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What started as an emergency response during the first wave of COVID-19 has grown into a nationally respected training and consultancy provider at the heart of the UK’s push toward smart and advanced manufacturing. 3D 360 Ltd celebrates five years since it was founded in the urgency of a global health crisis, driven by a shared desire to help.
From PPE Shortages to Addressing Critical Skills Gaps
In March 2020, Paul Bullock had just started a new role at Fab Lab Warrington, a community-focused STEM centre, when the first national lockdown was announced. As PPE supplies dried up, Paul, Chris Hillidge and Beamont Collegiate Academy joined forces with volunteers to create a makeshift 3D printer farm producing protective visors for NHS staff.
Within weeks, the team expanded from 5 to 25 printers, operating around the clock and collaborating with others to supply thousands of visors across the North West. It was during this time Paul joined forces with fellow engineer Lee Fogg, who had also been working on ventilator adaptors and PPE solutions.
Their shared commitment to social value had deep roots. Both had volunteered with the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s South Lancashire Branch – a connection that laid the groundwork for their partnership.
Together, they redesigned key PPE components to meet higher safety standards, combining Lee’s product safety experience with Paul’s regulatory expertise. Over 5,000 visors were distributed — manufactured at pace but with risk management and CE compliance at the core.
Closing the Digital & Manufacturing Skills Gap
Alongside their PPE efforts, Paul and Lee repeatedly encountered a troubling pattern: organisations that had invested in 3D printing lacked the internal skills to use it effectively. If one key person left, the tech often sat idle. This pointed to a wider national issue – a lack of foundational knowledge in 3D CAD, additive manufacturing and related Industry 4.0 technologies.
That gap was an opportunity. Late-night calls turned into a business plan. 3D 360 Ltd was born to fill a critical need: practical, hands-on training focused not just on technology, but on real workplace application. What began with 3D printing has since expanded to include robotics, automation, IoT, cyber security, virtual reality and AI.
“Our aim has always been to demystify these technologies,” says Paul Bullock, Co-Founder and Managing Director. “We want people to feel confident using them now rather than in years to come. For us, it’s about levelling up by making access to specialist skills and equipment practical and achievable. “Too often, this kind of training has been cost prohibitive , reserved for large companies with big budgets. We’re changing that by delivering high-quality, hands-on programmes that are accessible to SMEs, educators and individuals. It’s a bit like the early days of CAD. The technology was there, but the knowledge wasn’t widely shared. That’s the gap we set out to close.”
Training with Purpose: 2,000 Learners and Counting
Since launching, 3D 360 has supported over 2,000 learners through funded and commercial training programmes. More than 80% have gone on to secure employment or progress in their careers, evidencing the company’s focus on real-world outcomes, not just qualifications.
Courses are delivered through a mix of Department for Work & Pensions-funded Advanced Manufacturing Skills Bootcamps and private training offers, with consistently strong 5 star feedback from learners, employers and funders.
3D 360’s reach spans school leavers to experienced engineers, working with SMEs, multinationals and government bodies. The company is now regularly consulted on national skills strategy, particularly around upskilling and reskilling in advanced manufacturing.
Scaling Social Value and Community Impact
Since late 2021, 3D 360 has generated over £2 million in verified Social and Local Economic Value via the National TOMs framework.
At the centre of this is LIFT (Local Industry Funding Technology) – a ready-to-go ‘train the trainer’ programme that enables corporate sponsors to support learning in schools, youth groups and charities.
“We challenge convention, but we do it with purpose,” says Lee Fogg, Co-Founder. “We’re here to train the emerging skills employers need, and to empower people to make change where they work and live.”
Built in Crisis, Built to Last
Five years on, 3D 360 operates with a clear purpose and strong values: respect for people and the planet, openness to challenge, a commitment to ownership and accountability, and the belief that business can be a force for good. That spirit that was forged in crisis continues to guide their work.
Real progress doesn’t come from theory. It comes from practical learning, purposeful action and strong partnerships. And that’s what we at 3D 360 will keep delivering.
Whether you’re an individual, a business or an educator, our training courses are designed to help you upskill quickly. Contact us to find out more.
