Made Together: The year of unlocking potential
In South Yorkshire, pushing the boundaries is very much a collective endeavour. During 2023, the University of Sheffield and its partners worked hard to cultivate a healthier, greener, more innovative and culturally vibrant region. Here’s a snapshot of how the Made Together programme is now supporting the transformation of the region.
The South Yorkshire Investment Zone, a Government initiative and the first in the UK, announced its first major initiative – positioning South Yorkshire at the forefront of UK efforts to make the aviation industry more sustainable. Composites at Speed and Scale, known as COMPASS, will be built as an extension to the AMRC’s factory 2050, based at the university Innovation district, that will pioneer new methods for manufacturing lightweight aircraft components. And of course in creating high-skilled jobs, it’s also driving investment into the UK’s aerospace sector.
The South Yorkshire Investment Zone also positions the Sheffield Spine as a hub for trailblazing spin-out and start-up companies in tech and life sciences. This will connect the University’s campus to West Bar Square – bringing together the ongoing development of Kelham Island and Castlegate into the region’s Innovation District on the Sheffield/Rotherham border.
Meanwhile, Northern Gritstone, the investment company founded by the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester, announced a £2 million investment for the world’s first low-energy, non-oil-based, high-performance bioplastic – developed by a company called Floreon and the University of Sheffield.
Rejuvenating the region
Walk down Fargate and High Street in Sheffield and you’ll see a transformation is well under way. The work, funded by the University’s support for the City Council’s successful £15.8 million Future High Street fund bid, will realise a shared vision of a future-proofed city centre, catering to visitors of all ages.
And it doesn’t stop there. We’ve been working with Sheffield City Council, civic organisations, local businesses and community groups to produce a vision for the regeneration of Sheffield’s historic Castlegate area. This work helped to attract £17.5 million in Levelling Up funding which – among other regeneration projects – will see the restoration of a landmark Grade II listed building to create Harmony Works, a new cultural centre for young musicians from across the region.
Revolutionising healthcare
ctober saw the launch of the £4 million South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub, to help tackle the stark health inequalities across our region. The Hub will improve people’s quality of life by creating digital health tools, using data from multiple sources including the NHS. Led by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, the Hub brings together partners from across the region including: hospitals, GPs, mental health services, businesses, the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System and patient and public groups.
Further investment in the region included a £5 million UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funding boost. This will transform the thriving Yorkshire MedTech industry, and benefit an estimated two million patients by 2040.
Overseen by the University of Sheffield and University of Leeds, the investment sees civic partners including South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and regional NHS Trusts work together to create MedTech jobs as well as opportunities for economic growth.
The University’s Julia Garnham Centre, is also working with the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to help the NHS tackle the backlog in cancer and rare genetic diseases. As well as helping to save young lives locally and nationally, the Centre is training the next generation of geneticists to continue this vital work.
Thriving culture
The University delivered one of the most successful Off the Shelf festivals, attracting a record-breaking 17,000+ people to the city. Now one of the largest literary events in the country, Off the Shelf offered a line-up of international talent, and platformed diverse, local voices – with a third of the festival content from underrepresented groups.
Elsewhere, support for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s £3 million Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grant will drive cultural connectivity while complementing work with local communities in defining Barnsley’s cultural character. Through the Storying Goldthorpe project, we’re connecting with local people to document the area’s unique character and discuss its future. A second project, Mapping Barnsley, teams us up with local artists to inform Barnsley’s new Cultural Strategy – identifying the diverse range of organisations and individuals that make up the area’s cultural sector.
