From graduate engineer to CEO: meet Prof Ben Morgan who says – ‘I never dreamed I would end up in the top seat’
STANDING on the balcony of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Future Energy Factory is chief executive officer, Prof Ben Morgan. He looks out over a landscape transformed.
Twenty-five years after being built from the ground-up on the former Orgreave coking works, you now see a high-tech hive with industrial neighbours ranging from aerospace and supercar manufacturers to clean energy pioneers.
Eighteen months into the top job, Ben describes being CEO as a “pinch-yourself moment.” Rewind 18 years, and a 22-year-old Ben was sitting in a dumper truck in his home city of Preston, three feet deep in snow, trying to make sense of things. It was the 2008 financial crash, and he had been made redundant before even working a day at his first engineering job in Leeds.
Navigating the economic uncertainty, a family connection led to a coffee with AMRC co-founder Prof Keith Ridgway. Taking a chance on the young engineer, Ridgway brought Ben into the assembly group in 2009.
It was the centre of excellence for customised assembly (CECA), now better known as the integrated manufacturing group (IMG) situated at the research organisation’s landmark Factory 2050 facility.
“Getting a job at the AMRC felt quite fortuitous,” Ben said. “I never dreamed I would end up in the top seat. I was just pleased to be in an inspiring environment where really cool stuff happened. The variety of work, the culture and ‘can-do’ attitude are what have kept me here.
“I’m fiercely loyal to the AMRC and feel lucky for the opportunities I’ve had and those who have supported me.
“Our people are extraordinary yet humble, they make a massive impact without even realising it.”
Joining as a graduate project engineer, Ben spent his first 18 months mastering computer-aided design, robotics, and metrology equipment.
He progressed to managing assembly projects and supported a business spinout, Advanced Automation and Assembly Ltd, in 2012. By 2014, at just 28, Ben was appointed head of IMG, becoming the centre’s youngest group head at the time.
Over his tenure, he expanded the team from 12 to 80 people and helped build Factory 2050 in 2015, the UK’s first fully reconfigurable assembly facility.
Following roles as research director and chief technology officer, Ben became interim CEO in early 2025 before his permanent appointment in February 2026.
Taking the helm brings immense pride, alongside significant responsibility.
“There were probably 40 employees at the AMRC when I first started, but now we’re an organisation of more than 550,” Ben noted. “We’ve gone from one building to 12, extending our footprint across Lancashire and Wales. I do feel the pressure sometimes standing on the balcony, looking out at all of these buildings, but fundamentally I trust our talented teams.”
Reflecting on his 18-year journey, several key achievements stand out. A major career highlight was leading a four-year robotic countersinking project for BAE Systems alongside KUKA Systems and AMRC engineers. The team built an automated cell to countersink 57 distinct components saving BAE Systems roughly £80 million initially and £2 million annually.
Beyond aerospace giants, Ben takes equal pride in supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The IMG team helped Sheffield-based, family-run tool manufacturer Footprint automate the complex hand-finishing of construction line pins using cost-effective robotics.
The solution achieved a return on investment within 18 months, produced nearly a million line pins, and grew Footprint’s robotic fleet from one to three, protecting local manufacturing jobs from overseas competition.
Launching Factory 2050 remains another standout milestone. Ben and his team populated the facility with equipment, shaped its culture, and established its core values, scaling the operation like a high-growth startup.
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Additionally, Ben emphasizes the importance of inspiring the next generation through STEM outreach, crediting AMRC coordinator Cathy Barker for engaging thousands of school children annually through robotics challenges.
Looking ahead, a new AMRC strategy will focus heavily on aerospace, defence, nuclear, and clean energy. As national policy places greater emphasis on regional devolved powers, Ben wants the organisation to be bolder and braver in driving research and development.
Over the next decade, Ben said he would like to quadruple the AMRC’s regional impact, particularly with SMEs, enabling significant inward investment and training apprentices through the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre.
“In Yorkshire, engineering is in our blood, whether our ancestors were down the pits or in the steelworks,” Ben said. “Whether it’s small modular reactors, defence, or aerospace, there’s a huge opportunity around the corner, and we’re ready to lead on the next big breakthrough.”
Find out more - visit the AMRC’s 25th anniversary page on its website at www.amrc.co.uk.
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