Made Smarter East Midlands

Made Smarter East Midlands, promoted through the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub, provides digital experts to advise manufacturing businesses on switching to advanced and automated technologies. Support includes digital transformation road mapping, leadership development, grant funding, and access to industrial digital technology expertise for implementation, and is available until 31 March 2027. Eligible SMEs can access: digital road mapping to build a digitalisation plan with an initial implementation plan; fully funded, impartial Industrial Digital Technology Advice (IDTA) from external consultants; free short technical training courses; organisation and workforce change-management support; a Leading Digital Transformation programme of workshops and peer groups for CEOs, MDs and owner-managers; and fully funded digital internships giving access to students from the region's six leading universities, with wages and National Insurance contributions covered. Up to 50% match grant funding, capped at £20,000 per company, is available for equipment and/or specialist advice to implement Industrial Digital Technology projects across disciplines including additive manufacturing, AR/VR, big data, AI, systems integration, cyber security, IoT and mobile/wearable devices. A directory of UK technology providers is also available via the Made Smarter website.

Available to eligible manufacturing SMEs based in the East Midlands; support runs until 31 March 2027.