Made Smarter South East
Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the South East’s manufacturing SMEs and makers.
Funding and support for SME manufacturers and makers
The programme has been developed to help makers boost productivity and increase their competitive edge through the adoption of new industrial technologies and tools.
After running successfully in selected areas of the UK for a number of years, the programme was rolled out nationally in 2025, making it available to South East makers and manufacturers for the first time.
Register for a free personalised assessment
What’s involved?
Made Smarter South East will provide advice and support to manufacturers and makers to help them switch to advanced and automated technologies.
The Made Smarter team will help you identify the right technologies and tools and use them to make everyday improvements to your business.
Support elements include:
- Match-funding of up to £20,000 (50% is available)
- Expert advice, guidance and support
- Bespoke digital roadmap for your business
- Leadership training
- Workforce training
- Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours)
Eligibility criteria
The programme is open to SME manufacturers and makers based in the South East. This covers the following areas:
- Berkshire
- Brighton & Hove
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Medway
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Solent
- Surrey
In order to be eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and not be part of a wider group, or be funded by Private Equity, with a turnover below £44 million, and not have received state aid of more than £315,000 over the last three years.
The following industrial digital technologies are eligible for support and funding through the scheme, but this is not an exhaustive list – other technologies may also qualify:
- Additive manufacturing, 3D printing
- Artificial intelligence/Machine Learning
- Robotics & Automation
- The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Connectivity (5G, LPWAN etc)
- Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
Meet the Made Smarter South East team
Jez Heys | Technology Adoption Specialist
Jez Heys is a Technology Adoption Specialist with Made Smarter South East. He is an experienced and successful business professional with repeated achievements in the private and public sector.
Meet Jez
William Wilsnagh | Technology Adoption Specialist
William Wilsnagh is a Technology Adoption Specialist with Made Smarter South East. He has over 30 years of business experience including ownership and various executive leadership roles.
Meet William
Chitra Cherodian | Organisation & Workforce Development Advisor
Chitra Cherodian is a passionate learning and development professional with over 10 years of experience helping teams grow and thrive. She is currently delivering for the Made Smarter South East programme.
Meet Chitra
Keith Russell | Technology Adoption Specialist
Keith has spent the decade as a consultant to industry, helping customers adopt AR/VR technology in design, manufacturer, sales and training.
Meet Keith
Tony Ford | Technology Adoption Specialist
Tony Ford has over 40 years of business experience. Over 30 of those have been spent in business ownership and various executive leadership roles across Information Technology, Retail, Manufacturing and Management Consultancy.
Meet Tony