Made Smarter Adoption Programme — Technology Advice and Matched Grants for Manufacturers

North West England's manufacturing sector has historically run around 10% below the UK's average productivity. Made Smarter Adoption was created as an industry-led, government-funded programme to close that gap by helping small and medium manufacturers adopt digital technology, rather than relying on manufacturers to navigate the market alone.

The programme aims to raise SME manufacturing productivity in North West England by removing the advisory and financing barriers to digital-technology adoption.

The programme combines four elements: specialist digital advisers who assess a firm's technology readiness and draw up an adoption plan; matched grants that co-fund purchases such as IoT sensors, automation, robotics and data systems; leadership and skills training for managers; and a directory of vetted technology suppliers. Delivery is coordinated regionally by The Growth Company on behalf of the UK Department for Business and Trade.

By September 2023 the North West pilot had engaged 2,500 manufacturers and funded 334 technology adoption projects, forecast by the delivery partners to create 1,550 jobs, upskill 2,772 existing roles and add £242 million to North West Gross Value Added — figures reported by Made Smarter and corroborated by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and independent trade press.

The programme has since been extended into a national rollout for 2025/26. The job and GVA figures are the delivery body's own forecasts rather than an independent econometric evaluation, and the national funding model differs from the original regional pilot.