Mayor celebrates business growth grant investment at A&M EDM

Precision engineers A&M EDM welcomed Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands to commission a new CNC machining centre, which was part funded by a UK Government grant to accelerate growth in manufacturing SMEs.

The investment in the 3-axis Hurco machining centre increases A&M’s capabilities to machine complex inconel parts for aerospace customers. The grant was delivered by Sandwell Council and Business Growth West Midlands for the West Midlands Combined Authority. Richard Parker was joined by Sandwell Council Cabinet Members, Councillor Sukhbir Gill and Councillor Peter Hughes.

The machining centre was commissioned on National Manufacturing Day 2024, organised by Make UK to celebrate all things manufacturing. Smethwick based A&M, hosted students from Sandwell Academy school to showcase manufacturing careers. Students were given a tour and A&M’s apprentices explained how apprenticeships work – following A&M’s programme using experienced mentors, learning for qualifications at Dudley College, whilst being paid and with the potential to earn well above the UK average wage.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I want the West Midlands to be the best place in the UK to live, work and do business. So, it’s great to see firms like A&M throw open their doors and give young people a taste of what it’s like to work in the world of manufacturing. It’s by continuing to work with our businesses in this way that we can create the valuable work experience, skills and training opportunities our young people need to enjoy the best possible start to their careers and for our businesses to thrive in the years ahead.”

Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Skills, Councillor Sukhbir Gill, said: “A&M’s investment is a great example of how, working in tandem with businesses, Sandwell Council is determined to drive growth and increase employment. We want Sandwell to be the location of choice for businesses and encourage them to contact our Sandwell Business Growth Team.”

From a two man start-up in 2002, A&M has continued to grow to a current workforce of 84 and sales over £8 million, creating new jobs by applying its engineering expertise in CNC machining, spark and wire electro discharge machining and toolmaking with continuous investment in new technology.

Complex engineering problems are solved quickly for customers in the aerospace, automotive, formula 1, food production, marine and space sectors. Since 2014 A&M has trained 23 apprentices, with eight current apprentices.

Mark Wingfield, Managing Director A&M said: “The grant support was vital to making this investment, the Sandwell Business Growth Team made it a refreshingly straightforward process and accelerated our investment in a new machining centre to increase our agility making precision aerospace components.”