NCC | Composites and Engineering | National Composites Centre

About the NCC

The National Composites Centre (NCC) is an independent, open-access technology centre delivering world-class research and development of composites. As part of the UK’s Catapult Network, we offer our partners access to the latest technology, provide technical expertise and the business support they need to overcome barriers to innovation and accelerate their growth.

What we do

Aerospace

Defence & Space

Composites for Future Energy

Surface Transport

Supporting SMEs across sectors

Latest news

News

Space West Newsletter - April 2025

29 Apr 2025

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of our Space West Newsletter. With each newsletter, we aim to share the most recent discoveries, advancements, and stories from the world of Space in the South West.
CEAMS secures further funding to advance sustainable materials innovation

08 Apr 2025

NCC is leading technology creation and supply chain development within the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS), a dynamic collaboration driving growth through sustainable materials innovation.
Space West Newsletter - March 2025

27 Mar 2025

Welcome to the March 2025 edition of our Space West Newsletter. With each newsletter, we aim to share the most recent discoveries, advancements, and stories from the world of Space in the South West.
Space West welcomes OHB Space’s decision to launch UK subsidiary

19 Mar 2025

Space West is delighted to welcome OHB Space’s decision to establish a new subsidiary in the UK. As one of Europe’s leading space technology groups this expansion is a major boost for the South West and strenghtens the UK’s growing space sector.
ASCEND consortium successfully complete cross-sector programme, transforming high-rate manufacturing

19 Mar 2025

NCC shares the successful completion of the ASCEND programme, positioning the UK industry at the forefront of advanced, sustainable technologies for next-generation aircraft and future mobility solutions.

Events

Hilton London Canary Wharf
Read more about 4th Annual Conference on Offshore Wind Transmission UK

4th Annual Conference on Offshore Wind Transmission UK

22 May 2025

Peter Giddings, Chief Engineer for Energy will be a panel speaker discussing “Future-Proofing UK Supply Chains" at the 4th Annual Conference on Offshore Wind Transmission UK, taking place on May 22 in London.
Plymouth Science Park
Read more about Innovate South West - Digital and AI

Innovate South West - Digital and AI

12 Jun 2025

The 'Innovate South West' events from NCC and Plymouth Science Park will arm organisations across the region with the knowledge and strategies to harness new opportunities. Event 2 - Digital and AI.
NCC, Bristol
Read more about Composites Technology Forum for UK Defence Event - High Temperature Applications in Defence Engineering

Composites Technology Forum for UK Defence Event - High Temperature Applications in Defence Engineering

17 Jun 2025

High-temperature advanced materials, including thermally stable polymer and ceramic matrix composites, play a crucial role in future defence engineering.

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Training

Read more about Hydrogen Awareness Modules

Hydrogen Awareness Modules

The seven centres that make up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) have come together to create 'Hydrogen awareness: make it; move it; use it’, a series of open access online modules for all manufacturing sectors.
Read more about Introduction to Design for Composites

Introduction to Design for Composites

This course will give you an understanding of the requirements that are important to consider in the composites world, along with a series of tools and techniques that will enable you to create robust concept designs for every new project you undertake.
Read more about Introduction to Composite Materials

Introduction to Composite Materials

In this foundation level course we'll introduce you to the terminology, the materials, their properties & the production processes used in the composites industry.