The dramatic changes in global manufacturing have greatly increased the demand from UK companies for skilled employees and new operational practices that will deliver internationally leading business positions. The UK is considered to be very strong both in scientific research and in the invention of innovative products within emerging sectors. This conclusion is supported by the fact the UK is a significant net exporter of intellectual property, ranking behind only USA and Japan. The potential of the UK's innovation capacity to create new high-end manufacturing jobs is therefore significant. Maximising this wealth generation opportunity within the UK will however depend on the creation of a new breed of skilled personnel that will deliver next generation innovative production systems. Without relevant research training, production research, r&d infrastructure, and an effective technology supply chain, there will be a limit to the UK's direct employment growth from its innovation capacity, leading to constant migration of UK wealth creation potential into overseas economies. Many emerging sectors and next generation products will demand large-scale ultra precision (nanometre-level tolerance) complex components. Such products include: 1) Next generation displays (flexible or large-scale), activated and animated wall coverings, 3D displays, intelligent packaging and innovative clothing ; 2) Plastic electronic devices supporting a range of low cost consumer products from food packaging to hand held devices; 3) Low cost photovoltaics, energy management and energy harvesting devices; and 4) Logistics, defence and security technologies through RFID and infrared systems. The EPSRC Centre in Ultra Precision is largely founded on the support of SMEs. It is widely acknowledged that manufacturing employment growth in developed manufacturing economies will stem from SMEs and emerging sectors . The supply of highly trained ultra precision engineers to UK manufacturing operations is therefore critically important in order to deliver benefit from any new technologies that arise from the industrial or academic research base within the EPSRC Centre in Ultra Precision.