NAA Event Review: Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) Networking Event
Our latest member networking event saw us visit The Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) at the University of Salford, for an AI-themed event – “AI for Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing”.
The event was opened by NAA CEO Paul Jones and Mike Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Salford, who outlined how this event would build on the previous “Introduction to AI for SMEs” event that NAA hosted in March 2025.
Delegates then heard from a range of presenters from across the NAA membership as follows:
Tom Rootes, Group Strategic Programmes Director at Preston-based Agile Group Systems and Services Ltd (AGSS), gave an overview of “SME Applications of AI”, including:
• How their customers are adapting and using AI, both externally and through using AGSS’s software
• An SME Case Study
Taha Mansouri, Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Salford, then gave a presentation on “Making AI Responsible and Compliant”, covering the following aspects:
• Responsible AI is a business imperative and the high stakes of unethical AI
• When bias becomes a safety hazard and practical strategies, including mitigating bias in development
• Navigating the UK / EU regulatory landscape and protecting data privacy & preventing “Shadow AI”
• Proportional governance for SMEs and the “start small and safe” approach
• Ethical AI as a catalyst for innovation
Daniel Smalley, Business Manager – Factory Automation at Siemens UK&I, then gave a presentation on “Scaling AI in Industry”, covering the following aspects:
• Why is it so important to act now
• What can AI do for us
• How can we take advantage of these opportunities
• Where is it being done
Daniel then gave some examples of where AI is currently being used in the automotive sector, including Body In White assembly processes such as spot welding defect analysis and clamp monitoring.
Marc Potter, Assistant Principal Curriculum at Blackpool and The Fylde College, gave an overview of “AI Adoption in 2026”, including:
• An introduction to the newly developed Level 3 Certificate in Applied AI for Industry and the concept of AI champions
• Introduction to AI technologies; AI tools; and “Prompt Engineering”
• Delivering Impact with AI tools, including making data simple
• AI safety essentials
Rosie Djurovic, Head of AI at Brabners, followed with a presentation on “AI Focus for 2026”, covering a range of aspects including:
• Data as an operational asset
• Moving agents from pilot to production
• AI literacy has become a must-have
• Measuring by outcomes
• Trust, culture, responsibility
Dr Ann Mulhaney, Associate Professor of Change Management at the Centre for Sustainable Innovation – University of Salford, then gave a presentation on “Change Management and Digital Adoption”, covering a wide range of aspects, including:
• Why is change not easy and the reality of change
• Alignment with the business strategy and the need for effective communication
• How can you create a culture for experimentation
• Recipe for success from assessing the start point and setting a vision, through creating the right conditions and encouraging experiments, to sharing and celebrating successes and finally measuring impact
Delegates were also given a guided tour of NERIC, which is a focal point of the University of Salford’s commitment to industry collaboration, innovation and skills in an established and continually expanding area of expertise. A range of technical demonstrations also illustrated how NERIC provides a hub which adds value to the university and Greater Manchester’s technical infrastructure.
