The food a drink industry is fast paced and hands on, getting the time to sit down at a computer can feel quite low on the priority lists. However, investing time into digitalisation could be the edge your company needs to stay competitive.
The Made Smarter East Midlands Programme has been designed to make it as easy as possible for SME and micro manufacturers in the food and drink industry to adopt digitalisation. By offering match funded grands up to £20,000 they want to help you on your journey to digitalisation without cost becoming a hurdle.
Alongside grant funding, a range of fully funded support options are available through the programme. Here are five ways food and drink manufacturers can use the Made Smarter Programme to adopt digitalisation and automation.
5 ways Made Smarter East Midlands can help
1. Digital Transformation Road Mapping: Take a deeper look into your production line, from raw ingredient intake to final packaging and distribution. Digital Road Mapping will help you identify where digital tools like automated quality checks, smart sensors, and real time data tracking can streamline your operations.
2. IDTA Support: Access fully funded, impartial advice from industrial digital technology experts. IDTA Support helps you identify the right digital tools and technologies for your business, ensuring confident, informed decisions that drive productivity and growth.
3. Technical Training courses: These fully funded courses give you the confidence to implement digitalisation and can help prepare your team. Courses include Introduction to MRP and ERP Systems, Introduction to CRM systems and Cyber Security for Manufacturers.
4. Digital Internships: Bring in fresh thinking with fully funded interns from local universities, ideal for trialling new automation tools, developing digital dashboards and exploring new product development.
5. HR Consultancy Support: Help with organisational design, cultural change, teamworking, and performance management to support digital adoption
How manufacturers like you have made use of Made Smarter
Label Apeel used the Made Smarter Programme to implement a new MIS/ERP system.
“The relationships developed during the Made Smarter digital course were incredibly beneficial. The exchange of ideas and best practices helped us reflect on our own processes and consider new approaches to leading our digital transformation.”– Helena McKinder, Managing Director of Label Apeel
Why Now?
Time is running out to sign up and take part in the Made Smarter East Midlands Programme. With up to £20,000 match funding available, on a first come first serve basis, you don’t want to miss out. Applications are open until 31st March 2026, so it’s important to sign up sooner rather than later to make the most of the full offering.
Hundreds of SME and micro manufacturers are already adopting digital technologies, improving production efficiency, reducing waste and downtime and boosting competitiveness. Can your business afford to be left behind?
Register your interest here – https://www.madesmarter.uk/start-your-digital-manufacturing-journey/