Manufacturers across the East Midlands now have a new opportunity to fund workforce training and digital upskilling, helping your business thrive in a competitive landscape.
The Made Smarter East Midlands programme offers new grant funding designed to help SME and micro manufacturers invest in hands-on team training, specialist consultancy, expert guidance, as well as software, equipment, and digital tools. Grants of up to £20,000 matched funding are available, providing flexible, practical support tailored to your business needs.
How Can Your Business Benefit?
With the new grants, you can:
- Train employees on digital tools for product design, development, verification and validation
- Deliver hands-on team training in systems like MRP, ERP, CRM and MES
- Train employees on specific assets and equipment to make sure you’re making the most of your investments whilst engaging and upskilling your workforce
- Upskill employees on new technology to increase awareness, develop confidence and boost engagement
This practical support helps build digital confidence, upskill your workforce, and embed smarter systems that deliver measurable results. Over 350 East Midlands manufacturers are already using Made Smarter grants to implement digital systems such as MRP, ERP, CRM, and MES, invest in automation, robotics, and other tools, reduce downtime, improve forecasting, and boost productivity. Now, with the new grants, training your team has never been easier or more affordable.
Skipper’s Pet Products Ltd has praised the support received from Made Smarter East Midlands: “Made Smarter provided invaluable guidance and support. They asked the right questions, helped us identify our strengths and weaknesses, and produced a clear report outlining opportunities. Their expertise and network of resources made a huge difference in our digital transformation journey.” – Marius Muraska, Operations & Marketing Director at Skipper’s Pet Products Ltd
Why Act Now?
Funding is available until March 2026, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once registered, a Made Smarter specialist will work with you one-to-one to identify opportunities, design a digital roadmap, and guide you through support – all provided free of charge.
With manufacturers across the region adopting digital tools at pace, can your business afford to be left behind? Digital skills are now essential for competitiveness, and Made Smarter grants provide a fully funded opportunity to upskill your team, improve efficiency, and future-proof your operations.
Register your interest here – https://www.madesmarter.uk/start-your-digital-manufacturing-journey/
If you’ve already engaged with Made Smarter and have a Digital Roadmap, but haven’t yet applied for grant funding, you can access these new training grants with immediate effect. To get started, contact your Digital Transformation Specialist Advisor (DTS).