Made Smarter South East (Buckinghamshire)

Made Smarter South East, promoted by Buckinghamshire Business First, is a government-backed programme helping small and medium-sized manufacturers and makers in the South East take practical steps towards digital transformation. Businesses accepted onto the programme can access a fully funded package that may include one-to-one guidance from a Digital Transformation Specialist, a bespoke digital roadmap and action plan, leadership and workforce development support, workshops and training to build digital skills, and up to 50% match funding capped at £20,000 towards eligible hardware or software. Supported technologies include automation, data systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing and digital connectivity, with recommendations tailored to each business. The programme is being delivered from April 2025 to March 2027. It aims to help manufacturers work more efficiently, reduce costs, and stay competitive by de-risking technology investment decisions.

Open to manufacturing and making SMEs based in the South East (including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and surrounding areas) with fewer than 250 employees, turnover below £44 million, not part of a wider group or owned by private equity, and that have not exceeded state aid limits over the last three years.