YORKSHIRE BUSINESSES GET £2.4M DIGITAL INNOVATION BOOST

Published 15 July 2025 at 11:00am

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.

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 Yorkshire have been:

1. Investment in a new robot for Filey-based Hunprenco 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.
2. York’s Choc Affair moving from labelling 600,000 chocolate bars to 1.5 million per year, increasing their growth potential.
3. Introducing new packing automation and business software to improve efficiency and reduce costs at Sheffield-based Labfacility. The new packaging machine has made the process at least twice as efficient, while the software introduction is helping the company make better data-driven decisions, improving operational efficiency and streamlining processes.
4. Moving from a paper-based to a digital system has helped Visual Systems Healthcare in Huddersfield streamline its operations including reducing manual data entry by 75% across sales, production and dispatch processes. This has improved data accuracy and enabled them to process orders much more quickly. Extending its digital strategy now includes the intention to develop a new range of digitally enhanced healthcare products.
5. Detech Europe in Bewholme, East Yorkshire, fitted out a new room which can demonstrate to potential customers the effectiveness of Detech’s automated products which inspect printed circuit boards in seconds, with accuracy which exceeds expectations.

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.

With new funding, this package of support will also include access to digital internships, wider digital change management training, and more project funding opportunities. Leadership training, organisational workforce development and digital internships will be delivered by Sheffield Hallam University. Digital roadmaps and intensive technical support will be delivered by RTC North.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “A manufacturing powerhouse, Yorkshire is once again driving an industrial revolution for this new age of science and technology, unlocking UK growth and prosperity.

“But to maximise and deliver on our incredible assets and potential, our businesses must get the support they need to embrace new technologies, boost their productivity, upskill their workforce and create new jobs.

“By coming together under our White Rose banner and with the backing of Government, our Made Smarter initiative will give manufacturing businesses across God’s own country the support they need to succeed, helping us build a stronger, brighter Britain that works for all.”

Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said: “We will make sure manufacturing businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire know about the financial support and expertise on offer to help adopt new digital technologies, so it can help improve their competitiveness and efficiency.  

“We have some fantastic Advanced Manufacturing businesses here in sectors such as Life Sciences, MedTech and New Energy. We’ve also got the strength of a UK-leading university in AI education on our doorstep.

"Thanks to HEYCA teaming up with other Combined Authorities across Yorkshire, we can make this support available to local firms through the Made Smarter programme. I hope many businesses will apply and benefit.”

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.”  

Click here to learn more about Made Smarter.