Made Smarter Adoption, the UK Government’s programme helping North West SME manufacturers adopt technology and digital skills, is to continue next year as part of a national roll out.
The Government announced in the Autumn Budget that it will spend £16m expanding the programme to all nine English regions in 2025/26.
The decision means hundreds of thousands more SME manufacturers will get access to technology advice, leadership, and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects. These interventions will boost productivity, growth, create new high value jobs and decarbonise SME manufacturers across the country.
Launched in the North West in 2019, the Made Smarter has engaged with 2,500 manufacturers and funded 379 technology projects, which are forecast to create more than 1,700 new jobs and upskill 3,200 existing roles.
The investments in technology and people are set to grow the economy by £267m over the next three years.
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