Student and Manufacturer talk Made Smarter Digital Interns programme

Interviewer:
A government-funded scheme called Made Smarter is re-launching its Digital Technology Internship Programme to help manufacturers to tackle exactly this. The programme was so successful the first time that nearly half the students secured full-time jobs.

Joining me now are Niamh Allen, Managing Director of Sustainable Smart Technologies based in Rossendale, and Kammy Nawaz, who interned with Niamh and now has a full-time job as a Technical Field Manager with a different company.

Interviewer:
Let's start with you, Niamh. We hear about digital skills pretty much everywhere now. Have you noticed a gap when it comes to digital skills in the workforce?

Niamh:
Yes, absolutely. We've really noticed the gap, especially in manufacturing, construction, and industrial sectors. There's a real lack of knowledge around areas like data science, robotics, and design engineering.

Programmes like Made Smarter are designed to help get those skills into your organisation.

Interviewer:
For anyone listening, they might be wondering: what exactly are digital skills? It’s quite a broad term, isn’t it?

Niamh :
It’s incredibly broad. There are lots of different pillars within Industry 4.0—robotics, data science, cyber, reviewing and connecting your existing systems, even marketing skillsets.

It’s really about helping traditional manufacturers evolve. For example, something as simple as automating a manual paper process. The idea is to bring these companies into the 21st century.

Interviewer:
So why did you want to get involved with Made Smarter?

Niamh:
We were a family-run technology company, and we’d just built our first environmental sensor. We had lots of ideas but needed help getting our product to market.

Made Smarter helped us invest in digital technology and skills—and crucially, it offered funded support. That made a huge difference when we were starting out. Bringing someone into a startup carries financial risk, but this programme allowed us to assess if someone had the technical skills, the mindset, the work ethic, and if they were a good team fit.

That’s actually how we met Kammy. He came in with a background in software and we supported him in cross-training into operations. He took to it quickly and eventually became our Ops Manager. He stayed with us for four and a half years before moving on to a more specialised role—but we still work closely with him. We can’t get rid of him!

So Made Smarter didn’t just help grow our team—it laid the foundation for long-term partnerships as well.

Interviewer:
Let’s bring you in, Kammy. You joined as an intern—how did you find it?

Kammy:
Oh, it was brilliant. I was looking for a role after completing a software development course, and this gave me the platform to find my feet in the corporate world. I came from a different background, and the internship helped me transition into operations.

Now I’m working for a new company, learning new skills, and using my life experience in a meaningful way.

Interviewer:
I love that. Despite coming from a software background, you've gained even more skills that have helped you progress, haven’t you?

Kammy:
Yeah, I really found my passion. A lot of people might not know this, but LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology was a big part of the work I did with Niamh’s company. That became my niche, and it’s where I’ve been able to specialise and excel in my current role with a company that works specifically in that field.

Interviewer:
Kammy, would you recommend this scheme to others? Were you surprised by what you learned?

Kammy:
Yeah, absolutely—I’d 100% recommend it. I didn’t know much about IoT when I started, but now I’m excelling in that area. Working with Made Smarter was incredible and I’d definitely recommend it to others.

Interviewer:
Niamh, as an employer, what were you expecting going into the internship?

Niamh:
Honestly, we expected it to last three months and that would be it. As a startup, you wonder how you’ll afford wages after the programme ends.

That financial support was crucial in those early days. What we actually found was an employee for life. Kammy became one of the family—and we quickly realised we couldn’t manage without him.

So we did everything we could to secure additional funding to keep him on. It’s a low-risk way for manufacturers to trial new skills, bring youth into the business, and gain fresh ideas and creativity. That’s what you’re really looking for.

Interviewer:
Would you encourage other businesses to give it a go?

Niamh:
Absolutely—100%. If Made Smarter is listening, we’d love to take on another intern!

And if anyone wants to know more, please connect with us on LinkedIn or come visit us in Rossendale. Just search Sustainable Smart Technologies.

Interviewer:
There are reports saying UK manufacturers are facing unprecedented workforce pressures, with 92% expecting skill gaps and over 52,000 vacancies. Do you think schemes like this help close that gap?

Niamh:
Definitely, many companies are set in their ways—especially in construction and industrial sectors. But digital is an opportunity to try something new.

Bringing in someone with a different skillset—someone who brings fresh ideas and creativity. There are so many areas in digital: analysis, cyber, robotics. Whatever your business, you’ll benefit from those skills.

Interviewer:
The pace of change in digital is so fast—is it hard to keep up?

Niamh :
Not really. Manufacturers just need to get involved and take that plunge. There’s lots of support out there—Made Smarter can advise on where to focus for the biggest impact.

Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Bring in someone who does. That’s exactly what Made Smarter is there for—to help with funding and internships.

Interviewer:
Kammy, for anyone thinking of becoming an intern, what advice would you give?

Kammy:
Honestly—the world’s your oyster. You can do anything you want. It’s amazing.

Interviewer:
Love that. Thank you both—Kammy, thank you. Niamh, thank you. It’s been lovely talking to you both.

Find out more about the Digital Interns Programme and how it could benefit your business. Register for Made Smarter today.