Robotics Pathway Hub Wales: Support for manufacturers adopting automation

The UK’s new Robotics Adoption Hubs have been announced, and RMGroup is proud to be a partner in the Robotics Pathway Hub Wales – Hwb Llwybr Roboteg Cymru. Launched in October 2026 and backed by £40 million, the eight hubs will give businesses and public services across the UK the support they need to adopt robotics.

For businesses looking to automate, the hub offers fully funded practical guidance and support, bringing together technical, industrial and financial expertise to help businesses explore where robotics could make a difference. With advice and help finding finance, a business can find out whether robotics will work for them before committing to a major investment.

Although the hub is based in Wales, it’s not just for Welsh businesses. Manufacturing businesses from further afield are also encouraged to get in touch to explore how the hub may be able to support their automation plans.

In this post, we explain what the hub offers, how it works, who it’s for and what happens next.

What is Robotics Pathway Hub Wales?

Robotics Pathway Hub Wales is one of eight new Robotics Adoption Hubs announced by the UK government on 9 October 2026, delivered with Innovate UK. The programme’s aim is to bridge the knowledge gap that holds back productivity, safety, and growth by accelerating the adoption of robotics.

Every hub provides impartial advice on the benefits, costs and practical requirements of adopting robotics. It connects businesses with technology suppliers, integrators and finance providers. Hubs also run real-world demonstrations, so businesses can see the technology in action before deciding.

The hubs are named for where they are based, not for who they can help. If another hub is better placed to help, the network can point businesses in that direction.

The gap the Hub is designed to close

The UK is strong in robotics research but weak in robotics use. Its advanced robotics science ranks third in the world for the share of publications in the top 10% most cited.

Yet the UK has one of the lowest rates of industrial robot use among major economies, with just 101 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers in 2020, well behind Japan, the USA, Italy and Canada.

The programme is built around two main barriers to robotics adoption:

• Knowledge gap: Many businesses are unsure what robotics can do, how it can benefit them, and how to adopt it.
• Skills gap: Not enough people can specify, procure, integrate, operate, and maintain robotic systems.

Government estimates show robotics and autonomous systems could add £150 billion to the UK economy by 2035 if adoption is maximised. At current adoption levels, the figure is just £6.4 billion.

How the Hub works

The hub supports businesses through a journey, from a first enquiry to results that can be measured:

1. Independent advice
   A business gets in touch, and the hub assesses where it’s starting from, what it wants to achieve, and whether robotics is the right answer.
2. Scoping and feasibility
   The hub helps identify where robotics could make a difference, what a project would involve and what it might cost.
3. Test before you invest
   Funded engineering trials, system design, and simulation show whether a solution will work before a business commits to buying it.
4. Connection to suppliers, integrators and finance
   The hub connects the business with suppliers, integrators and finance providers, and helps them make the case for investment.
5. Skills and deployment support
   The hub supports businesses with workforce skills and getting the system into use, so they can measure the benefits.

The hub is part of a national network. A national convening body, AURA (Accelerating UK Robotics Adoption), brings the eight hubs together to share knowledge and lessons, so what one hub learns can benefit businesses everywhere.

Who can get involved

The hub is for manufacturers that want to use robotics and automation but aren’t sure where to start. It’s also for businesses that have already started looking into automation, and want help moving from an idea to a working system.

You don’t need to be based in Wales. Wherever your manufacturing business is based in the UK, the hub can help.

RMGroup is a robotics and automation manufacturer and integrator. We’re an ABB Value Provider, Siemens Solutions Partner and Automate UK Certified Robot Integrator. We are one of the manufacturers and integrators businesses can connect with.

We’re looking forward to learning from the businesses we work with, and to sharing what we learn along the way.

What happens next

Details of how to access the hub’s support will be shared as they’re confirmed. In the meantime, you can read the government’s announcement.

If you have a specific automation project in mind and would like to talk it through, get in touch with our team.