Plessey

AI is accelerating the race for faster, more energy-efficient optical interconnects. But innovation alone isn't enough. As investment in photonics accelerates, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the ability to manufacture at scale matters just as much as performance. Recent analysis from PhotonDelta highlights growing investment and a shift towards companies with greater control over their technology and manufacturing processes. At Plessey, that's exactly where our focus lies. From our facility in Plymouth, we bring together device design, process engineering and semiconductor manufacturing to develop GaN microLED technology for the next generation of optical interconnects. Because the future of AI infrastructure won't just depend on breakthrough technologies. It will depend on making those breakthroughs manufacturable at scale. Read the PhotonDelta article here: lnkd.in/ehmaQDZY #Photonics #MicroLED #AIInfrastructure #OpticalInterconnects #Semiconductors

There is no single route into engineering. For Ada Lovelace Day, we are sharing four different career paths from women working in engineering at Plessey. Different backgrounds. Different routes. Each has built technical knowledge through experience, curiosity, and continued development. Their stories show how varied a career in engineering can be. #AdaLovelaceDay #WomenInEngineering #Engineeringcareers #Plessey

Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big difference. 💙 For World Mental Health Day, we asked our people what helps support their mental health at work. From lunchtime walks to catching up with colleagues, their responses highlight the importance of taking time for ourselves and each other. Everyone's wellbeing looks different, and we recognise the importance of having support available when it's needed. Alongside the everyday things that make a difference, our trained Mental Health First Aiders, employee assistance programmes and wider employee benefits are all part of how we support our colleagues. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAtWork #LifeAtPlessey

Established locally. Recognised across the South West. We’re proud to have been ranked 14th in Insider’s South West 250 for 2026. For a business rooted in our local area, placing so highly is something to celebrate. It shows what can be built here through local talent, ambition and a shared commitment to doing our work well. Behind this recognition is the expertise and dedication of our team, the trust of our customers, and the relationships we’ve built with our partners. Together, they’ve helped us build a business that stands out across the South West. We’re proud of where we come from and grateful to everyone who has helped us get here.

We’re proud to unveil Plessey's new brand film. It brings to life the scale, technology and people behind the business: decades of semiconductor expertise, a 30,000 m² advanced manufacturing facility in Plymouth, world-leading microLED capability, and the ability to take technology from concept to production under one roof. We’re already shipping advanced microLED products today and applying that same platform, IP and manufacturing capability to optical interconnect for AI data centres and high-performance computing, where power, bandwidth and latency are becoming critical constraints. Watch the film to see the technology, scale and ambition behind Plessey and where we’re going next. #Plessey #AIInfrastructure #OpticalInterconnect #MicroLED #Semiconductors #DeepTech #DataCentres #UKTech

Small choices can make a difference to everyday wellbeing. This Love Your Gut Week, we’ve been helping our people explore the connection between gut health and wellbeing through practical, everyday choices.

What does an Equipment Engineer actually do at Plessey? Behind every process is the equipment that makes it possible. Our Equipment Engineers play an important role across our Plymouth facility. Explore our current opportunities: plessey.com/careers/

From source to signal. AR and VR demand displays that are small, bright, and efficient. MicroLEDs deliver all three. No backlight. No colour filters. Direct emission from microscopic LEDs, where every pixel generates its own light. At our end-to-end facility in Plymouth, we integrate research, IP, materials, process engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. By controlling every step, we build microLED panels engineered to scale for the most demanding near-eye applications – delivering up to 5 million nits achievable with superior efficiency, including pioneering the industry's brightest red. Swipe to discover what sets microLEDs apart. #microLEDs #PhotonicDevices #OpticalEngineering #Semiconductors #DisplayTechnology #Plymouth #DeepTech

AI infrastructure is scaling. So is the demand for power. As AI models grow in complexity and use, more data needs to move between processors. Doing that efficiently is becoming increasingly important. The connections between chips, cards and racks are part of the challenge. When electrically connected, they can account for around 25% of total system energy. Optical interconnects replace electrical signals with light. Higher data rates. Lower latency. Ten times lower interconnect energy. A recent Semiconductor Engineering article explores why optical connectivity is taking a greater role as AI infrastructure continues to scale. At Plessey, we design and manufacture photonic devices for optical interconnects, helping to enable high-bandwidth, energy-efficient AI infrastructure. Read more: semiengineering.com/coppers-… #Plessey #OpticalInterconnects #Photonics #AIInfrastructure

Congratulations to everyone who received their A Level results this week. Whatever path comes next, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for many. This September, we're delighted to welcome four new apprentices to Plessey as they begin their careers in engineering and technology. As a business, we're proud of our longstanding commitment to developing early careers talent, with many former apprentices going on to build successful and rewarding careers with us. To celebrate the next generation of talent joining us, we asked some of our current and former apprentice engineers to share their advice for those taking their first steps into our business.

