Made Smarter Adoption Programme

Made Smarter has launched a £3 million digital adoption push to drive growth in East Midlands manufacturing SMEs and help them boost productivity.

Made Smarter East Midlands Digital experts will provide advice and support to manufacturing businesses on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies. The programme provides digital transformation road mapping, leadership development, grant funding and access to industrial digital technology expertise to help with implementation until 31st March 2026.

Localised advice and support

Our Digital Transformation Specialists engage with each eligible business to understand how Made Smarter can support their digitalisation journey. Made Smarter East Midlands offers the following wide range of fully funded support to the region’s Manufacturing SME.

Digital Road Mapping – Working with you to create a digitalisation plan for your business, including an initial implementation plan detailing immediate next steps and support we can offer to help to get you on your digitalisation journey.

Access to fully funded impartial Industrial Digital Technology Advice (IDTA). This is external impartial consultancy support to answer your questions and provide trusted advice.

Helping leaders develop the critical skills required to “Lead Digital Transformation” for their business. This is done through our Leading Digital Transformation Programme aimed at CEOs, MDs and Owner Managers. This offering is fully funded and free of charge.

Five Short Technical Training Courses, fully funded free of charge, in the following subjects:

• Introduction to MRP and ERP Systems
• Introduction to CRM Systems
• Business Process Improvement for Manufacturers
• Transforming Manufacturing Efficiency
• Cybersecurity for Manufacturers

Tailored support at any stage of your journey

Fully funded HR Consultancy Support in the following topics;

• Organisational Design
• Cultural Change Management
• Values & Behaviours
• Teamworking
• Talent Management
• Succession Planning
• Employee Engagement
• Employee Performance Measurement and Management

Digital Internships – Giving you access to students from the region’s six leading Universities to undertake focussed Internship projects. The Internship timeframes, scope and scale are flexible to meet the needs of your business. Internship wages and National Insurance contributions are fully funded.

Localised leadership development in “Leading Digital Transformation”

Made Smarter East Midlands offers a leadership development programme focussed on equipping leaders to lead the digital transformation of their business. Programme details are as follows

• 3 Month programme
• 6 Bite-sized workshops
• Peer group cohorts of 12 Manufacturing leaders – All leading digital transformations

Content covers:

• Leadership challenges of digitalisation
• Managing digital change
• Digitalisation strategy
• Sprint methodology for implementation

How do you access funding?

If you’d like to find out about what funding may be available to your business, register now and an adviser will be in touch. They’ll work with you to understand your business and identify where technology can make the most impact and what type of technology is right for your business needs.