A Huntingdon company that strategically supports the medical, R&D, defence and fast-growing AI sectors is calling on the government to maximise the potential impact of the advanced manufacturing sector.
Goodfellow, which supplies cutting-edge materials and metals to more than 5,000 customers across the world, sent out the rallying call during a visit by local MP Ben Obese-Jecty.
The Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement heard how the Ermine Business Park-based firm was expanding across the globe, with a new £1.5m precision engineering centre in the US and several acquisitions reinforcing its position in the EU market. He also heard how it needs reduced trade friction, lower energy prices and easier access to grants to ensure the business maximises the UK’s strategic focus on critical materials.
Simon Kenney, CEO of Goodfellow, said: “It was great to give Ben a first-hand view of what advanced materials manufacturing actually looks like day-to-day, rather than just an abstract sector label. We are keen to open a channel so that future conversations about trade, compliance or export controls are anchored to a business in the real world. Our reach is truly global, yet the UK remains the heartbeat of our company and a place where we employ 120 highly skilled people.”
He continued: “There is a lot of opportunity for us to support aerospace, defence, electrification, medical and the R&D space, providing the vital material that allows them to pioneer advancements in greener mobility, life-saving cancer treatment and energy generation. However, to do that we need predictable and stable trade rules. Frequent regulatory change that has dominated the last few years is more costly than any single rule, as it forces us to replan every time.”
Ben Obese-Jecty received a guided tour of Goodfellow's 25,000 sq ft facility in Huntingdon, where the company processes and prepares metals, polymers and other advanced materials for customers worldwide. He also viewed the firm’s extensive stockholding that, at any one time, can have over 170,000 different advanced foils, sheets, and coils available.
Mr Kenney, who recently opened the firm’s new Baltimore facility, added: “Simplifying custom declarations for frequent, low value scientific and specialist material shipments would be very useful, especially considering the paperwork burden is often disproportionate to the value of the goods. Skills can also be a real pressure point, particularly in the Cambridge area, where many businesses are competing for the same talent. We discussed with Ben how we would welcome closer alignment between further education and apprenticeship provision and the specific technical skills advanced materials manufacturing needs.”
Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, added his support: “It was hugely informative to tour Goodfellow’s state-of-the-art site and see the bespoke hand-finished processes for making the reference materials, as well as finding out more about their global growth. The business is yet another example of the incredible range of very technical companies we have here in the region and how well placed we are to see them grow alongside new companies bringing expertise to the area.”
Goodfellow is a global supplier of advanced metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, compounds, and composites, serving thousands of customers worldwide across sectors including aerospace, medical, electronics, energy, and advanced technology. The company provides materials, precision micro machining, and technical support to help customers move innovations from research and development into full-scale production.
Pic: (l-r) Mark Fenton, Goodfellow COO, Ben Obese-Jecty MP, and Simon Kenney Goodfellow CEO