Government-backed Made Smarter which helps SME adopt digital technology has secured an extra £230,000 for Liverpool city region operation firms. Tony McDonough reports

Made Smarter Adoption North West has secured extra Government cash to help more Liverpool city region SMEs adopt digital technology.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has awarded the region an extra £230,000 to help at least 10 new companies to adopt technologies such as sensors, robotics and 3D printers to increase productivity, growth and create new high value jobs.

This cash boost is more good news for the business support initiative that will continue from April 2025 as part of the Government’s £16m commitment to expand into all English regions.

Made Smarter offers SME manufacturing and engineering companies access to technology advice, leadership and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects.

Alain Dilworth, programme manager, said: “The majority (of the cash) will go towards supporting our strong pipeline of companies to adopt new digital tools to accelerate their digital transformation.

“The opportunity to be able to support more manufacturing and engineering SMEs is something we relish, and we urge those companies who have yet to make contact with us to do so.”

Made Smarter Adoption North West celebrates its 7th anniversary in January. The programme was created to accelerate technology adoption in SME manufacturing and engineering businesses lacking in-house resources and know-how.

The programme is run by a team of 16 with expertise in manufacturing, technology and organisational development.

So far, it has engaged with 2,500 companies and offered technology advice to more than 500 individual businesses. 330 of those have secured over £7m in grants to invest in 379 technology projects backed by £18m of their own money.

This £25m investment is forecast to create over 1,700 new jobs, upskill 3,200 existing roles, and add £267m GVA to the economy over the next three years.

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More than 200 businesses have embedded new digital skills into their operations through Made Smarter leadership programmes, internships and other training opportunities. Half of the 75 digital internships placed with businesses resulted in permanent job offers.

Donna Edwards, director of Made Smarter’s North West Adoption Programme, added: “As we enter our 7th year, we are more determined than ever to reach more SME manufacturers across the sector.”