£8m digital boost for North East manufacturing SMEs

£8 million of government funding will be used to help SMEs across the North, and the Midlands, to digitise their operations.

Part of the government’s Made Smarter Adoption programme, the funding will support up to 1,000 small and medium sized manufacturers across the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the West Midlands regions, to adopt digital technology.

Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, said: “The proof is in the pudding and for the companies that have adopted the latest digital technology they are already reaping the rewards. To help level up the country, we want to ensure businesses have the right tools for the job so that they can build back better and greener from the pandemic.”

Chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Helen Golightly, added: “Despite the rapid pace of digital adoption during the coronavirus pandemic, many SMEs still need support to introduce new technologies within their businesses that can improve productivity, efficiency and performance. The Made Smarter Adoption Programme will help businesses in the North East adapt to a new, smarter way of working by embracing digital.”
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