New digital skills courses are being launched to help SME manufacturers across Yorkshire adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) as part of wider efforts to boost productivity and accelerate growth.
Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber is offering fully funded training aimed at strengthening leadership capability at a time when advanced technologies are becoming increasingly important for competitiveness and innovation.
The Government‑backed programme is now inviting manufacturing SMEs to register for two complementary skills initiatives,
Digital Manufacturing Leadership (Digital Leaders) and
Digital Manufacturing Champions (Digital Champions). Together they support businesses at both strategic and operational levels as they move through digital transformation. Digital Leaders equips senior managers with the skills and confidence to drive organisational change and oversee the adoption of emerging technologies, while Digital Champions focuses on engineers and operational staff, giving them the practical tools needed to implement digital solutions and support day‑to‑day growth.
The next cohorts will see
Digital Manufacturing Champions delivered in Leeds and
Digital Manufacturing Leadership in York, both due to begin on 4 February. Each course runs over eight or nine weeks and combines face‑to‑face workshops, online webinars and a manufacturing site visit to demonstrate real-world technology adoption.
Delivered by specialists at
Sheffield Hallam University, the programmes draw on expertise from its business, technology and engineering schools. Participants gain practical exposure to digital manufacturing technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and 3-D printing — and develop a tailored technology‑enabled business strategy. The training is connected closely to wider Made Smarter support, including digital internships, technical advice and capital investment grants.
Strengthened leadership capabilitySince 2021, 88 manufacturing businesses from across the region have taken part, representing sectors such as pharmaceuticals, furniture, energy and environmental technologies. In Hull and East Yorkshire, companies including contract drug manufacturer GMP Manufacturing, coatings producer Teal & Mackrill and hydraulic systems manufacturer The Water Hydraulics Company have completed the courses. Deepu Mathews Chirappuram, head of automation at
GMP Manufacturing, said: “The programme has strengthened my leadership capability and given me the confidence to drive meaningful digital initiatives, ensuring the business remains competitive and agile in an increasingly technology-driven industry.”
Robert Steadman, engineering manager at
The Water Hydraulics Company, added: “The programme has already given me practical tools and frameworks to think strategically about technology adoption and change management. We are starting to apply these insights in the business, and I can already see the potential for improved efficiency and growth.”
Manufacturers from North Yorkshire have included Ripon‑based 3-D printing specialist Additive X and Thirsk furniture maker Treske. Jo Young, managing director of
Additive X, said: “Transformation used to sound like one huge, overwhelming project. Now I see it as a series of manageable steps. The programme has helped me be better at my job, and it will be the most successful digital project I have implemented in my 20-plus years of running Additive-X.”
In West Yorkshire, Trust Electric Heating has taken part, while Andel in Barnsley has represented South Yorkshire. Dr Marshall Booth, technical director at
Andel, said: “One of the most valuable aspects of the course was not just the new processes and project management skills we were introduced to, but the focus on staff engagement. Helping people get on board with change, especially when they have been working in the same way for more than 20 years, can be the biggest challenge when making significant changes.”
Practical toolsKostas Charalampous, installations manager at
Trust Electric Heating, said: “It gave me practical tools to improve communication, decision-making and team engagement, which I am already putting into practice on-site and within the wider installations team.”
According to Vincent Traynor, associate professor of change leadership at Sheffield Hallam University, the courses may centre on AI, robotics and digital technology, but their largest impact is on people. He said: “We support leaders at every level of a manufacturing business, from senior decision-makers to those on the shopfloor, helping them learn from others and build the confidence needed to lead change successfully. The programmes are designed to be flexible and realistic for busy manufacturing businesses, giving delegates the space to step back, reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas with peers facing similar challenges.”
Jessica Armitage, programme manager for Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, concluded: “Over the past five years, these programmes have shown just how powerful the right skills and leadership support can be for manufacturing SMEs. We have seen businesses grow in confidence, improve communication between leadership and the factory floor, and move from talking about digital transformation to actually delivering it. January is an ideal moment for manufacturers to kickstart their digital transformation, particularly as technologies like AI become central to productivity and competitiveness.”
With new cohorts launching soon, SME manufacturers are encouraged to register their interest through the Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber website or contact their local business relationship manager to discuss upcoming course dates and secure places.