South West manufacturers are being urged to sign up to Made Smarter, the UK Government programme helping SMEs embrace digital technologies for growth.
Registration is now open to access fully funded expert advice, leadership training, student interns and up to £20,000 technology grants to help them drive growth, productivity and sustainability.
The Made Smarter Adoption programme is an essential part of the UK Government’s commitment to improving productivity and driving the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector.
With the successful launch in other English regions - including the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and East Midlands - Made Smarter has already demonstrated how technology and digital skills can revolutionise manufacturing businesses.
From April 1, following the Government’s £16 million investment into the expansion of the programme, manufacturers in the South East, South West, East of England and London will be able to thrive in the digital age.
Made Smarter South West will be delivered by a variety of partners including the University of the West of England (UWE) and the National Composites Centre (NCC) across Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
During its pilot year, Made Smarter South West will aim to engage with over 120 businesses, deliver over 80 digital road mapping sessions, support 18 businesses with digital leadership training and a further 21 with organisation and workforce development, offer 11 student internships and provide 20 with match-funded technology grants of up to £20,000.
The South West is the UK’s fourth-largest region in terms of gross value added (GVA). Manufacturing accounts for 10.3% of the region’s total output - above the national average of 9.4%. There were 243,000 manufacturing jobs in the South West in 2024, representing 8% of its total workforce.
Brian Holliday, Co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission and Managing Director of Siemens Digital Industries, commented:
“Made Smarter is a driving force for digital transformation in UK’s SME manufacturing. In the last six years the programme has empowered businesses to innovate, compete, and scale. This expansion clearly signals the Government’s commitment to the sector, driving competitiveness, sustainability, and productivity improvements for a robust industrial future.”
The programme is open to manufacturing and engineering SMEs with 250 employees or fewer and an annual turnover of £50 million or less, who are looking to overcome common challenges like productivity, decarbonisation and competition through the adoption of digital technologies.
Spaces are limited, so manufacturing leaders are being encouraged to register today to secure their spot via madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/south-west