West Suffolk Council Appoints Hethel Innovation for New £17m Advanced Manufacturing Centre
Business growth specialist Hethel Innovation Ltd. selected as delivery partner for the state-of-the-art facility set to open in Spring 2027.
By Alice Hartwell
••3 min read
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Generic image of the exterior of a modern business centre with large windows.
West Suffolk Council has appointed Hethel Innovation Ltd. (HIL) as the delivery partner for its new £17 million Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Centre in Bury St Edmunds. A mobilisation contract has been signed to begin marketing the centre ahead of its Spring 2027 opening.
Hethel Innovation Ltd. (HIL), a specialist in business growth, has been chosen by West Suffolk Council to manage the new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Centre. The centre, a £17 million project located in Bury St Edmunds, is scheduled to open in Spring 2027. A contract has been signed to commence marketing activities for the state-of-the-art facility.
HIL brings extensive experience in East Anglia, having supported over 800 businesses through its innovation-led growth initiatives at various sites, including the Hethel Engineering Centre in Norfolk, which served as a blueprint for the new Suffolk centre. Their expertise has been instrumental in shaping the AME Centre's vision and design.
The new AME Centre will feature 17 flexible workshop units, meeting rooms, and conference facilities designed to foster business growth, collaboration, and networking within the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector. This initiative is expected to create new employment opportunities and support skills development in the local communities.
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"I am delighted that HIL have come onboard, with their specialist knowledge in innovation and incubation space this will help propel the AME Centre forward. This is a vital project, designed to power the future of our local economy by providing a space tailored to support business growth in advanced manufacturing and engineering. Once complete the centre will offer opportunities for new employment and skills development, all in favour of our local communities."
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"Our team are thrilled to be delivering the new advanced manufacturing and engineering centre in Bury. As a brand new sister site to our Hethel Engineering Centre of Excellence in Norfolk, it sits at the heart of one of Suffolk’s strongest concentrations of advanced manufacturing and engineering, in a sector that already employs around one in ten workers across West Suffolk. Our tried-and-tested business growth model combines high-quality workspace, expert business support and collaborative innovation communities, and will provide the foundations and framework to accelerate innovation, commercialisation and growth in a sector which is forecast to more than double to £4.7 billion by 2050."
Funding for the AME Centre is provided by West Suffolk Council and Enterprise Zone funding, with endorsement from Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Business Board. Further information can be obtained by emailing enquiries@hethelinnovation.com.
Based on information from the official source: West Suffolk Council (28/10/2026)
