The Made Smarter Adoption programme to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) modernise, go digital and create new jobs has been expanded to the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands.

A pilot of the programme launched in January 2019 in the North West and has already worked with more than 1,000 firms and directly supported over 500 businesses to use digital technology to overcome challenges or access opportunities to grow their business.

The additional funding will allow businesses in the North West to continue to access support and, starting in the coming months, for more manufacturers across other parts of England do the same.

The Made Smarter Adoption programme includes free impartial, advice, funded digital internships, access to specialised leadership and management training, as well as match funding for digital transformation projects.

More information about Made Smarter Adoption support in the North East, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber will be made available in the coming months as local partners gear up to work with SMEs to help them take advantage of digital technology.

Alongside support for adoption, government is also investing £147 million through a Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge to drive innovation in new digital solutions for manufacturers.

For more information, visit madesmarter.uk.

Cookson & Clegg, based in Blackburn, is among three fashion and textile companies working with the Made Smarter programme to help introduce digital tools and technologies to help boost productivity and growth, as well as navigate the impact of Covid-19. Creative Apparel, which makes workwear from its base in Stockport and Roch Valley, a dance wear manufacturer in Heywood, also secured specialised advice and funding through the programme. Read more here.

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