Manufacturing SMEs in North East and Yorkshire set for £8m digital boost

A new multi-million pound fund to support SMEs across England with going digital has been announced today.

£8m of government funding will be used to help SMEs across the North and the Midlands to digitise their operations.

Part of the government’s Made Smarter Adoption programme, the funding will support up to 1,000 small and medium sized manufacturers across the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the West Midlands regions, to adopt digital technology.

The news follows the launch of the pilot scheme in the North West last month. Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, explained: “The proof is in the pudding and for the companies that have adopted the latest digital technology they are already reaping the rewards.

“To help level up the country, we want to ensure businesses have the right tools for the job so that they can build back better and greener from the pandemic.”

Made Smarter commissioner and chairman of ICW in Wakefield, Margaret Wood, commented: “The rollout of Made Smarter Adoption support is a much needed booster in these changing times.

“I am happy to see that [the] government is making this investment to enable a new era in manufacturing and to develop the possibilities for a new, digitalised industrial landscape.”

“By rolling out support across the North of England and the West Midlands, this will help increase regional productivity and innovation, helping to unleash countless possibilities.”

Chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Helen Golightly, added: “Despite the rapid pace of digital adoption during the coronavirus pandemic, many SMEs still need support to introduce new technologies within their businesses that can improve productivity, efficiency and performance.

“The Made Smarter Adoption Programme will help businesses in the North East adapt to a new, smarter way of working by embracing digital.”

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