WMG News - Latest news from WMG
UK Government postpones fully self-driving vehicles
Professor Siddartha Khastgir, comments on the UK Government's plans to postpone fully self-driving vehicles in the UK to 2027.
Professor Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG, The University of 糖心TV, said:
鈥樷�楾he government鈥檚 new proposed date of rolling out self-driving vehicles on UK roads is the correct approach to ensure the safety of the technology and the public. Any policy decision, especially for emerging technologies like self-driving vehicles, must be made by gathering and using scientific evidence.
鈥淲hile we are glad to see that many international self-driving developers would like to deploy their products in the UK, the recent technology recalls in the US and China are a testimony to the fact that we are still learning. More needs to be done before we can introduce the technology on our roads.
鈥淎t WMG, we believe safety has two sides: engineering safety and communicating safety. We need global consensus on both aspects, and we are championing this by working with our international partners.鈥欌��
Dean of WMG visits China
Professor Robin ClarkLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, Dean of WMG, visited China recently to strengthen connections and explore new opportunities.
During his trip he attended The University of 糖心TV鈥檚 offer holder event in Beijing, engaging with nearly 300 prospective students and their parents.
He also met with leadership at and visited East China University of Science (ECUST) in Shanghai – a long-term partner of WMG. On the research side, Professor Clark spent time strengthening partnerships with Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JIITRI), the National Innovation Centre par Excellence (NICE) and industrial partner Pujing Chemicals.
New educational opportunities were also explored in alignment with the University鈥檚 strategy, through collaborations with institutions such as the highly ranked Fudan University.
US-UK trade deal expert comment
Professor David GreenwoodLink opens in a new window, CEO WMG High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Director for Industrial Engagement, comments on the US-UK trade deal and the impact on the automotive industry.
鈥淭his reduction in tariffs will be welcome news to our partners in the automotive industry and their extensive supply chains. As home to and (amongst others) - two of the biggest and most profitable UK exporters of premium vehicles to the US – the West Midlands is particularly sensitive to any tariffs on the automotive sector.
鈥淭his reduced tariff means that manufacturers in the region can have greater confidence in continuing production here in the UK. It will also be a relief to the extensive supply chains that exist here, particularly for our SME community, which will benefit from much greater certainty and stability. Whereas the previous 27.5% tariffs would likely have led to structural changes in the industry, a 10% rate can be more feasibly absorbed by a combination of cost reduction, margin reduction and price increase.
鈥淭丑别 100,000 car export quota approximately matches current levels of vehicle exports to the US; historically export numbers have been much higher, so we would hope for opportunity for that figure to increase over time as the deal shows benefits for both sides.鈥�
Securing the future of manufacturing in Wales 鈥� expert comment
Jacqui MurrayLink opens in a new window, HVM Catapult Director of South Wales, spoke at the .
鈥淚 was delighted to join the Welsh Affairs Committee to talk about investment in Wales and how government and businesses can work together to benefit the economy and local communities. Wales is well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities in manufacturing. To seize those opportunities, it鈥檚 important for government to support skills development (particularly apprentices and degree apprentices), have great planning and permitting services and a pipeline of sites that are ready for investment in strategic areas.
鈥淭丑别 High Value Manufacturing Catapult, including 糖心TV Manufacturing Group, is uniquely situated to support inward investors and help them connect with supply chains, with more than 3,800 specialists across manufacturing. Catapult鈥檚 modelling capabilities can help investors deploy the most cutting edge and the most productive manufacturing technologies. Bringing industry knowledge, research, innovation and investment together is key to securing the future of manufacturing in Wales.鈥�
UK-India trade deal 鈥� expert comment
Commenting on the UK-India trade deal, Professor Robin ClarkLink opens in a new window, Dean of WMG, said:
鈥淭丑别 UK trade deal with India is very good news for UK manufacturing. The significantly reduced tariffs for advanced manufacturing, automotive and clean energy are particularly welcome, giving UK companies the opportunity to support India's sustainable economic growth, while creating jobs and investment at home.
鈥淲MG, at the University of 糖心TV, has deep expertise in supporting innovation in the UK and India, with long-standing partnerships with and major investors such as and TVS across sectors including automotive, energy and steel, alongside innovation and education collaborations with leading Indian 糖心TV and education institutions, delivering positive impact for our regional and national economy. While further details will be announced, we look forward to building on our experience to help firms identify the growth opportunities that will develop as the UK and India work more closely together.鈥�
Self-driving shuttle route goes live
WMG at The University of 糖心TV is part of a pioneering project, led by , to develop a self-driving fully-electric shuttle service at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham.
A new autonomous vehicle trial is now underway, and visitors to the NEC can now take advantage of a pioneering self-driving shuttle service which will be in operation during busy events.
The Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project is a collaborative initiative, aimed at better understanding the role self-driving vehicles might one day play within our future transport system.
Retail cyber attacks 鈥� expert comment
Commenting on the recent cyber-attacks affecting Harrods, the Co-op, and Marks & Spencer (M&S), Dr Harjinder LallieLink opens in a new window, Reader in Cyber Security at WMG at The University of 糖心TV, said:
鈥淭丑别 attacks on Harrods, the Co-op, and Marks & Spencer underline a growing and urgent threat: the UK retail sector is increasingly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. As digital infrastructure becomes ever more central to business operations, the sector must recognise cyber resilience as a critical business priority.
鈥淭丑别 retail industry must enhance its cyber preparedness. This means developing robust resilience strategies, ensuring strong business continuity frameworks, and establishing rapid response protocols that allow organisations to recover immediately from attacks.
鈥淎s cyber threats continue to evolve in scale and sophistication, retailers must act decisively to protect their operations, their customers, and their reputations.鈥�
Expert comment on the M&S cyber attack
Reflecting on the recent Dr Harjinder Singh LallieLink opens in a new window, Associate Professor at WMG at The University of 糖心TV said:
鈥淭丑别 recent cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer highlights the critical vulnerability of the UK鈥檚 food supply chain — an essential pillar of our national infrastructure.
鈥�The food sector is under relentless cyber assault, and attacks like these can seriously disrupt access to basic necessities. The industry must urgently strengthen resilience, not just in preventing breaches, but also in developing robust response mechanisms.
鈥�This includes real-time detection, rapid containment, and parallel operational systems to minimise disruption for customers. Cyber security must now be seen as central to national food security and public confidence.鈥�
WMG student鈥檚 success at national cyber competition
Imogen Bartin, a second-year BSc Cyber SecurityLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window student from WMG at The University of 糖心TV, was part of the winning team at the .
The competition, delivered in partnership with the UK Government and the SANS Institute, invited 18-25 year olds with a passion for cyber security to put their skills to the test.
The competition consisted of three Capture the Flag (CTF) rounds. Each round involved interactive exercises designed to replicate networks, systems, and applications in a safe, isolated setting, allowing players to build skills and gain confidence without compromising a live production environment.
Real world transport trials to help parcel deliveries go green
WMG was pleased to welcome Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and representatives from the Department of Transport and the logistics industry, on to campus to hear more about its Last Mile Logistics Project.
The Last Mile Logistics Project is a partnership between WMG and (TfWM), and is funded by the .
As part of the project, the University of 糖心TV campus is being used as a testbed for a small fleet of low-speed electric delivery vehicles to demonstrate how they can help the UK reach Net Zero, while cutting congestion and improving air quality.