Hundreds more companies to benefit from technology, skills and innovation support
Hundreds of manufacturers across Kent are set for a major digital upgrade after the Government confirmed fresh funding for the Made Smarter programme from April.
The £3.1 million investment will give SME manufacturers across the region access to expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development and match-funded grants to help boost productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs and cut carbon.
Made Smarter South East is a government-backed, industry-led programme delivered by Surrey County Council in partnership with Kent County Council.
Since launching in April 2025, the programme has supported 273 manufacturers, participated in 137 diagnostic workshops, developed 93 digital roadmaps, delivered 41 leadership and digital champions training interventions, placed 6 digital interns, and approved grants for 20 technology projects.
Over the last year, manufacturers have secured over £307,000 in matched funding to enable over £1 million of investment in technologies ranging from ERP systems and 3D printing to robotics and automation.
Bryan Vint, Programme Manager for Made Smarter South East, said: “This new wave of funding is a huge boost for manufacturers across the South East. In our first year we have already shown what the region can achieve when SMEs have access to the right advice, skills and technology.
“The continuation of the programme gives businesses the confidence to plan ahead, invest in digital tools and build the skills they need to grow. We are excited to help hundreds more manufacturers unlock productivity, resilience and long-term growth.”
Manufacturers in Kent are already drawing on Made Smarter support to streamline operations and create more scalable, resilient businesses.
Art4site, based in Wye, has taken part in leadership training and hosted a digital intern to help improve integration between customer-facing systems and backend databases. The specialist fine art scanning and printing studio is exploring ways to automate parts of its workflow, reduce manual data entry and minimise errors as the business grows.
Michael Setek, Founder of Art4site, said: “Working with Made Smarter has been a fantastic experience. The advice gave us the direction and confidence to find smarter ways to streamline how we work, improve reliability and reduce waste. The leadership training gave me the chance to step back, access expert guidance on automation and digital technologies, and look at the business with a fresh perspective. Hosting a digital intern has helped us explore how to automate parts of our workflow and connect our systems more effectively, reducing manual data entry, minimising errors and creating a more scalable process as the business grows.”
Made Smarter is designed to give manufacturers a fast and practical route into digital transformation. Businesses begin with an expert digital assessment to identify their technology and skills priorities, followed by a tailored roadmap to guide future investment.
Leadership development programmes, workforce training and digital internships help companies build the capabilities needed to adopt new technologies and embed change across their organisations.
To support technology adoption, businesses can also access match funding of up to 50 percent, with grants of up to £20,000 available for capital technology projects.
To learn more, visit madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/south-east
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