Yorkshire businesses get £2.4m digital innovation boost

Hundreds of manufacturing businesses across Yorkshire have put themselves at the forefront of enhancing their business through digital innovation – and now more can join them after a further £2.4m was received to support the region’s digital ambitions.

Since 2021, the “Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber” programme has supported more than 700 Yorkshire manufacturing businesses to take up digital adoption projects to improve efficiency and productivity, boosting the strength of manufacturing across the region.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “When we invest in our businesses to make them more competitive and productive, we secure jobs and boost communities across York and North Yorkshire.

“This is felt in our rural and coastal towns when we support businesses like Hunprenco in Filey as well as our cities when Choc Affair in York uses the funding to scale up production.

“Now with an additional £2.4 million for Made Smarter Yorkshire and Humber, we can give more businesses and communities the tools they need to thrive.

“By working across our regions, we can attract more investment for our businesses and ensure that Yorkshire and the Humber can continue to lead the way in manufacturing.”

Now, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has received £2.4m funding to deliver the Made Smarter programme across Yorkshire in 2025/26, opening up the opportunities to more companies.

South Yorkshire Mayor’s Oliver Coppard said: “Yorkshire’s manufacturers are showing the rest of the country what it means to lead from the front – embracing digital innovation to boost productivity, create good jobs, and build a stronger, greener economy.

“This new £2.4 million investment in the Made Smarter programme is another vote of confidence in our region’s potential. It’s a recognition that when we back our businesses with the right tools and support, they deliver – driving growth not just for Yorkshire, but for the whole country.

“In South Yorkshire, we’re proud to be home to world-class companies and cutting-edge sectors. But more than that, we’re building an economy that works for everyone – where people have the opportunity to thrive, right here in the place they call home.”

Among the businesses benefitting from Made Smarter across York and North Yorkshire have been:

• York’s Choc Affair moving from labelling 600,000 chocolate bars to 1.5 million per year, increasing their growth potential.
  
• Filey-based Hunprenco has invested in a new robot which can operate more than one machine 24 hours a day, meaning staff can be deployed elsewhere to improve the company’s efficiency. The funding meant the robot could be bought 18 months earlier than expected.

Since 2021, Made Smarter support has helped businesses by offering specialist digital advice and roadmaps, as well as grants, technical project support, and senior digital change management training.

Learn more about Made Smarter at: www.madesmarter.uk

Article provided by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority