey. Each partner will nominate promising candidates from their respective programmes. Following a rigorous review process to assess technical feasibility and alignment with AMRC capabilities, successful applicants will receive project support worth up to £45,000 to co-develop their innovation with AMRC teams.

Among the first cohort is DigitalCNC, an AMRC spin-out venture launched with support from Yorkshire AI Labs. DigitalCNC’s CEO Dr Rob Ward said: “We are thrilled to be awarded one of the inaugural FerretWorks: Startup grants. Having spun out of the AMRC, we know firsthand the benefits this support can bring to a startup during this crucial phase.

“Importantly, it provides access to the extensive AMRC and HVM Catapult networks — there is not a partnership network like it anywhere else in the UK. At DigitalCNC, we will use the grant to access ‘state of the art’ machine tools and expert manufacturing engineers. We will be able to continue validating our software without production downtime for customers, build datasets to support our product and technology roadmaps, and ultimately bolster our sales pipeline to support UK manufacturing.”

The programme aligns with the SYMCA Strategic Economic Plan, which seeks to grow the region’s innovation ecosystem, increase high-quality employment and position South Yorkshire as a leading destination for entrepreneurship and investment. The initiative also supports broader national objectives, including the UK Government’s call for greater support at the proof-of-concept stage, stronger academia-industry integration, and improved access to funding and technical resources for early-stage founders.