More than 250 digital manufacturing leaders have now been trained through Made Smarter North West’s flagship skills programmes, marking a significant step forward in the region’s push to accelerate industrial digitalisation.
The government-backed initiative said the milestone reflects a growing shift among SME manufacturers to prioritise people alongside technology, developing the leadership, skills and strategic direction needed to deliver meaningful transformation.
At the centre of this effort are two programmes designed to cultivate digital manufacturing leaders at every level of an organisation. The three-month Leading Digital Transformation (LDT) course equips senior executives with the tools to design and lead digital strategies, while the shorter Leading Change for Digital Champions (LCDC) programme focuses on operational staff responsible for implementing change on the ground.
Increasingly, manufacturers are adopting both programmes in tandem, using LDT to define strategy at board level and LCDC to embed transformation across teams—creating a more joined-up, organisation-wide approach to digitalisation.
Since 2023, LDT has supported 72 owners and directors from 57 businesses, while LCDC has trained 97 employees from 61 companies. These figures build on a further 62 leaders developed between 2019 and 2023, alongside additional skills initiatives such as the Amazon Innovation Accelerator, bringing the total to 256 trained digital manufacturing leaders.
Ruth Hailwood, Head of Organisation and Workforce Development at Made Smarter, said the milestone highlights a fundamental change in how manufacturers approach transformation.
“Reaching more than 250 digital leaders is a significant milestone, but what’s most encouraging is how manufacturers are embracing a people-first approach to digital transformation.
“Digital change works best when it’s embraced at every level of the organisation. By empowering strategic leaders and building a network of digital champions, we are creating vital links between leadership and the shopfloor.”
– Ruth Hailwood, Head of Organisation and Workforce Development at Made Smarter.
Recent cohorts have expanded the programme’s reach, with 14 additional businesses completing LDT and new LCDC groups launched in Greater Manchester and, for the first time, Cumbria. Participating firms span sectors including engineering, food and drink, advanced materials and construction.
One example is Firpress, a Workington-based print and signage manufacturer, where employees from across the business took part. Director Kerri Black said the shared experience had strengthened alignment across teams, while Print Finisher Paul Graham noted it had improved understanding of the company’s digital goals.
LDT is delivered in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford, combining workshops, case studies and site visits to develop tailored digital strategies. LCDC complements this with practical, hands-on learning, including exposure to real-world applications through an Amazon fulfilment centre visit.
Graduates also join a Digital Champions Network, enabling continued collaboration and knowledge-sharing among digital manufacturing leaders.
Since launching in 2019, Made Smarter has supported more than 2,500 manufacturers across the North West, offering access to digital expertise, technology adoption support and workforce development—helping to build a stronger pipeline of digital manufacturing leaders ready to drive the sector forward.
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