- The South Yorkshire Growth Plan promises to restore ‘pride, purpose and prosperity to South Yorkshire’
- It will build on the region’s existing strengths in areas such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence and life sciences to boost job creation, private sector investment, productivity and the skills base of the region
- The plan puts the University of Sheffield front and centre of its ambition, recognising it as an anchor institution and key strategic partner for delivery, particularly through its impactful applied research and innovation
The University of Sheffield has welcomed the publication of the South Yorkshire Growth Plan which sets out the region’s economic priorities for the next 10 years.
The plan, which promises to ‘restore pride, purpose and prosperity to South Yorkshire’ will build on the region’s existing strengths in areas such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence and life sciences to boost job creation, private sector investment, productivity and the skills base of the region.
The plan puts the University of Sheffield front and centre of its ambition, recognising the University as an anchor institution and key strategic partner for delivery, particularly through its impactful applied research and innovation, collaboration with local businesses via its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and its potential to translate research into high-quality jobs.
The University is already making significant contributions to the local economy, and will continue to do so as part of the South Yorkshire Growth Plan, through:
- COMPASS - housed in a new research facility alongside the AMRC’s pioneering Factory 2050, COMPASS is our largest ever collaborative research programme and will develop large lightweight components to help the aviation industry meet future demand for lighter commercial aircraft and achieve net zero. The first new facility announced for the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, it was established with £80 million of investment from the UK government, regional government, the University and aviation sector leaders such as Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and Loop Technology.
- Runway Park - a 100-acre innovation site led by the University of Sheffield, bridging academic research with business innovation. It will offer flexible spaces for co-working, manufacturing and leisure, supporting start-ups and established businesses alike.
- The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) - a magnet for investment and social mobility, AMP is home to the AMRC and AMRC Training Centre which has trained over 2000 young people in manufacturing skills supporting the workforce of regional SME businesses. The AMRC and AMRC Training Centre have magnetised the AMP for private investment, attracting over £350m from businesses seeking to co-locate with innovation and training assets.
- The Innovation Spine - a collaborative corridor linking the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University through regeneration zones like Station Quarter, Castlegate, and West Bar. It will support knowledge-led start-ups and scale-ups.
- Clean energy – we are a leader in clean energy, enabling South Yorkshire to become one of the regions in the UK with large employment opportunities in clean power and hydrogen. DSIT analysis gives South Yorkshire the largest share of the Clean Tech economy (6.9% ) in the UK.
- Applied research and translational innovation centres - our applied research and translational innovation centres such as the AMRC, Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre, the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre, and Energy Innovation Centre, harness over £350 worth of capabilities to support local, national and global manufacturers to improve their productivity and make them more competitive, bringing industry partners like Rolls Royce, McLaren and Boeing to the region, creating jobs and stimulating investment.
- The AMRC, which supports over 400 SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups per year – providing technical assistance to their manufacturing challenges. This is making a huge impact on their productivity and ability to gain work. AMRC has over 100 industrial partners.
Professor Ashutosh Tiwari, Deputy Vice-President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “As a global university rooted in our city and region, we are committed to driving economic growth and success for our communities.
The South Yorkshire Growth Plan highlights the critical role our research, innovation and education will play in boosting productivity in our region, creating high-value jobs and opportunities that will improve people’s lives.”
He added: “Our strengths across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence and life sciences, and initiatives like Runway Park and the Sheffield Innovation Spine, will not only help us deliver solutions to global challenges but will also support businesses and industry, catalyse growth opportunities and attract the investment that the region needs to continue on a path to prosperity. We look forward to working with our partners to build a bigger and better economy for South Yorkshire’.
The South Yorkshire Growth Plan: South Yorkshire’s Vision for Business Growth and Greater Opportunity was launched by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and the Mayor’s Economic Advisory Council (MEAC) on 25 September 2025.
More information on the University of Sheffield’s growth plans and contribution to the local economy can be found on our website.