Prime Minister Theresa May: South Yorkshire to help 'pioneer engineering revolution'

The Advanced Manufacturing Park on the Rotherham-Sheffield border has a Rolls Royce jet engine factory, a nuclear research centre and a Boeing aerospace facility

The Prime Minister has said South Yorkshire could help "power a new engineering revolution" for the UK.

Theresa May told the Sheffield Star last month's investment announcements by Boeing and McLaren were a "spectacular success" for the region.

Both firms have announced facilities at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre between Rotherham and Sheffield.

Mrs May said she wants the model being pioneered in South Yorkshire to be copied across the country.

She told The Star: "Attracting one of the world's most famous car brands and one of the leading names in aerospace to Sheffield were deals built on the city pooling its skills and working together.

"I want to see the prosperity that areas like London and the South East have enjoyed replicated across the country.

Theresa May said South Yorkshire can "help power a new engineering revolution for the UK"

"That means developing and supporting key sectors to inspire an economic revival in places like South Yorkshire, and all our great regions and cities."

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Catcliffe, on the Sheffield-Rotherham border, was founded by the University of Sheffield and Boeing in 2001 on the site of the old Orgreave coking plant.

It is a centre for collaborative research and now houses a nuclear research facility and a Rolls Royce jet engine factory.

Sheffield tech firm The Floow has also recently announced a £13 million investment package there.

In February McLaren announced plans for a £50m supercar chassis factory on the site, creating 200 jobs.

McLaren Automotive announced plans for the £50m supercar chassis factory in February, saying it was a "logical next step" for the supercar manufacturer

Soon after, Boeing announced a £20m, 2,300 sq m plant - its first European commercial factory - alongside the AMRC to manufacture hi-tech parts for aircraft wings.

Boeing also plans a major research and development programme to develop new manufacturing techniques.