A method of applying a vacuum to a reinforcement lay-up in a vacuum bag; the method comprising; - Providing a reinforcement lay-up on a mould, the lay-up comprising a dry reinforcement material; - providing a vacuum apparatus (350, 500, 600, 900, 900a), the vacuum apparatus comprising; a vacuum port component (100a, 300, 400a, 540, 700) having a vacuum port component body portion (102a, 302, 402a, 502) defining a contact surface (104, 404a) and an internal cavity, the vacuum port component further comprising a vacuum port (108a, 308, 408, 508) oriented away from the contact surface and in communication with the vacuum port component internal cavity; a vacuum component (200, 700) having a vacuum component body portion defining a contact surface (204, 704) and an internal cavity (207, 207a, 207b, 507); wherein the vacuum component contact surface comprises a plurality of inlet apertures (206a, 706) or one or more inlet slots (206, 206b) extending therethrough and in communication with the vacuum component internal cavity; the vacuum port component and the vacuum component being connected or connectable to one another to place the respective internal cavities in fluid communication with one another and to provide a contiguous vacuum apparatus contact surface; - connecting the vacuum port component (100a, 300, 400a, 540, 700) to the vacuum component (200, 700) to place the respective internal cavities (207, 207a, 207b, 507) in fluid communication with one another; - placing the contact surfaces (104, 204, 404a, 704) of the vacuum port component and the vacuum component against the reinforcement material; - coupling the vacuum port of the vacuum apparatus to a vacuum system through an aperture in a vacuum bag; - sealing the vacuum bag to the mould around the reinforcement lay-up; and - applying a vacuum to the reinforcement lay-up using the vacuum system, via the plurality of inlet apertures, or the one or more slots. - Providing a reinforcement lay-up on a mould, the lay-up comprising a dry reinforcement material; - providing a vacuum apparatus (350, 500, 600, 900, 900a), the vacuum apparatus comprising; a vacuum port component (100a, 300, 400a, 540, 700) having a vacuum port component body portion (102a, 302, 402a, 502) defining a contact surface (104, 404a) and an internal cavity, the vacuum port component further comprising a vacuum port (108a, 308, 408, 508) oriented away from the contact surface and in communication with the vacuum port component internal cavity; a vacuum component (200, 700) having a vacuum component body portion defining a contact surface (204, 704) and an internal cavity (207, 207a, 207b, 507); wherein the vacuum component contact surface comprises a plurality of inlet apertures (206a, 706) or one or more inlet slots (206, 206b) extending therethrough and in communication with the vacuum component internal cavity; the vacuum port component and the vacuum component being connected or connectable to one another to place the respective internal cavities in fluid communication with one another and to provide a contiguous vacuum apparatus contact surface; a vacuum port component (100a, 300, 400a, 540, 700) having a vacuum port component body portion (102a, 302, 402a, 502) defining a contact surface (104, 404a) and an internal cavity, the vacuum port component further comprising a vacuum port (108a, 308, 408, 508) oriented away from the contact surface and in communication with the vacuum port component internal cavity; a vacuum component (200, 700) having a vacuum component body portion defining a contact surface (204, 704) and an internal cavity (207, 207a, 207b, 507); wherein the vacuum component contact surface comprises a plurality of inlet apertures (206a, 706) or one or more inlet slots (206, 206b) extending therethrough and in communication with the vacuum component internal cavity; the vacuum port component and the vacuum component being connected or connectable to one another to place the respective internal cavities in fluid communication with one another and to provide a contiguous vacuum apparatus contact surface; - connecting the vacuum port component (100a, 300, 400a, 540, 700) to the vacuum component (200, 700) to place the respective internal cavities (207, 207a, 207b, 507) in fluid communication with one another; - placing the contact surfaces (104, 204, 404a, 704) of the vacuum port component and the vacuum component against the reinforcement material; - coupling the vacuum port of the vacuum apparatus to a vacuum system through an aperture in a vacuum bag; - sealing the vacuum bag to the mould around the reinforcement lay-up; and - applying a vacuum to the reinforcement lay-up using the vacuum system, via the plurality of inlet apertures, or the one or more slots.