Made Smarter to Roll out Nationally

Made Smarter has recently announced the government plans to roll out its initiative nationally. The announcement by the Treasury demonstrates something we at Exel have always been passionate about, that UK manufacturing matters. It also represents a tremendous investment boost for our makers.

The roll out means hundreds of thousands more SME manufacturers will get access to technology advice, leadership, and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects including hardware and software.

The Made Smarter Innovation programme is designed to champion the UK’s manufacturing revolution and is pioneering the development and integration of industrial digital technologies (IDTs), enabling the manufacturing sector to become more resilient, flexible, productive and sustainable.

The £147m investment, matched by a minimum of £147m from industry, will support makers and technology developers to scale ‘out of the box’ digital technology solutions. With up to 50% match funding and introductions to the right partners, you can reduce the risk and accelerate innovation.

What does funding entail?

Made Smarter may be able to help you with support and funding for your digital transformation. They can help you access grants to purchase new technology. Up to 50% match funding (Maximum of £20,000) is available for equipment and/or specialist advice to implement projects.

They can also offer guidance on creating an effective digital roadmap to ensure the technology is taking your business in the right direction.

Which companies can apply?

UK manufacturing companies with less than £45m turnover and less than 250 employees.

You can find more information about the Made Smarter initiative here

In Scotland, similar support to Made Smarter is available through Scottish Enterprise.

Made Smarter will roll out to Wales starting in 2026. In the interim, the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH), supported by Innovate UK, offers Welsh SMEs funding and expert advice on digital technologies.

To learn more about how our software could benefit your business through this initiative, call us on 0115 946 0101 or email sales@exel.co.uk