Industrial Solutions Hub

What Industrial Solutions Hub does

Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) is a West Cumbria-based economic development organisation founded in 2022 and owned by Cumberland Council. It is funded by Sellafield Ltd through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with additional capital from the UK Government's Towns Fund and the Copeland Community Fund, and has secured £41.6 million in aggregate funding to date. iSH operates as a cluster development entity rather than a commercial enterprise: it convenes and champions the region's industrial capability through three regional clusters — Robotics, Manufacturing, and Digital Cumbria — and acts as a conduit connecting West Cumbria SMEs with nuclear decommissioning buyers, project teams, and decision-makers at Sellafield and DNWP Tier 2 partners.

iSH's core "products" are programmatic rather than software-based: the iSH Enterprise Campus at Cleator Moor (a solutions hub with industrial units for lease, delivering from Spring 2027), the iSH Presents podcast, the Skills Outreach Programme (which reached 470 young people in the last academic year and includes the Robotics School Sprint Challenge in collaboration with RAICo), and structured cluster engagement events. The underlying technology footprint sits with iSH's cluster members — companies such as Createc, Ice Nine Robotics, Forth Engineering, VizFZ, and Veolia's nuclear solutions business — which develop computer vision, autonomous robotic platforms, digital twin / VR operator training, and AI-enabled inspection systems for hazardous and nuclear environments. The £4.6 billion DNWP decommissioning programme over 15 years is the anchor market these members are positioned to serve.

iSH does not generate commercial revenue. Its operating model is grant-funded, with infrastructure build-out financed through a mix of central government Towns Fund money and match funding from public bodies. Pricing for the Enterprise Campus industrial units is not yet publicly disclosed. The customer-facing segments are SMEs in Cumbria, robotics and advanced manufacturing companies, digital technology firms, young people aged 16-18, and the broader Cumbria manufacturing supply chain. The organisation is a publicly funded regional economic development platform, not a venture-scale commercial entity.

Name

Industrial Solutions Hub

Legal name

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS HUB (ISH) LIMITED

Website

https://ishco.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Industrial Solutions Hub supports manufacturing innovation and collaboration through partnerships and investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cluster Development Services

NAICS

Industrial Building Construction (23621)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Edge Computing & Gateways (IMAIAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise Architecture & Technology Roadmapping (BPAEAAAC)

Keywords

• Industrial cluster development
• Economic development services
• Manufacturing cluster support
• Robotics cluster facilitation
• Skills training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleator Moor

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Programs or Marketing

Revenue model

1. Grant and Government Funding: iSH is primarily funded through grants and government funding from Sellafield Ltd (through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority), Cumberland Council, and various Town Deal funds. The organization does not operate on a commercial revenue model but rather through secured funding to drive regional economic development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) is an industrial cluster development organization based in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, UK, established in 2022. It coordinates industry clusters (Robotics, Manufacturing, Digital Cumbria) and develops the Enterprise Campus to empower West Cumbria's industrial businesses, fixers, and problem-solvers in expanding technical capability.

Product overview

Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) is a cluster development organisation that unites and champions Cumbria's industrial and technology capability through regional industrial clusters. Rather than a single software product, iSH operates a portfolio of initiatives including three core industrial clusters (Robotics, Manufacturing, and Digital Cumbria), the iSH Enterprise Campus physical workspace, the iSH Presents podcast series, and Skills Outreach programmes. The Robotics Cluster connects companies specialising in robotics, radiation sensing, computer vision, and AI for hazardous environments. The Manufacturing Cluster supports the Cumbria manufacturing supply chain anchored by Sellafield's needs. The Digital Cumbria Cluster brings together digital employers and innovators to strengthen regional digital skills. The Enterprise Campus provides physical industrial units (Unit 9 and Unit 12) for businesses at Cleator Moor. Skills programmes include the Robotics School Sprint Challenge and work experience initiatives for young people. A planned SME Tech Accelerator programme is slated for year two.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iSH Presents: A podcast shining a light on organisations and individuals pushing the boundaries of innovation across Cumbria and beyond, exploring advanced engineering, manufacturing, robotics and digital capability.