To engineer the future in light, we need to inspire the people who will shape it. As part of our ongoing partnership with Ivybridge Community College, Plessey is supporting its all-girls Greenpower team with funding and hands-on mentoring from our engineering ambassadors. By designing, building and racing their own electric car, the students are developing practical STEM skills, growing in confidence and discovering where a future in engineering could take them. Read the full story: plessey.com/fuelling-ivybrid… #Plessey #Greenpower #WomenInEngineering #STEM #FutureEngineers

Techworks Managers Operations meeting at Plessey Semiconductors Ltd. We were delighted to host the latest Techworks Managers Operations meeting at Plessey, welcoming representatives from six semiconductor facilities across the UK alongside the TechWorks team. The day featured presentations on Plessey's operations, Lean transformation, Hoshin Kanri (Goal Deployment), productivity improvement, and continuous improvement, followed by a tour of our fabrication facility. A key highlight was the roundtable discussion on "Smart Fab to Autonomous Fab: What AI, Digital Twins, and Advanced Analytics Actually Deliver for Yield and Cycle Time." The session sparked valuable conversations on digital transformation, operational excellence, and the future of semiconductor manufacturing. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such insightful discussions. Events like these strengthen collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing, and help drive innovation across the UK semiconductor industry. #TechWorks #Semiconductors #OperationalExcellence #LeanManufacturing #ContinuousImprovement #DigitalTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTwins #SmartManufacturing #Plessey

As Plessey continues to grow, it's moments like these that bring our people together. Earlier this summer, people from across the business gathered at Pier Master's House in Plymouth to celebrate another busy year, welcome new faces, strengthen connections, and recognise the teams behind everything we achieve. From live music to the photo and video booths capturing plenty of memorable moments, it was an evening that reflected the collaboration that sits at the heart of Plessey. Take a look at some of our favourite moments below, and find more on our website: lnkd.in/e9NQYtiS

Plessey is expanding into Oxford. We're growing our engineering capability with the opening of a new office in Oxford, complementing our established semiconductor R&D and manufacturing operation in Plymouth. This expansion strengthens our expertise in optical interconnect systems and supports the continued development of photonic technologies for AI infrastructure. Bringing together specialist engineering capability across both locations allows us to accelerate innovation whilst maintaining the integrated approach that defines Plessey – from research and process engineering through to manufacturing. It's an exciting milestone for the business as we continue to engineer the future in light. If you'd like to be part of our next chapter, explore our current opportunities: plessey.com/careers/ #plessey #Oxford #OpticalInterconnects #Photonics #EngineeringCareers

Light shapes the world in many ways. It can inspire creativity, bring people together and help shine a light on causes that matter. That's why Plessey is proud to be part of @StLukesPlymouth Guiding Lights initiative in collaboration with @myPMG, helping to raise awareness and funds for the vital care the hospice provides across our community. Our lighthouse, designed by the talented Mrs Murals, is now on display outside the @NMAPlymouth as part of Plymouth's city-wide art trail. If you're exploring Plymouth this summer, we'd encourage you to discover the trail, enjoy the incredible artwork and keep an eye out for our lighthouse. Read more here: lnkd.in/esMX8hCp #GuidingLights #Plymouth #Community

We’re delighted to welcome 𝗥𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 to Plessey as our new 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀. Rory joins us at an exciting stage of growth as we accelerate the development of our optical interconnect technology. He brings extensive experience across photonics, systems engineering and the commercialisation of advanced optical technologies, including leading the journey of holographic augmented reality head-up display technology from early research through to full automotive production. As a member of our Executive Leadership Team, Rory will help shape our technology strategy, strengthen our systems engineering capability and support the delivery of our optical interconnect roadmap. Rory's appointment reflects our continued investment in world-class talent as we build one of the UK's leading advanced semiconductor and photonics businesses. Welcome to the team, Rory. #Photonics #OpticalInterconnects #Semiconductors #DeepTech

Today, we’re proud to be marking International Women in Engineering Day in ways that reflect our wider focus on people and futures—by advocating for the pipeline of female engineering talent and the inclusive culture we continue to build. Our ambassadors joined the YMCA Engineering Her Future careers day, helping to inspire the next generation of engineers. Providing opportunities for more young women to see engineering as a place where they can thrive creates a stronger, more diverse future for our industry. Back at Plessey, our people also came together for cream teas and conversations, creating space to share and understand the experiences of women in engineering and discuss how we continue building an inclusive workplace. We’re proud to lead and support initiatives that inspire futures, grow a more inclusive talent pipeline, and build trust through open conversations within our own business. Read more here: plessey.com/marking-internat… #InternationalWomenInEngineeringDay

When people think about microLEDs, they usually think about displays. But what if microLEDs could help solve one of AI’s biggest infrastructure challenges? Our latest article with MicroLED-Info explores how microLED technology can play a critical role in optical I/O — helping deliver faster data movement, lower latency, and significantly improved energy efficiency. As computing demands grow, light-based technologies will become increasingly important in overcoming the limitations of traditional electrical systems. Exciting to be part of the innovation driving this shift. Read more here: ow.ly/OU5k50Ze6WP #MicroLED #Photonics #OpticalComputing #AI #Innovation

Our new website is live. Sharper, clearer, and built with the same precision we bring to our technology. It reflects who we are: an integrated team designing and building photonic devices and systems, from microLED displays to optical computing and optical interconnects, under one roof. Total process. One operation. Every stage connected. The rebrand gives us space to show more of what drives us: deep expertise, deliberate progress, and an independent spirit that keeps us moving forward. Step into the new site and see how we’re engineering the future in light: plessey.com/

It was great to welcome service leavers, veterans and reservists to Plessey on Tuesday as part of the HM Armed Forces Industry Insight programme into Advanced Manufacturing. The visit, organised by @SkillsLaunchpad and @myPMG, gave attendees the chance to explore engineering roles across our business. They enjoyed a tour led by ex‑military colleagues from our own team who have successfully transitioned into advanced manufacturing, helping the group see how their skills and experience translate into opportunities within our business and the wider sector. We really enjoyed meeting everyone and supporting those considering their next step after military service. Thanks to all involved for a brilliant morning. #SkillsLaunchpadPlymouth #PMG #ArmedForcesCommunity #Plymouth