Game Changer: Greater Manchester's New Hub Promises Thousands of Jobs!

Construction work has been successfully completed on the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), a significant new manufacturing hub located at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale. This state-of-the-art research facility is poised to become a critical catalyst for driving investment and job creation across the north of Greater Manchester, specifically fostering growth in advanced manufacturing, machinery, innovative materials, and crucial scientific research.

The 30,000 square foot SMMC represents the inaugural major physical development within the expansive Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID). AVID is envisioned as a 25-acre focal point for advanced materials and manufacturing in Rochdale, designed to bring together businesses, leading researchers, investors, and various innovation partners into a singular, collaborative ecosystem. Atom Valley itself is identified as one of Greater Manchester's six pivotal growth locations, encompassing substantial areas of Bury, Oldham, and Rochdale. This vast district offers an impressive 17 million square feet of employment space, with the potential to generate up to 20,000 highly skilled job roles within the burgeoning technology and manufacturing sectors.

The project's groundbreaking ceremony in November of the previous year saw Prime Minister Andy Burnham, then serving as the Greater Manchester mayor, declare it the commencement of a 'new decade of growth' for the city-region. The completion of the SMMC building is being hailed as a 'major milestone' by its joint-development partners, which include the Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), The University of Manchester, and a network of wider innovation collaborators.

Looking ahead, the next crucial phase involves fitting out the newly completed building with specialist equipment. Once this installation is finalized, the centre will open its doors to a diverse range of research projects, businesses, and manufacturers, allowing them to occupy and utilize the dedicated spaces. The SMMC is projected to generate a substantial £107 million in economic value over a decade once it becomes fully operational.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative, stating, "Atom Valley is an exciting opportunity and key to our plans to bring good growth to every postcode in Greater Manchester. The completion of the SMMC building is a major milestone for what will become a nationally significant hub for innovation." She further emphasized its role in "providing space for businesses and connecting them with investment, world-class research, facilities and support within the wider Atom Valley Innovation District," ultimately leading to "more opportunities for our businesses to grow, attracting new investment to this part of Greater Manchester, and more high-value jobs for our residents."

The financial backing for this ambitious project has been substantial. The development of the SMMC building specifically received £15.2 million from the UK Government’s Towns Fund and an additional £5.8 million from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone. Moreover, the broader innovation district has secured a further significant boost of £16.4 million through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), a flagship UK government program delivered via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aimed at strengthening regional innovation economies across the country.

Councillor Daniel Meredith, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing at Rochdale Borough Council, expressed local enthusiasm, remarking, "The building completion of the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre is fantastic news for Rochdale residents." He highlighted its potential to "help create new employment opportunities, support the development of high-value skills and ensure local people can benefit from some of the most exciting advances in modern manufacturing and materials science." Councillor Meredith concluded by asserting that the SMMC stands as a "major investment in our future, creating opportunities for local businesses, attracting new employers and helping to build a stronger economy for generations to come," showcasing Rochdale's ambition to be at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing.