Made Smarter Adoption Programme

Description

Helps small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt industrial digital technology — automation, data systems, robotics, additive manufacturing — through a combination of free specialist advice, match-funded grants, subsidised digital internships and leadership development. It is delivered regionally rather than centrally: Made Smarter's own regional page lists nine active English regions (North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West), each with its own delivery partner, so the application route, grant terms, eligibility limits and end date vary by where your business operates. Verified October 2026 against Made Smarter's own regional pages: the North West offer is up to 50% match funding to a maximum £20,000 grant towards equipment and/or specialist advice, plus funded digital internships at £13.45 per hour for up to 300 hours (up to £4,035), for manufacturers with 249 employees or fewer and turnover under £36 million (or a balance sheet under £18 million). The East Midlands page gives the same 50% / £20,000 terms and says its programme runs until 31 March 2027; the South East programme has been extended to the end of March 2027 and has different eligibility limits. Not available in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, which run their own separate manufacturing/digital adoption support.

Eligibility summary

• Available in: England.
• Applicant must be a registered business.
• Most relevant to: Manufacturing, Technology & Digital.
• Typically for businesses with up to 249 employees.

Notes

Re-verified 25 Oct 2026 against madesmarter.uk. The national 'in my region' page lists nine active English locations and describes 'up to 50% matched grant funding to adopt hardware and software' plus fully funded support services; the national Adoption page says match-funded grants of up to £20K for hardware and software in the East Midlands, London, North West, West Midlands and South West, Digital Technology Grants of up to £20,000 in Yorkshire and the Humber, and gives no grant amount for the North East or East of England (funding routes only). The North West page gives 'Up to 50% match funding (Maximum of £20,000)', interns at '£13.45 per hour for up to 300 hours (funding up to £4,035)', '249 employees or less' and 'a turnover of less than £36 million, or a balance sheet less than £18 million'. Internships generally run for 300 hours (480 hours in Yorkshire and the Humber), and the intern offer is not described for every region. The East Midlands page says the programme runs 'until 31st March 2027'; the South East page says it was extended to the end of March 2027, offers grants of up to £20,000 (a limited number up to £50,000), and has additional limits (turnover below £44m, less than £315k of state aid in three years, not part of a larger group or owned by private equity). No page found shows the North West programme as closed, and none gives it an end date. Regional figures are therefore not interchangeable: the North West terms are indicative elsewhere. Grants are match-funded, so you must put in at least as much as you ask for. Enter your postcode on madesmarter.uk to find the delivery partner for your area. The earlier text listing 'West of England' as a separate region was incorrect: it is not listed on Made Smarter's regional pages.

Size limit

249 employees or fewer, and turnover under £36 million or a balance sheet under £18 million (North West criteria — other regions differ: for example the South East page requires fewer than 250 employees and turnover below £44m; confirm with your own regional delivery partner).

Applicant type

Small or medium-sized manufacturing or engineering business with manufacturing premises, and a significant part of its operations, in one of the English regions where the programme is running.