Handmade dessert specialist Studio Bakery and equipment supplier Chandley Ovens have become the latest businesses to secure financial backing from the Made Smarter Adoption programme.
The Northwest-based pair sees the government-funded, industry-backed initiative surpass a milestone of 300 SMEs receiving match funding to kickstart their digitalisation journeys. By adopting technologies as diverse as sensors, robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI), the firms are able to not only improve their bottom lines but also benefit the environment, such as through emissions reductions.
Having opened its first shop in June last year, Studio Bakery in Clitheroe, Lancashire, has since used Made Smarter support to create a digital roadmap and then invest in a new cutting machine. Managing director Allison Metcalf described this as “transformational” for the bakery business.
“At a time where we were rapidly expanding, they were there to support us,” she said. “New technology has increased our productivity and made us more efficient. We’re now able to meet our increased orders and we’re ready for the next stage of our expansion.”
Chandley Ovens, meanwhile, is an employee-owned manufacturer of commercial bakery equipment that relocated to Hyde in Cheshire in 2022. It revealed an investment in new software made possible through the programme.
Managing director Emma Pattison called Made Smarter a “perfect partner” for its strategy that focuses on building a new future for Chandley Ovens.
“Their support has enabled us to build an IT platform suited for our rapidly growing service business, to procure modern equipment and to develop our product ranges to lead the way in control, energy efficiency and ease of use,” Pattison commented.
Support continues
Made Smarter is the UK national industrial digitalisation movement aimed at driving productivity and growth of manufacturing industries and put the UK at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution. It’s Adoption programme was launched five years ago and has since supported a total of 350 technology projects – these are forecast to create almost 1,600 new jobs and over 2,850 upskilled roles, adding £242m to the economy over the next three years.
With the Government committing to continuing the North West Adoption Programme as part of a UK roll out, manufacturers are being urged to connect with Made Smarter to access the funded support on offer. This includes digital transformation workshops to create a digital roadmap, impartial and expert technology advice, leadership and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects.
“I am incredibly proud of what the Made Smarter team has achieved over the last five years,” said Donna Edwards, director of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West. “These milestones are simultaneously a moment to celebrate, as well as a reminder that our work is by no means done.”
Edwards noted the programme’s mission is to engage with SMEs looking to accelerate growth but struggling to understand the best route forward. “As such we are redoubling our efforts to reach more businesses, and to inspire and inform them about the benefits of technology adoption,” she said.
A first step could be to digitise manual and paper-based systems or using sensors to capture vital production data, asserted Edwards, while others may be ready for more sophisticated, boundary-pushing technologies such as analytics, machine learning and AI, which she said were evolving at unprecedented speed.
“Digital isn’t coming – it’s arrived. Adopting technologies at the right time and in the right way is the key to unlocking real benefits for industry, society and the planet,” Edwards added.
Last July, Made Smarter released a free-to-download guide to help SMEs, including bakery suppliers, achieve decarbonisation through digitalisation.
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