Digital Technology Internships

The Client is a fast-growing direct-to-consumer food manufacturing business based in Manchester. They have already implemented strong digital tools across eCommerce and customer service (Shopify, Zendesk, Xero, Zenstores, ClickUp), but operations and production remain manually managed. To apply, please email: madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number 5490

Hands-on role in a growing food business Join an ambitious food manufacturing company on a mission to digitise their operations! You’ll play a key role in setting up and rolling out a new ERP system (Odoo) that will help streamline production, inventory, and order management across the business. What you’ll be doing: Mapping how things currently work across production and sales. Helping configure and test core Odoo modules (Manufacturing, Inventory, Sales, etc.) Supporting the integration of orders from Shopify into Odoo. Creating simple tools and guides to help staff use the system. Setting up basic dashboards for tracking output and performance. Listening to team feedback to make the system work better for them What you’ll need: Studying (or recently finished) Digital Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or similar. Some experience with ERP systems (Odoo is a bonus but not essential). Confident using spreadsheets and picking up digital tools quickly. Great communication skills and happy working in a hands-on, small team. Why it matters: You’ll help move this business from paper-based processes to smart, connected systems. Your work will save time, reduce errors, and set them up for future automation – making a real impact from day one.

A rapidly growing bakery based in Ashton-under-Lyne, offering cupcakes, cakes, and sweet treats nationwide via e-commerce. The business has scaled significantly in recent years. As demand and order complexity grow, there is a need to improve shop floor efficiency and order accuracy to maintain quality and customer satisfaction. To apply, please email: madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number 2016

Help a growing UK bakery modernise how it manages customer orders! We’re looking for a techsavvy intern to explore or build a digital order tracking system that reduces packing mistakes and improves shop floor efficiency. This is a real opportunity to make a practical difference in a fastmoving food business. What you’ll do: Review current workflows and identify key challenges Develop or recommend a barcode-based system to streamline order handling Integrate with Shopify to pull order data and support barcode printing/scanning Work with bakery staff to ensure the system is user-friendly. Produce a summary report with recommendations or a working prototype You’ll need: Basic software development skills (e.g., working with APIs, building web tools) Good problem-solving and communication abilities Some understanding of UX and process mapping Bonus: experience with Shopify, barcodes, or low-code tools Why it matters: Your work will directly support digital transformation and operational efficiency for a business on the rise, with the potential to shape how it scales. Supported by the Made Smarter programme.

The client is a well-established engineering and manufacturing company based in Cumbria. The business designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke plant and equipment, with a strong presence in materials handling, pressure vessels, and structural steelwork. Aligned with Made Smarter goals, they are keen to advance their digital maturity by unifying operational data systems and reducing administrative overheads through smarter use of digital tools.

The Client is looking for a motivated intern to help drive their digital transformation! You’ll work hands-on to streamline internal systems by enhancing how they use Monday.com, a key digital operations tool. Your work will help the business reduce manual admin, make smarter decisions faster, and move towards retiring outdated software. What you’ll do: - Audit and map how Monday.com and Sage are currently used - Design and build improved workflows, forms, and dashboards in Monday.com - Test new processes and gather feedback from the team - Create clear documentation and support internal training - Recommend next steps for retiring legacy systems Desirable Skills: Confidence working with digital platforms like Monday.com and Excel. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Great communication skills to engage with staff and gather insights. A keen interest in process improvement and digital transformation

The Client is an innovative SME based in the Lake District, manufacturing high-performance bicycle drivetrain components. With production now in-house via CNC machining supported by Made Smarter, the company seeks to improve internal coordination between order management and manufacturing processes to support growth and streamline operations. To apply, please email: madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number 1071

Help a fast-growing UK bike parts manufacturer go fully digital with their production planning. This internship is all about making their internal systems smarter, faster, and easier to use. What you’ll do: Build a digital schedule to link orders with CNC machine jobs Connect cloud tools (like Google Sheets) to real-world manufacturing processes Automate file syncing and avoid clashes or errors in production Test your system with real data and real users Create guides so staff can use it confidently What you’ll need: Basic understanding of digital automation and CNC machining Experience with cloud platforms (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive) Some coding skills (Python or Google Apps Script) A curious mind and good communication skills Why it matters: You’ll be solving real problems – like wasted time and production delays – with a system the business will keep using after you’ve gone. You’ll be part of their digital journey, supported by Made Smarter, helping them scale up with smarter tech.

The client is a distinguished UK manufacturer specialising in bespoke, handcrafted Chesterfield furniture. With a heritage dating back to 1780 and a strong commitment to traditional craftsmanship, the business now seeks to adopt digital technologies that preserve quality while enhancing control over production processes.

Digital Design Intern – Bespoke Furniture Innovation Project Join a heritage UK furniture maker in a hands-on digital transformation project. You’ll help digitise handcrafted sofa frame designs using 3D scanning and CAD tools – preserving traditional quality while modernising how products are made. What you’ll do: Scan and model existing furniture frames in 3D to create digital twins. Build a catalogue of CAD ready designs for future production. Test and recommend the best tools for scanning, modelling, and CNC machining. Work alongside expert craftsmen to prototype from your digital designs. Present your process and findings to help secure future innovation funding. You’ll need: Experience in 3D scanning and CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360). A problem-solving mindset with great attention to detail. Confidence documenting workflows and recommending tools. Interest in furniture, product design, or manufacturing (woodworking knowledge a plus – training provided) Why it matters: This project supports a long-standing UK maker in building digital design assets to improve quality control, reduce waste, and scale sustainably. Backed by Made Smarter, you’ll help shape the future of British craftsmanship.

