Made Smarter West Midlands

Government funded

Provided by West Midlands Combined Authority

Areas

Support Types

Digital adoption programme to boost productivity in manufacturing and engineering SMEs.

Delivered in partnership by

About the programme

Made Smarter West Midlands connects manufacturing and engineering businesses with digital technology to transform the way they work and improve productivity, boosting manufacturing resilience and sustainability.

The West Midlands Growth Company leads the programme, which launched in the region in 2021, on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority. The programme is delivered in collaboration with the region’s two High Value Manufacturing Catapults - WMG at the University of Warwick and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

Available to SME manufacturers across Greater Birmingham and Solihull, The Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, The Marches, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, each applicant for the Made Smarter programme is assessed individually by a regional digital transformation specialist (DTS), who work with businesses to understand their challenges, their goals and aspirations.

Case study; Eric Lyons

Family-run butchers boosts its marketing and operations with help from Made Smarter West Midlands. Read the story.

Case study; Hector Finch

Leading UK decorative lighting designer and manufacturer transforms its factory operations with Made Smarter West Midlands. Read the story.

Together with strategic partners at WMG and the MTC, the specialists produce a tailored ‘digital roadmap’ for each business, to guide them through their immediate digital transformation journey, and beyond, and provide access to 50% match-funded grants (up to £20,000) which enable firms to implement recommendations and purchase new digital technologies.

Introducing new digital technology into an established firm can prove complex and a unique set of change management and leadership skills are needed to manage the process effectively. To address this, Made Smarter West Midlands provides operational workforce development and training support as part of the programme’s benefits, alongside the opportunity for firms to take on a fully funded digital intern for 12 weeks. This provides businesses with the skills and expertise for successful digital transformation and a strong foundation for continued innovation and growth.

To find out more about the Made Smarter West Midlands programme visit www.madesmarter.uk. To register your interest, complete the short form below.

Contact us about this programme today.

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