Cornwall Firms Could Miss Out on £20k Tech Grants if They Don’t Act Fast

Registrations open for Made Smarter South West ahead of 1st April launch

Manufacturers across Cornwall are being urged to act now as registrations open for Made Smarter, a government-backed programme designed to help small and medium-sized businesses embrace digital transformation.

The UK Government is expanding its Made Smarter Adoption programme into the South West, offering manufacturers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly access to fully funded expert advice, digital leadership training, student interns, and match-funded technology grants of up to £20,000.

Support for Cornwall’s Manufacturing Sector

Made Smarter South West will be delivered through partners including the University of the West of England (UWE) and the National Composites Centre (NCC). It aims to support businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond.

The support package is aimed at manufacturing and engineering SMEs with 250 employees or fewer and an annual turnover of £50 million or less, who want to improve productivity, cut carbon emissions, and stay competitive by adopting digital technologies.

During its first year, the programme aims to:

• Engage with 120+ businesses

• Deliver 80+ digital road mapping sessions

• Provide 18 businesses with digital leadership training

• Support 21 organisations with workforce development

• Offer 11 student internships

• Grant 20 companies match-funded tech support worth up to £20,000

📷Brian Holliday, Managing Director - Digital Industries UK

Backed by a £16 Million Government Investment

Following a £16 million investment from the Government, Made Smarter will now extend into the South East, South West, East of England, and London from 1st April. The programme has already seen success in regions such as the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and East Midlands.

“Made Smarter is a driving force for digital transformation in UK’s SME manufacturing. In the last six years the programme has empowered businesses to innovate, compete, and scale. This expansion clearly signals the Government’s commitment to the sector, driving competitiveness, sustainability, and productivity improvements for a robust industrial future,” said Brian Holliday, Co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission and Managing Director of Siemens Digital Industries.

A Crucial Opportunity for Cornwall

The South West is the UK’s fourth-largest region in terms of gross value added (GVA), with manufacturing contributing 10.3% of the region’s total output—well above the national average. In 2024, the region supported 243,000 manufacturing jobs, making up 8% of its total workforce.

Manufacturing leaders in Cornwall are being encouraged to secure their place now before spaces run out. Registration is open now via:
👉 madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/south-west

Spaces are limited. Don’t miss out.