The funded scheme connects digitally capable students and recent graduates with SME manufacturers to work on real-world technology adoption projects.
Workforce Pressures and Manufacturing Challenges
The reboot follows the overwhelming success of the first phase (2019–2022), where nearly half of interns secured permanent jobs.
UK manufacturers are facing unprecedented workforce pressures, with 92% expecting skills gaps and over 52,000 job vacancies in the sector. The cost of inaction is mounting with an estimated £7.7 billion a year in lost productivity. These challenges are compounded by reduced immigration, an ageing workforce, and underperforming training pipelines.
Insights from the Made Smarter White Paper on Digital Skills
To explore these challenges in more depth and share insight on how the internship programme is addressing them, Made Smarter has published a new white paper: Digital Internships: How Made Smarter helps SME manufacturers tap into tech talent. The free guide offers a deep dive into the digital skills shortage in UK manufacturing, how the programme works, and the real-world impact it’s having on both businesses and students.
How the Digital Technology Internship Supports Manufacturers and Students
Made Smarter's Digital Technology Internship programme helps manufacturers address immediate resource needs and long-term skills development, while offering students career-defining experience.
Interns - ranging from second-year undergraduates to postgraduates and recent graduates in fields like data science, robotics, digital design, and engineering - are matched with manufacturers undertaking live digital projects. These may include helping to develop digital roadmaps, or implementing software or hardware solutions.
Internships are flexible (part-time or full-time), paid, and come with support from Made Smarter’s expert advisers.
Benefits for SME Manufacturers and Talent Development
For SME manufacturers, Made Smarter’s Digital Technology Internship programme offers immediate, practical support from digitally skilled interns who bring fresh thinking, cutting-edge tools, and the latest technologies into the business. It provides a low-risk way to trial digital solutions, while helping companies build future talent pipelines, strengthen sustainability and inclusion efforts, and forge valuable partnerships with universities and research institutions.
For students and graduates, internships offer hands-on experience and real-world application of academic skills, professional development, enhanced employability, networking opportunities, and a clearer path into a career.
Success Stories from Internship Participants
Among the manufacturers to benefit from the internship programme is CNC Robotics, a leading robotics integrator based in Liverpool. The company was matched with Max Barnett, who at the time was studying a postgraduate degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Liverpool. Max played a key role in a project to adopt a new CRM system, and his performance led to a permanent role with the company. Three years on, he has progressed through multiple positions spanning software development, marketing, and sales - representing CNC Robotics at major trade shows both in the UK and overseas.
Reflecting on his journey, Max said: “The internship was a pivotal stepping stone in my career. It gave me the chance to apply my technical skills in a real-world setting, but just as importantly, it opened doors to a broader professional network through trade shows, industry events, and collaborations with clients and partners. I was trusted with responsibility from day one, and the experience gave me the confidence to grow, take on new challenges, and make a real contribution to a company at the cutting edge of robotic automation in manufacturing.”
Sustainable Smart Technologies, an IoT solutions provider based in Rawtenstall, is another success story from the programme. The company was matched with Kamran ‘Kammy’ Nawaz, then a student at the University of Manchester, who joined the business to support a range of technology projects before securing a full time role as Operations Manager, overseeing its largest and most complex installations.
Niamh Allen, Managing Director, said: “Kammy’s internship turned out to be the ideal gateway to discovering exceptional talent. His placement gave us the chance to assess his skills, mindset, and work ethic in a real-world setting, with the flexibility and reduced risk that the funded internship model provides. His growth into a leadership role showed his adaptability and commitment, and the programme itself fostered collaboration, innovation, and mentoring within the team. For a small but growing business like ours, it was an incredibly effective way to build capability and bring a long-term asset into the company.”
The Future Impact of the Digital Technology Internship Programme
Donna Edwards, Programme Director for Made Smarter, said: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the impact our Digital Technology Internship Programme has had - bringing fresh energy, ideas, and digital know-how into manufacturing businesses across the North West.
“Phase one showed just how powerful this model can be, not only helping manufacturers embrace new technologies and improve productivity, but also giving students and graduates that all-important first step into the industry.
“With national funding now in place, phase two is set to go even further - offering more opportunities for businesses to access fully funded support, and for young people to gain meaningful, paid experience that can kickstart their careers.
“This is about building confidence on both sides - giving manufacturers the skills to take digital forward, and developing the next generation of talent to drive the future of UK manufacturing.”
Since its inception in 2019, Made Smarter has supported over 2,500 manufacturers in the North West, providing access to expert digital advice, technology adoption roadmaps, and workforce development opportunities.
