The Mayor of the East Midlands officially opened visited TextureJet’s new company headquarters in Ripley after seeing how her investment through the Midlands Mindforge programme has enabled the company to scale up their operations.
TextureJet, a University of Nottingham spin-out and leading innovator in advanced surface processing technology, has secured a further seven-figure investment, building on its 2025 funding round and supporting the next phase of commercial growth and technology development.
This investment brings together a unique combination of public and private investment from across the Midlands and beyond. Midlands Mindforge has been backed by an early investment of £2 million from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), led by Mayor Claire Ward, as part of the newly created Midlands Forging Ahead strategy to support companies in the region.
Mayor Claire said: “When we invested £2m into Midlands Mindforge, we did this because we wanted to help our businesses translate their innovative practice into economic growth. More jobs, more opportunities, and better outcomes for the people of the East Midlands.
“There is nothing like experiencing this on the ground. It was great to visit TextureJet and hear how the Midlands Mindforge investment into this business is helping them to expand their operations, deepen their expertise and commercial edge, and occupy a stronger position in a global market.
“I am looking forward to seeing more of the companies who are benefiting from this support: turning world-class ideas into world-changing innovations and helping to make the East Midlands the best place to live, to work, and to learn.”
Midlands Mindforge, the patient capital investment company established by the eight Midlands Innovation universities, has led this round, accompanied by reinvestment from University of Nottingham, existing shareholder Foresight Group, through the British Business Bank’s MEIF 1 fund (Midlands Engine Investment Fund), and current angel investors.
“This round reflects the strong commercial traction we’ve built and the growing confidence in our technology’s ability to address real manufacturing challenges at scale,” said Jonathon Mitchell-Smith, CEO and Founder of TextureJet. “We’re delighted to have the continued support of investors such as the University of Nottingham and Foresight Group through MEIF, alongside the addition of Midlands Mindforge. Bringing together this blend of public and private backing from across the Midlands and beyond puts us in a powerful position to accelerate growth, deepen our technology leadership and expand our impact across global manufacturing markets. Combined with our recent move to larger premises in Ripley, this investment provides the platform we need to support increasing customer demand and deliver the next phase of our growth.”
Daniel Carew, Mindforge Investment Lead Deeptech, said: “Mindforge is delighted to invest in TextureJet alongside Foresight Group. TextureJet’s breakthrough in software-defined machining has caught the attention of large corporations from around the globe. New manufacturing technologies are undoubtedly critical to the success of the UK industrial strategy and for future exports, and we believe having this capability locally is foundational to the growth of our Midlands economy. “
TextureJet’s revolutionary approach to edge shaping, surface preparation and part-marking provides manufacturers with a cleaner, more efficient and cost effective, and highly controllable alternative to traditional methods. With this new funding, the company is expanding its commercial offering and production capability to meet growing demand from manufacturers operating in high-precision sectors worldwide.
Professor Ed Lester, University of Nottingham associate pro-vice chancellor for knowledge exchange and innovation, said: “This investment is recognition of TextureJet’s commercial potential and technological leadership. It also signals the strength of the research and innovation ecosystem that has supported its growth.
“At the University, we are committed to support ventures like TextureJet as they create a global business. We are also proud to support innovation that creates significant regional economic opportunities whilst addressing cutting edge industry challenges. TextureJet is showing how impact can be achieved when universities, investors and industry work together. Their growth highlights the value of backing research-led businesses while strengthening the Midlands’ reputation as a centre for advanced manufacturing and innovation.”
As part of this growth, TextureJet has recently relocated to a larger facility in Ripley, Derbyshire, providing increased manufacturing capacity, enhanced demonstration and testing facilities, and additional space to support future recruitment and product development activities. The move marks an important milestone in the company’s scale-up journey and positions the business for continued domestic and international expansion.
The significance of TextureJet’s expansion was recognised on 29 June when Mayor Claire visited the new Ripley facility to officially open the premises. The visit reflects the growing profile of the company as it continues to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities, create opportunities for future growth, and strengthen the Midlands’ position as a hub for engineering innovation.
This investment also highlights the strength and collaborative ambition of the Midlands innovation network, combining resources from the UK Government, British Business Bank and all ten Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) under the Midlands Innovation banner.
As TextureJet continues to scale, it stands as a model for how regional collaboration can deliver cutting-edge innovation with global relevance – reaffirming the Midlands’ place at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing future.
Published on: 1 July 2026
Categories: News, Economic Development, Skills and Employment