In the past three years, West Midlands businesses have received over £2.2 million in grants through the Made Smarter programme, a national initiative supporting manufacturing and engineering firms in adopting digital technology to enhance productivity. A leading business figure is urging the Labour government to continue expanding this programme across the UK.

Made Smarter, originally backed by the previous government, aims to boost productivity by encouraging the adoption of digital technology. The Conservative government had planned to extend the programme to all nine English regions by 2025-26, with further expansion into Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 2026-27.

Since its inception in 2021, the programme has registered 635 manufacturing and engineering businesses in the West Midlands as of April 2024. The breakdown includes 180 businesses from Coventry and Warwickshire, 168 from Greater Birmingham & Solihull, 104 from the Black Country, 87 from the Marches, 54 from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and 42 from Worcestershire.

These figures were detailed in the SmartRegion report, which compiles research and engagement findings from entities such as the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, and other local and national business support organisations.

The Made Smarter West Midlands initiative, nominated for the Manufacturing Innovation Champion of the Year Award, has generated over £158 million in GVA. This highlights the programme’s success in increasing productivity by providing SMEs with technology advice, leadership and skills training, and grant funding for digital internships and technology projects.

Led by the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, in collaboration with Growth Hubs in Worcestershire, the Marches, and Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire, Made Smarter West Midlands works on behalf of Business Growth West Midlands, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and the Department for Business and Trade. The programme partners with WMG at the University of Warwick and the MTC to introduce digital technologies to businesses.

Onur Eren, Principal Engineer for Digital Manufacturing at WMG, University of Warwick, emphasised the significant impact of the programme.

Craig Humphrey, Chief Executive at Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, highlighted the programme’s importance in the region’s business support ecosystem.