Woodside Scremerston Berwick upon Tweed TD15 2SY

Starscape Star Ceilings Ltd are looking for an intern or interns to help with the following projects. Development of phone app to control a DMX enabled lightsource over Bluetooth using a Bluetooth/DMX bridge. Improvement of existing Arduino programs for special effects lightsource and development of new programs to cover additional effects. Apply with CV and cover letter to David Constantine via email david@starscape.co.uk.

The client is an independent British knitwear brand based in Cumbria, crafting timeless garments with a commitment to sustainable practices and ethical production. With a growing online customer base and a strong heritage in custom-made garments, they are exploring the integration of digital tools to enhance customer experience and strengthen their position in the premium knitwear market.

Help shape the future of online shopping with a British luxury knitwear brand! The Client, a sustainable, independent brand based in Cumbria, is looking for a digital-savvy intern to develop a virtual fitting room prototype for their Shopify e-commerce platform. This exciting project will give customers a personalised, immersive experience when shopping online and help the Client showcase their bespoke garment offerings. Anytime from May 2025 You’ll be: - Mapping the customer journey and spotting key improvement areas -Researching and comparing AR fitting room tools compatible with Shopify -Building a working prototype using low-code tools or third-party apps - Collaborating closely with the Client team to make sure the solution fits production workflows - Creating a simple training guide to help staff use and develop the system

The Client is a creative SME based in Greater Manchester that designs and supplies premium stop-motion animation kits. Their customer base spans educators, students, hobbyists, and creative professionals. The business has identified a strategic opportunity to expand its product offering through immersive digital education. Having already adopted 3D printing to create puppet heads and moulds, the Client now seeks to integrate Augmented Reality (AR) into their kits via a new skills platform. This platform will support learning, increase product engagement, and differentiate the brand internationally To apply, please email; email madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number

Help bring animation education to life! This internship project offers a hands-on opportunity to build an Augmented Reality (AR) learning tool that helps users learn how to assemble and animate physical kits. You’ll be creating a fun, visual, and interactive experience that supports students, hobbyists, and creative professionals. What you’ll be working on: Build a working AR prototype that shows users how to assemble and animate parts of a stop-motion puppet kit Integrate 3D models and create interactive guides using Unity Test your creation with real users and refine it based on feedback Explore how the platform could scale for mobile, tablet, or even wearable AR devices What you’ll need: Experience with Unity (especially C# and scene building) Some familiarity with AR interactions and 3D assets (e.g., importing Blender or STL files) Comfortable documenting your work and communicating ideas clearly Interest in animation or digital learning is a bonus Why it matters: You’ll play a key role in shaping a new digital product that adds real value to physical kits and opens up exciting possibilities in creative education. Your work will help modernise how people learn hands-on animation skills – and may even feed into future learning academies. Make a real impact while building portfolio-ready experience in AR, Unity development, and user-centred design.

The Client is an engineering firm founded in 1959, headquartered in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. The company specialises in designing and manufacturing solutions for vibration control, acoustic isolation, thermal isolation, and precision levelling. Their products and services cater to both industrial and construction sectors, aiming to enhance the performance and longevity of machinery and structures by mitigating the adverse effects of vibration and thermal bridging . They operate a waterjet cutting process, using IGEMS CAM software to programme jobs based on incoming customer orders. These orders often contain repeated sizes within a batch but vary between batches depending on customer specifications. Currently, a skilled programmer manually translates order details into IGEMS programmes. This project seeks to explore and develop a method of automating this process to improve efficiency and reduce repetitive workload. To apply, please email: madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number 1074

Join a forward-thinking engineering team to develop a smart solution that automates how customer orders are turned into CAM programs for waterjet cutting. This project is all about cutting repetitive workload, saving time, and freeing up skilled staff for more valuable tasks. What you’ll be doing: Research and test ways to automate the setup of cutting jobs in IGEMS software Map how orders are processed now and spot where automation can help Build a prototype system that takes in customer order data and outputs ready-to-use CAM files Test your solution with real data and work closely with staff to refine it You’ll need: Programming skills (Python or C# preferred) Some experience or interest in CAD/CAM tools and file formats (e.g. DXF) An analytical mindset – able to spot patterns and turn them into logic Good communication – you’ll be getting feedback from the people who’ll use what you build Why it matters: This is a chance to make a real impact by reducing manual effort, improving consistency, and exploring smarter ways to work using automation and potentially AI. Your work will support a long-term shift toward digital efficiency in manufacturing – a key goal of the Made Smarter programme.

The Client, based in Heywood, Lancashire, specialises in precision embossing technology for global converting industries. With over 80 years of combined experience, the company recently invested in 3D scanning and aims to integrate additive manufacturing (AM) to accelerate prototyping and reduce production lead times. To apply, email: madesmarterinternships@growthco.uk quoting the reference number: 2444

Join a specialist engineering company on an exciting project to bring 3D printing into their production process. You’ll help design and test a new scan-to-print workflow for embossing rollers, making product development faster and more flexible. 🛠 What you’ll do: Build a repeatable 3D printing process using Fusion 360, KeyShot, and Formlabs tools Create and test real prototype rollers using in-house equipment Develop a practical cost model for the new service Write easy-to-follow guides and train the team to use the new tools 🎯 Why it matters: This project is a key step in the company’s digital transformation, helping reduce lead times and open up new revenue streams through advanced manufacturing. ✅ What you’ll need: CAD experience (Fusion 360 ideal) Basic knowledge of 3D printing and file preparation Good documentation and communication skills Interest in hands-on problem solving with support from industry experts You’ll leave with real experience in additive manufacturing, digital workflow design, and technical communication – plus a big impact on a growing business.