More than 150 businesses have now applied for Made Smarter East Midlands – with two-thirds already going forward to the next stage.
In excess of 100 eligible expressions of interest have been received since the programme launched in December.
Three regional businesses this week described how digital technology had supported growth in an event staged as part of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2023.
The session was led by Made Smarter East Midlands Programme Director Dr Chris Owen, who outlined how new digital technologies can help to reduce waste and inefficiency while increasing resilience and competitiveness.
He was supported by:
- Anne Ford, Managing Director of Hinckley-based ballscrew manufacturer PGM Reball;
- Mike Hague Morgan, Executive Director of Grantham-based engine and battery manufacturer Autocraft Solutions Group;
- Darren Joint, Managing Director of Grantham-based signmaker and digital printer Viking Signs.
Anne described the cultural shift as digital technology, initially viewed by some as taking jobs from people, was found to reduce mundane tasks and free up engineers to instead switch focus to skilled tasks.
Mike summarised how digitalisation had helped Autocraft to develop new skills and careers, and do things differently. One outcome was taking on more tech apprentices, who then learned about manufacturing while transferring their own digital knowledge to existing staff.
Productivity is the focus of Leicestershire Innovation Festival, which runs until Friday.
Its launch event at Loughborough University last week heard that the vast majority of businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire have fewer than 250 employees.
In order to significantly increase regional productivity, SMEs in key sectors must innovate. There are 2,790 manufacturing SMEs operating in the East Midlands.
Made Smarter East Midlands commenced last year after East Midlands Growth Hubs combined to win £3m of funding. The programme launched in December.
Its goal is to engage with more than 400 manufacturing SMEs in Leicester and Leicestershire, Derby and Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Lincoln and Greater Lincolnshire.
Applications are being accepted now from manufacturing businesses with between 10 and 249 employees and a turnover of up to £50m.
All businesses need to do is register on the Made Smarter website. Eligible businesses will be moved forward through the programme, with ineligible businesses be referred for alternative support.
Of the successful applicants, 130 will move on to digital transformation roadmapping, with 80 of those receiving free and intensive technical advice to develop their proposition.
Made Smarter has experts available across eight disciplines, including 3D printing, AR and VR, big data, mobile devices, Internet of Things, industrial cyber security and more.
More than 50 grants are also available for capital or revenue products, based on 50% match-funded grants of up to £20,000.
Register your interest in Made Smarter
