Local Growth, Regional Impact,
National Capability, International Renown

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What is Infinity

Infinity is a major growth area in the East Midlands, situated on Infinity Park Derby.

Over time it aims to help the region become a national focus for nuclear-related skills and advanced manufacturing; supporting UK industry and supply chains not only today, but for decades ahead.

The site shall be developed over coming years with plans being committed with partners and funders. Already open onsite is the Nuclear Skills Academy, with further ambitions for training, technology, testing, and support for businesses across industry, academia and the supply chain.

Why It Matters

  • Careers: high-value roles in engineering and science, plus jobs in construction and project delivery as the site develops.
  • Keeping talent in the region: training and careers that encourage people to stay and build lives in the East Midlands.
  • Strong local economy: investment, suppliers, and spending linked to the park.
  • National role: supporting the UK’s reputation for advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains.
  • Learning that matches industry: close links between employers, training academies and universities.

Future Direction

The ambition is to grow advanced manufacturing capability that supports not only nuclear programmes but also related sectors such as defence and aerospace, helping UK firms deliver complex projects on time and at scale.

The facilities being considered would bring together large-scale industrial processes that are costly for any single company to own alone, for example hot isostatic pressing (a way to strengthen and treat large metal parts), power beam welding (high-precision joining for demanding applications), and additive manufacturing (industrial 3D printing at scale).
These would sit alongside advanced testing and validation and digital engineering and prototyping so ideas can be designed, made, checked, and improved in one connected place.

Why Act Now

A time-critical opportunity for UK industry

Without investment in this kind of shared capability, UK industry risks depending more on facilities abroad to test and prove products made with large-scale advanced manufacturing — which can mean delay, cost, and less control. Infinity aims to offer a credible UK path instead.

  • Lower costs and faster delivery for complex products
  • More design freedom and ability to make sophisticated parts
  • Better material performance where it matters most
  • Faster, UK-based testing of new designs — without sending work overseas

The Six Pillars of Infinity

Infinity is built around six connected pillars that bring together skills, advanced
manufacturing, testing, digital tools, prototyping, and supply-chain support
in one place. Together they create a practical route for people to learn,
for companies to develop and prove new technology and for the region
to grow as a nationally significant centre for high-value industry.

1. Skills

Training people is at the heart of Infinity. The Nuclear Skills Academy is already training apprentices and nuclear professionals. As the park grows, skills provision shall broaden giving people routes into well-paid engineering and technical careers and helping employers find the talent they need.

Universities in the partnership strengthen this with courses, research students, and clear paths from learning into high-value careers.

2. Prototyping

Before products go into full production, companies need capabilities to trial new technology, to build prototypes, and to learn fast.

Infinity shall host prototyping capabilities for industry to develop new parts and processes with expert support nearby; reducing risk, speeding up innovation, and keeping valuable work in the UK.

3. Test & Validation

Making sure components and systems are safe, reliable, and fit for purpose is essential in demanding sectors such as nuclear and advanced manufacturing.

Test and validation facilities onsite shall allow companies to assess their high-value products, close to the skills and equipment that helped create them; supporting quality, confidence, and UK competitiveness.

4. Supply Chain Development

Infinity shall not only support one or two large companies; it shall help many smaller and medium-sized firms win work, invest, and grow.

By drawing together skills, technology, and larger “prime” manufacturers, Infinity can act as a magnet for research, development, and supply-chain activity; making the East Midlands a more attractive place for investment and local careers.

5. Digital Engineering

Modern manufacturing relies on digital design, simulation, and data to design better products and manage complex projects.

Digital engineering at Infinity would connect classroom and workshop with the same tools industry uses, so trainees and companies alike can work smarter, collaborate more easily, and adopt new methods as technology evolves.

6. Advanced Manufacturing

Cutting-edge production techniques — such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), specialised joining and processing, and other high-value methods — are central to UK industrial strategy.

Infinity aims to bring together advanced manufacturing capability with training and testing, so the region can offer something difficult to replicate elsewhere: learn, make, and prove in one connected place.

People

Prof. Gary Jones

Chief Executive Officer
Infinity

“Infinity will change lives by creating jobs and growth in the region and will put the UK on the world’s stage.”

Tehseen Shahid

Chief of Staff
Infinity

“Infinity is a programme that will deliver exciting jobs and opportunities for those with a passion for innovation”

Dr Clive Hickman OBE

Strategic Adviser
Infinity

“This will give us a time advantage, cost advantage and product quality advantage; that’s the step we are going to take with Infinity.”

Prof. Kath Mitchell CBE DL

Vice Chancellor
University of Derby

“Infinity is a catalyst for innovation and skills development, creating a unique space where academia and industry collaborate.”

Prof. Nick Jennings CB

Vice Chancellor
Loughborough University

“Infinity’s suite of endeavours shall have a significant impact on the world, and that’s what excites me about Infinity.”

Dr Graham Hoare OBE

Chief Executive Officer
MTC

“I’m really excited about what we are creating here, what we are creating for the nation, and we’re creating it in the East Midlands.”

Prof. Chris Bussell

Dean of Science & Engineering
University of Derby

“The skills training and development within Infinity are a really important part of how we’re going to upskill regional capabilities.”

Prof. Dan Parsons

Pro Vice Chancellor
Loughborough University

“Our partnership with Infinity will scale up the technologies that we already deliver, enabling a whole range of future technologies.”

Catherine Williams

Head of Regeneration 
Derby City Council

“The vision we have will propel the site forward and create economic growth opportunities for the UK as a whole.”

Chris Dunkley

Place Based Development Director
MTC

“We’ve worked really closely together to come up with a unique and nationally significant capability.”

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