Government-backed SME digital adoption programme Made Smarter expands it team to support more Liverpool city region manufacturers. Tony McDonough reports
Made Smarter has bolstered its North West team with four new specialists to help manufacturers across Liverpool invest in technology and skills.
Backed with Government funding, Made Smarter helps SMEs find practical ways to digitalise their operations. It has helped multiple city region firms boost their productivity since its launch in 2019.
Its new recruits are Mike Richards-Brown, Tabs Khojani, Jane Duffy and Mike Connolly. Together they bring decades of experience from some of the region’s leading manufacturing, technology and business support organisations.
Mike joins following roles at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West and the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre while Tabs brings 20 years of experience in Greater Manchester’s innovation and business support sector.
Jane previously supported businesses through the Business Growth Hub across Greater Manchester, while Mike, a mechanical engineer, has spent more than three decades with global manufacturer Hubbell.
Their recruitment comes as manufacturers face growing pressure to become more productive, overcome skills challenges and keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies.
These new recruits will work alongside Made Smarter’s existing team to help companies develop a digital roadmap and decide where and how to invest, including accessing match-funded grants of up to £20,000.
Donna Edwards, programme director for Made Smarter North West, said: “Manufacturers know they need to change, and the appetite to embrace digital transformation continues to grow.
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“Technology can unlock huge gains in productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, but businesses need the right expertise and the right people to make it work.
“These four appointments bring an incredible breadth of experience and will help us meet that growing demand and support even more manufacturers to turn their ambitions into action.”