Made Smarter
What is Made Smarter?
Made Smarter helps manufacturing businesses grow through digital technologies, innovation and skills.
It is a national programme for SME manufacturers, launched following an industry-wide consultation on how best to grow UK manufacturing through digital technologies and is delivered regionally across the UK.
If you make it in Yorkshire, we will help you to make it smarter.
What support does Made Smarter Provide?
We help SME manufacturers across Yorkshire work smarter, cut waste, and compete globally through practical digital tools, skills, and support.
Digital Roadmap
Start with an assessment of your digital readiness, which shows where you are now and gives you a simple, tailored plan to boost productivity, efficiency and help grow your business with support from Made Smarter.
Intensive Technical Support
Addresses identified gaps in your digital capabilities. We can deliver focused consultancy projects - short, medium or long-term - backed by up to 50% matched funding. Intensive Technical Support involves at least one full week of hands-on consultancy to drive significant digital transformation.
Digital Technology Grants
Get support to invest in new digital tech and boost your manufacturing SME's productivity with a Digital Technology Grant. Grants are available for investment in new technologies such as automation, robotics, AI, 3D printing and data-driven tools. Eligible businesses can apply for up to £20,000 (50% match funded) for projects identified in your Digital Roadmap.
Digital Manufacturing Leadership
A fully funded digital change management course, delivered in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, designed for senior leaders in manufacturing with a whole-business perspective and the capacity to drive change.
Next course: Starting Wednesday 30th September, Hull
Digital Manufacturing Champions
Equip your staff to drive digital change. Designed for operational managers leading digital adoption projects. This skills-based course, delivered in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, provides an effective toolkit for project delivery through in-person workshops as well as dedicated coaching support and best-practice site visits.
Next course: Starting Wednesday 16th September, York
Digital Internships
Bring fresh digital talent into your business with a funded Made Smarter Digital Internship of up to 12 weeks. Connecting you with talented students ready to apply their digital skills - ideal for support in software development, process improvement, and digital strategy. Our internships are delivered in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University.
Is my business eligible?
- Be a manufacturing business.
- Be based in Yorkshire & Humber.
- Be a maker.
- Be a micro sized or SME.
Contact Made Smarter
Register your business at madesmarter.uk/yorkshire or contact the Business Relationship Managers in your area:
Vernon Tolson, South Yorkshire
Email: vernon.tolson@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 07919 111375
Nick Edwards, West Yorkshire
Email: nick.edwards@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0113 348 1555
Mike Pennington, York & North Yorkshire
Email: mike.pennington@ynygrowthhub.com
Telephone: 07919 222395
Les Selby, Hull & East Yorkshire
Email: Les.Selby@hullandeastyorkshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 07562 910840
