North West manufacturers help Made Smarter reach 250th tech investment milestone

offset by falls in chemicals, metal manufacturing and motor vehicles and transport equipment.

• Demand-side factors were seen as more likely to limit output in the next three months (57% of respondents cited orders or sales as a likely constraint, from 43% in October; average of 71%).

• Total new orders were broadly stable in the quarter to January (balance of -3%, from -8%). However, the volume of total order books fell further below normal.

• Average costs growth remained exceptionally strong in the quarter to January, but nonetheless eased, with costs rising at the slowest pace since April 2021.

• Average domestic selling price inflation also eased but remained elevated in the quarter to January.

• Numbers employed continued to rise in the three months to January, albeit at a slower pace (+14%, from +26% in October). Firms expect headcount to rise further in the next three months (+24%).

• Investment intentions for the year ahead were mixed. Manufacturers expect to raise investment in training and retraining (+20%, from +14%), plant and machinery (+8%, from +6%) and product and process innovation (+6%, from +7%).

Pioneering North West adoption programme supports digitalisation projects worth £4.7m

Made Smarter’s pioneering technology adoption programme has marked its fourth anniversary by helping its 250th SME manufacturer invest in new technology.

Among the latest businesses to secure support from the government-funded and industry-led initiative are: Manchester Printers, based in Eccles; ITAC Limited, adhesive manufacturers based in Stoneclough; The British Millerain Company in Rochdale, a manufacturer of performance fabrics, Kings Fine Cooked Meats in Wigan; Orb Interiors, kitchen manufacturers based in Salford; Hilton Docker Mouldings, based in Rochdale; and 1860 Gel, based in Rochdale, an engineering business.

Launched in 2019 to help businesses digitalise, decarbonise and drive growth, the government-funded and industry-led initiative has helped 59 Northwest businesses with £1.3m towards 74 technology projects, worth £4.7m, after £3.4m in private sector investment.

These manufacturers are forecasting their investments will create 275 new jobs, upskill more than 600 existing roles, and deliver an additional £47m in gross value added (GVA) for the region’s economy over the next three years.

Made Smarter has helped manufacturers adopt technologies which enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes, others are now using 3D-printing, automation and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

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