Starscape Star Ceilings Ltd is a leading manufacturer and supplier of fibre optic lighting. The Berwick-based business, which has been operating since 1998, supplies a wide range of markets - including entertainment venues, retail, and direct to consumers.
Having taken part in the Made Smarter programme and benefitting from a digital roadmap and expert technical advice, the company set out to develop and implement a new app that would allow its customers to control their light sources and ceiling displays.
Because Starscape Star Ceilings Ltd lacked the in-house skills to develop the app themselves, they were able to recruit a fully-funded digital intern through the Made Smarter programme to help them bring the project to life.
Stuart Flannigan, a games computing undergraduate at Northumbria University, applied for the digital internship through the Made Smarter website after hearing about the opportunity via a university newsletter. After meeting with Starscape Senior Manager David Constantine, Stuart was offered a three-month fully funded internship and began working with the company in June 2025.
David said: “Because we’d never done anything like this before, we didn’t know how long the project would take, or if we could complete it in the three-month window we had with Stuart. It actually really focused everyone’s minds and pushed us to complete difficult tasks rather than skipping over them.
“We worked closely together on the project, with Stuart being responsible for coding the chips and creating the app customers would eventually use to control the lighting. It turned out to be a fantastic learning experience for all of us.”
The finished app has been beta tested with existing customers and now Starscape is rolling it out to all customers.
Made Smarter digital intern, Stuart Flannigan, said: “One of the most memorable parts of the internship with Starscape was hitting publish on the app and seeing it available to download from app stores. It was a really rewarding experience.
“It was fantastic to work collaboratively on the project and apply the knowledge and skills I’d learnt at university in a real world situation.”
David continued: “I would definitely recommend other North East manufacturers take on a digital intern through the Made Smarter programme. It allowed us to access the specialist skills we needed, and within a time-frame that worked for us. The chances of us finding someone like Stuart were slim, and the fact that Made Smarter was able to fund his internship was a huge bonus.
“It also meant Stuart had something he could add to his CV that was directly linked to his studies. This is something he’s developed himself - from the coding right through to the app itself. He did a fantastic job.”
Stuart said: “Having the experience of developing and releasing an app is hugely beneficial. After I completed my degree course, Starscape invited me back to work on another project, so the internship has really opened up a lot of doors for me.”
If you’re a manufacturing business and would like to find out more about Made Smarter digital internships, visit www.madesmarter.uk.
If you’re a student/graduate and would like to explore available Made Smarter digital internship opportunities, visit https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/internship-programme/become-a-digital-intern/
