Small manufacturers across London will receive more than £300,000 in the first round of funding through the Made Smarter London programme, delivered by London & Partners, to help them adopt new technologies and become more productive and resilient.
Grants ranging from £4,500 to £20,000 have been awarded to 20 small manufacturing businesses, enabling them to invest in technologies such as artificial intelligence, software, robotics and sales systems. These investments will help them to work more efficiently and boost productivity while generating new and highly skilled jobs.
London is home to over 14,000 manufacturers, with nearly all (99.6%) classified as small and medium-sized enterprises. Almost nine out of ten employ fewer than ten people. For businesses with limited time and resources the investment in new skills and technologies is essential. The grants will help them keep up with demand, attract new clients, and become more competitive at local and international levels.
This milestone marks the first year of the Made Smarter programme supporting London’s manufacturing sector. The programme builds on its success in other regions, where it has helped over 3,000 businesses, created 1,500 jobs, and generated more than £300 million in projected Gross Value Added.
Made Smarter was created following an industry-led review of how UK manufacturing industries can prosper through digital tools and innovation. Th is independent review was commissioned by UK Government and led by Professor Juergen Maier CBE, Co-Chair of Made Smarter.
The Review made four key recommendations:
- More ambitious, informed, and focused leadership for digitalisation
- More widespread adoption of technology across supply chains, especially amongst SME makers, understanding that adopting new technology can be daunting and providing support throughout the journey to digitalisation.
- Faster innovation and creation of new tech, new companies and value-streams. Made Smarter has a mission: to build a digital innovation ecosystem that funds and supports UK innovators and manufacturers.
- Upskilling workforces and identifying future skills. Supporting organisations and workforces to get the very most from digital tools and help them begin their journey towards digitalisation.
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, said: “This funding from the Made Smarter London programme will hugely support small manufacturers across the capital, helping them invest in new technologies and become more efficient. With so many of these businesses operating at a small scale, this support will enable them to upskill and grow sustainably, keeping them resilient in a competitive landscape. By helping them thrive, we can continue to build a better, more prosperous London for all.”
Vanesa Pérez-Sánchez, Director of Small Businesses at London & Partners, which runs the Made Smarter London programme, said: “Manufacturers play a big part in supporting the London economy; from creative makers that fuel the West End to food and drink suppliers to our High Streets, these businesses are keen and ready to innovate.”
“This funding is encouraging businesses to adopt digital technologies that will allow them to work more efficiently and be future ready.”
Among the recipients is Rebeca Rosmini, founder of Signorelli Bakery in Newham. She received a £20,000 grant to invest in team training. She said: “This grant allows us to invest in our team and our future at a time when that’s difficult to do. With smarter equipment and a new digital training academy, we can grow, support and upskill our neurodiverse and multilingual staff, as well as keep up with demand without losing the handmade quality we’re known for. It gives us the tools to grow sustainably while keeping our team central to the business.”
Gerald Schwanzer, owner of Dancesport International in Croydon, which makes dresses for cinema and West End shows, received a £12,000 grant to support his business. He explained: “The grant will enable us to invest in new digital pattern-cutting software, helping us speed up production and reduce cost and waste. By working on multiple projects at once, we can upskill our team and modernise the way we operate. We expect to increase productivity by up to 40%, giving us more capacity to grow our theatre and film costume industry as well as explore opportunities in international markets.”
Salli Deighton, founder of Laundre in Bromley, received £12,700 to implement AI and software systems. She said: “This grant gives us the chance to do three big projects simultaneously that we simply haven’t had the time or expertise to finish. We can now set up our CRM system properly, build our digital AI laser library, and sort out our data capture. It will make our work quicker, more organised, and help us show the sustainable steps we take as a business.”
Manufacturers in London that need support should visit the Made Smarter website.
