If you run a UK manufacturing SME and you're not aware of Made Smarter, you might be leaving money on the table. The programme offers grants of up to £20,000—covering up to 50% of digital transformation project costs—plus free expert support.
Here's everything you need to know to take advantage of it.
What Is Made Smarter?
Made Smarter is a UK government-backed programme designed to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies. It's funded by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered through regional partners across England.
The programme offers three main benefits:
Free digital roadmapping. A technology expert meets with you, understands your business, and develops a tailored digital roadmap identifying opportunities and priorities. No cost, no obligation.
Match-funded grants. Up to £20,000 to implement digital projects, covering up to 50% of costs. Real money towards technology that improves your operations.
Funded internships. Financial support to bring a digital intern into your business, helping with implementation and building internal capability.
The programme started in the North West and has expanded to cover all English regions. If you're a manufacturing SME in England, Made Smarter support is probably available to you.
Who's Eligible
Made Smarter targets manufacturing SMEs with genuine digital transformation opportunities. The key criteria:
Manufacturing focus. Your business must be involved in manufacturing, engineering, or production. Pure retail, pure services, and non-manufacturing businesses don't qualify.
SME status. Fewer than 250 employees and either turnover under €50 million or balance sheet under €43 million. Most small and medium manufacturers qualify.
England based. The programme currently operates in England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate digital support programmes.
Growth ambition. The programme targets businesses looking to grow and improve, not those seeking to maintain the status quo.
If you're unsure about eligibility, contact your regional Made Smarter team. They'll tell you quickly whether you qualify.
What Projects Qualify
Made Smarter funds digital technology adoption across a broad range of areas:
Business intelligence and data analytics. Dashboards, reporting automation, production monitoring systems, data-driven decision making tools. If you're running your factory on spreadsheets, this is an upgrade path. Working with a Power BI agency or BI consultancy on a Made Smarter-funded project can transform your operations.
Automation and robotics. Production automation, cobots (collaborative robots), automated quality inspection, machine monitoring. Not replacing workers—enhancing their capabilities.
Digital design and simulation. CAD/CAM systems, digital twin technology, virtual prototyping, simulation software. Reduce physical prototyping costs and speed time to market.
E-commerce and digital sales. Online configurators, digital catalogues, B2B e-commerce platforms. Reach new customers and simplify ordering.
Systems integration. Connecting machines to business systems, ERP implementation, production scheduling software. Get your systems talking to each other. An automation agency or process automation consultancy can help design these integrations.
Additive manufacturing. 3D printing for prototyping or production, related design software. New manufacturing capabilities without massive capital investment.
The common thread: technology that makes your manufacturing operations more efficient, more capable, or more competitive.
How Much Funding
Grant amounts vary by region, but the general structure is:
Up to 50% of project costs covered by the grant. You fund the other 50%.
Maximum grants typically £20,000 for technology adoption projects, though some regions offer higher amounts for larger transformations.
Minimum project sizes usually around £5,000-£10,000, to ensure meaningful transformation rather than minor purchases.
No repayment. These are grants, not loans. Money given, not borrowed.
For a £30,000 digital project, you might receive £15,000 in grant funding. Your investment: £15,000 for a capability worth £30,000.
The Application Process
Accessing Made Smarter funding typically follows this path:
Step 1: Initial contact. Reach out to your regional Made Smarter team through the Made Smarter website. They'll ask basic questions about your business and interests.
Step 2: Digital roadmap (optional but recommended). A free session with a digital expert to understand your operations and identify opportunities. This strengthens applications and often reveals opportunities you hadn't considered.
Step 3: Project definition. Define your specific project—what technology, what problem it solves, what benefits you expect. Get quotes from suppliers, whether that's a web development agency, automation consultancy, or software provider.
Step 4: Application submission. Complete the grant application with project details, costs, timelines, and expected outcomes. The regional team helps with this.
Step 5: Assessment. Applications are reviewed against programme criteria. Strong applications show clear business benefit and realistic implementation plans.
Step 6: Approval and implementation. If approved, you implement the project and claim funding against eligible costs.
The timeline varies by region and demand, but expect 4-8 weeks from application to decision for straightforward projects.
Tips for Strong Applications
Having seen successful and unsuccessful Made Smarter applications, here's what makes the difference:
Be specific about benefits. "Improve efficiency" is weak. "Reduce production planning time from 8 hours to 2 hours weekly, freeing senior staff for customer work" is strong.
Quantify where possible. Expected time savings, error reduction, capacity increase, cost reduction. Numbers make applications compelling.
Show readiness to implement. Evidence that you've researched solutions, obtained quotes, and have internal capacity to manage the project.
Connect to growth. Made Smarter supports growth-oriented businesses. Show how digital capability enables growth you couldn't otherwise achieve.
Combining Made Smarter with Other Support
Made Smarter isn't the only support available:
R&D tax credits can apply to digital development work, potentially recovering 20-33% of qualifying costs. This can combine with Made Smarter grants.
Innovation grants from Innovate UK may suit more ambitious technology development projects.
Local growth funding from councils and LEPs sometimes supplements Made Smarter support.
A £40,000 project might combine £15,000 Made Smarter grant, £5,000 R&D tax credit, and £20,000 business investment. Explore all options.
Getting Started
If you're a UK manufacturing SME considering digital investment, Made Smarter is worth exploring. The free roadmapping alone provides value—expert guidance with no strings attached.
Visit the Made Smarter website, find your regional contact, and start the conversation. The worst outcome is learning you don't qualify. The best outcome is 50% off your digital transformation project.
That's money worth claiming.