Brompton Bikes, one of the world’s most iconic cycling brands, is exploring options to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing facility from London to Ashford, Kent. This move has the potential to transform the region’s engineering landscape, creating new jobs, boosting innovation, and inspiring future talent.
To support this transition, EKC Group has partnered with Brompton on a pioneering project called BROM-BOT, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project explores how robotics and automation can enhance Brompton’s production processes, helping the company scale up while maintaining quality and sustainability.
The collaboration enabled Brompton to access EKC Group’s robotic learning lab in Ashford as a space to test, refine and validate which operations could benefit from automation.
EKC students and staff were invited to visit robotic partner ABB’s state-of-the-art R&D facilities to enrich their engineering experience and to take part in real-world problem-solving challenges.
Through BROM-BOT, more than 20 T-Level students from EKC Group have gained hands-on experience in automation design and problem-solving. We have updated our engineering curriculum to include digitalisation and automation, equipping our students with industry-relevant skills.
Project Goals
- Test robotic manufacturing across 10 key operations.
- Upskill Brompton’s existing workforce.
- De-risk future investment in automation.
- Strengthen local skills pipelines through education and training.
The solution
BROM-BOT created a “robot sandpit” at Brompton’s Greenford factory, supported by EKC Group’s robotic learning labs in Ashford and Canterbury. These spaces allowed Brompton to pilot industrial-grade automation in areas like body shop, paint, and assembly before committing to full-scale deployment.
Skills for the future
EKC Group has expanded its engineering provision at Ashford College to train a future workforce skilled in automation. Future collaboration opportunities also include:
- Apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
- Student visits and problem-solving challenges.
- Opportunities for local manufacturers to use our robotic learning labs for CPD and testing
Collaboration wins
- Brompton reduced risk in rolling out new production solutions.
- New CPD materials are now available to address workforce skills gaps.
- EKC students gained real-world experience in advanced manufacturing.
- The partnership showcases how industry and Further Education can work together to solve real challenges.
Got a manufacturing challenge to solve? Let’s talk. EKC Group can help you explore automation, upskill your team, and unlock new opportunities.
Contact us: innovate@ekcgroup.ac.uk