On April 20, 2023, Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd visited Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to celebrate the announcement of a partnership between Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and AMRC Cymru. The partnership aims to transform the rural economy by developing skills and exploring new technologies for the agri-food sector. This partnership is connected to the Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub, which aims to create a world-class agri-food workforce with the highest levels of environmental standards.
This collaboration agreement between Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and AMRC Cymru is a fantastic opportunity for the rural economy to prosper by exchanging knowledge and innovating. The agreement represents an opportunity for rural businesses to adopt modern ways of working that aim to increase automation, efficiency, and productivity. The aim is to establish a center for agri-tech as part of the Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub offer, which is supported by the North Wales Growth Deal. Both Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and AMRC Cymru are excited to support rural businesses to become more efficient and productive.
Martin Jardine, the Director of Agri-Food at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, commented on the opportunity this agreement will bring to the North Wales economy. Martin said, “By bringing together the expertise of both Grwp Llandrillo Menai and AMRC Cymru, this agreement represents a fantastic opportunity for the rural economy to prosper by exchanging knowledge, innovating and providing easy access to wider support.”
Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, also praised the collaboration agreement between Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and AMRC Cymru. Lesley said, “We see collaboration between partners as being essential to driving future growth within the industry. Therefore it is extremely positive to see two of the leading organizations within Welsh agri-food come together for the benefit of businesses both large and small. I very much see this agreement as being a boost not only to North Wales, but to the Welsh economy as a whole, as we seek to create a world-class food and drink workforce that is innovative, has the highest levels of environmental standards, and is fit for the future.”
Andrew Martin, the Head of Food and Drink at AMRC Cymru, said, “We are delighted to be able to make this agreement to help grow the Welsh agri-food economy. Our goal is to help the manufacturing and agri-food community access advanced technologies that will drive improvements in productivity, performance, and quality. By pooling our expertise with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Coleg Glynllifon and Food Technology Centre, we will be able to provide solutions for the whole supply chain and help agri-food businesses develop new capabilities and embed new technological advancements and innovations.”
AMRC Cymru, managed by the University of Sheffield and a member of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, is part of a cluster of world-class centers for industry-focused research and development of technologies used in high-value manufacturing sectors. Its £20m state-of-the-art center funded by the Welsh Government focuses on advanced manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and food in the key research areas of future propulsion, sustainability, and digital manufacturing. It has a global reputation for helping companies overcome manufacturing problems and has become a model for collaborative research involving universities, academics, and industry worldwide.
Grŵp Llandrillo is set to work closely with AMRC Cymru on high-level knowledge transfer projects aimed at creating a highly skilled professional workforce across the supply chain. The partnership will increase competitiveness and capitalize on commercial opportunities resulting in jobs and investment across the region.
