Manufacturing businesses across the North East are being encouraged to apply for grant funding and access free expert advice on digital adoption through the newly expanded Made Smarter programme.
Awarded extra funding in last year’s Autumn Budget, Made Smarter supports manufacturing SMEs in the North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas to invest in new digital technology and processes to grow their businesses.
More than 150 North East manufacturers have already taken part in the programme, including specialist battery manufacturers, Alexander Battery Technologies; expanded metal mesh manufacturer, The Expanded Metal Company; and growing thermoformed plastic packaging manufacturer, iPac Packaging Innovations.
Julia Austin, Programme Manager for Made Smarter in the North East, said: “The North East region is leading the way when it comes to innovations in the advanced manufacturing sector. To support smaller manufacturing businesses to embrace digitial technology and adopt new, smarter ways of working, the Made Smarter programme has been expanded across the North East.
“Technology moves fast, which is why it’s so important for manufacturing businesses to develop digital roadmaps and invest in the talent, skills and equipment they need to remain competitive. Through the Made Smarter programme, we’re able to educate manufacturers about the technology available to them, and support them to purchase new equipment or software that can make them more productive and more profitable.”
Fast-growing North East business, Alexander Battery Technologies, worked with Made Smarter in 2024 to introduce the world’s first EV Flex advanced laser welder, a digital security system, and an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Brett Ramshaw, Production Manager at Alexander Battery Technologies, said: “Because Made Smarter was able to share examples of positive case studies and educate us on the real benefits of various digital solutions, we began to introduce some of our own and have seen many positives already.
“Made Smarter provided us with good, reliable advice and helped source funding, which in-turn helped us address some of our biggest challenges. Engaging with the programme helped open our eyes to the benefits of digital technology in the organisation.”
The Expanded Metal Company, an award-winning manufacturer of expanded metal mesh products based in Stockton, used the Made Smarter programme to develop a bespoke digital roadmap for the business. With grant funding from Made Smarter, The Expanded Metal Company was able to part-fund the purchase of a cobot welding machine; helping to increase efficiency, reduce down time, and improve quality across the business.
Ryan Pinder, Exmesh Operations Manager & Head of Continuous Improvement at The Expanded Metal Company, said: “Everyone in the business is fully on board with our future plans because they can see the positive impact. The Made Smarter programme has really benefitted the business.
“One of the great things about the cobot is that it’s able to do the things people didn’t enjoy doing, meaning we can move staff onto doing more bespoke jobs, which helps with retention. It also means we can expand the business to take on more of those jobs too.”
Manufacturing businesses that sign up to take part in Made Smarter benefit from training to understand what technology is available, and how and where it can be implemented; workshops and networking opportunities with other North East manufactures; and grants of up to £23.5k to access expert technical advice and support the purchase of new machinery and technology.
Made Smarter is open to manufacturing SMEs (under 250 employees) working in the manufacturing and advanced manufacturing sectors in the North East (North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas). To find out more, visit madesmarter.uk or growthhub.northeast-ca.gov.uk.