Products and services

• Robotics Cluster Industry cluster program coordinated by iSH to support and connect robotics-focused businesses in West Cumbria.
• Manufacturing Cluster Industry cluster program coordinated by iSH to support and connect manufacturing businesses in West Cumbria.
• Digital Cumbria Cluster Industry cluster program coordinated by iSH to support and connect digital technology companies in Cumbria.
• Enterprise Campus Industrial facility development project led by iSH, backed by £41.6m in funding (£22.5m from UK Government Towns Fund), designed to provide infrastructure for expanding West Cumbria's technical capability.
• Skills Outreach Programme Educational outreach programme delivered by iSH to engage young people in West Cumbria with technical skills, including the Robotics School Sprint Challenge. The programme has engaged 470 young people with a reported 92% student improvement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 470 young people engaged through skills outreach programmes in one academic year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• BECBC Nuclear Sector GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Collaboration on DNWP Supply Chain Engagement event. Working together to engage local supply chain with Sellafield and DNWP opportunities.
• Sellafield LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary anchor partner and funding source. iSH is funded by Sellafield Ltd through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Sellafield serves as the anchor organisation for iSH's industrial clusters including the Robotics Cluster and Manufacturing Cluster. Sellafield's £4.6bn DNWP programme drives significant supply chain opportunities.
• RAICo (Robotics and AI Collaboration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration on robotics initiatives including the Robotics School Sprint Challenge. RAICo provides facility (RAICo1 in Whitehaven) for robotics challenges and events. Joint initiative to deliver positive local impact and maintain Cumbria's role as centre of innovation.
• Sellafield Manufactured Products Organisation (MPO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor organisation for Manufacturing Cluster. Procures large containers for management and storage of waste and other products required for long-term decommissioning activities.
• Barclays Eagle LabssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Digital Cumbria cluster, collaborating to create opportunities for young people to engage with digital technology and skills development.
• Digital UnitesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Digital Cumbria cluster delivering digital skills programmes alongside Barclays Eagle Labs and Capgemini from LEVELS facility.
• LEVELSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor facility for Digital Cumbria partnership providing space, equipment and crew at no cost to partners. Hosts hackathons and showcase events.
• CapgeminisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Digital Cumbria Digital Unite programme, collaborating to deliver digital skills from LEVELS facility.
• BTsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Cumbria partner collaborating on digital access and skills building opportunities for the region.
• AtossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Cumbria partner contributing to digital skills development initiatives in the region.
• Copeland Borough CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Cleator Moor Town Deal Board to secure Towns Fund and support Enterprise Campus development.
• Skills Builder PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal framework organization providing accreditation for iSH's skills programmes. Awarded Silver Excellence Mark and Impact Level 4 recognition.
• Enterprising CumbriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development body providing Strategic Careers Lead support. Cath Dutton serves as Strategic Careers Lead providing endorsement for iSH skills programmes.
• EnergussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for DNWP Supply Chain Engagement event at Lillyhall location.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• High Value Manufacturing Catapult: UK-wide network of manufacturing innovation centres funded by Innovate UK. Operates the same cluster/facilitation model that iSH applies regionally — connecting manufacturers, technology providers and research organisations — but at national scale across seven centres.
• Nuclear AMRC: Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre operates as a nuclear-sector manufacturing innovation cluster, connecting supply chain, academia and end-users (including Sellafield) — directly overlapping iSH's Robotics and Manufacturing cluster remit and customer base.
• Centre for Process Innovation (CPI): UK technology innovation centre providing facilities, equipment and cluster coordination for industrial companies. Comparable to iSH as a publicly-funded entity offering workspace, partnership programmes and skills development to high-value manufacturing firms.
• Digital Catapult: UK innovation cluster focused on digital and emerging technology adoption. Closely analogous to iSH's Digital Cumbria cluster in both mission (digital skills, business growth, ecosystem building) and funding model (public-backed, partnership-led).
• Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC): Regional business cluster for West Cumbria's energy sector supply chain — direct geographical peer to iSH, working with overlapping members on Sellafield and nuclear-decommissioning opportunities, and a co-partner on the DNWP Supply Chain Engagement event.
• Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult: UK Catapult centre coordinating industry, academia and government around an energy vertical. Operates the same cluster-development, partnership-led model as iSH, with comparable programmes for skills, supply chain access and innovation intermediation.
• Enterprising Cumbria: Regional economic development organisation for Cumbria providing strategic careers and skills support — a close geographic and functional peer, currently an iSH partner (providing the Strategic Careers Lead) but operating the same public-good economic-development remit.

Broad incumbents

• Sellafield Ltd: iSH's primary anchor partner, funding source and the customer of cluster members. Far larger in scope and budget, but operates at the same nuclear-decommissioning intersection and effectively underwrites iSH's programme delivery through the £4.6bn DNWP programme.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency funding business-led innovation, including the Catapult network. Provides the macro funding architecture that iSH's cluster model sits within, and is the typical upstream funder for organisations with iSH's structure and mission.

Others

• Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN): UK innovation network connecting businesses, researchers and funders across sectors — analogous to iSH as an enabling ecosystem player, though operating at UK-wide scale and not directly competing for the same members or territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iSHcouk
• Facebookfacebook.com/iSHcouk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/industrial-solutions-hub-ish

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Industrial Solutions Hub