Sixteen pioneering manufacturers are the first in the South East to start transforming their businesses with Made Smarter, just months after the launch of the £1.55m Government-backed adoption programme.
The companies, which span sectors from aerospace and plastics to food & beverage, electronics, printing and furniture, have completed a Made Smarter Digital Transformation Workshop to identify opportunities for technology adoption and create a bespoke roadmap for change.
Launched in April, the programme has already registered more than 300 businesses who have signed up for expert advice, leadership and skills training, student placements, and match-funded technology grants of up to £20,000 to help SMEs improve productivity, competitiveness and sustainability.
Of these, 75 manufacturers have either completed or scheduled a Digital Transformation Workshop, highlighting the strong pipeline of activity and the appetite among South East firms to embrace digital adoption.
The trailblazing businesses include:
- 3-Way Displays, based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, a family-run business creating bespoke display units for the beauty and fragrance industries.
- Addlux, based in Farnham, Hampshire, a specialist provider of high-quality, bespoke LED lighting solutions for clients including Manchester United, Ipswich Museum, Boots and Currys.
- Art4site, based in Wye, Kent, a fine art printing studio producing high-quality giclée prints for artists, illustrators, photographers and publishers nationwide.
- Bear Hug Campers, based in Liss, Hampshire, a bespoke campervan conversion business now shifting from fully custom builds to a more scalable, product-oriented model.
- Cambertronics, based in Cranleigh, Surrey, a designer and manufacturer of high-tech electronic assemblies for sectors including automotive, marine, agritech and industrial electronics.
- Cocoba Chocolate, based in Strood, Kent, a chocolatier producing handcrafted products for its own brand and private label, supplying major retailers.
- Ercol Furniture, based in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, is a renowned manufacturer of furniture.
- Gibbs Gears, based in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, a family-owned precision engineering group supplying gears and complex gearing systems to aerospace, EV, space and robotics sectors.
- GW Shelter Solutions, based in Southsea, Hampshire, a designer, supplier, assembler and installer of modular bus shelters for councils and contractors across the UK.
- Lanoguard, based in Newhaven, East Sussex, a manufacturer of vehicle underbody rust protection products, including sprays, grease kits and accessories.
- Lightricity, based at Oxford Science Park, Oxford, a manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic devices for aerospace and industrial IoT applications.
- MT Millar, based in Reading, Berkshire, a designer and manufacturer of custom office desks and medical trolleys for technical and healthcare environments.
- Nordell, based in Worthing, West Sussex, a plastic injection moulding company specialising in cleanroom production, tooling design and value-added services across multiple sectors.
- SI Protech, based in Littlehampton, West Sussex, a specialist in plastic injection moulding and sustainable packaging, developing recyclable, biodegradable and food-grade products.
- Solstrand, based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, a sub-contract precision engineering company producing components and assemblies for aerospace and defence.
- The Homemade Brownie Company, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, a manufacturer of brownies and gluten-free and vegan treats for retail, trade and events.
With Made Smarter’s support, this first wave of manufacturers are now pursuing a wide range of digital projects, from robotics, automation and AI to upgraded ERP systems and smarter stock management. Many are also investing in simulation tools, digital twins and online integration to improve efficiency and scale operations. Crucially, businesses are pairing technology with leadership training and workforce upskilling to build long-term resilience and sustainable growth.
James Valentine, Director at Solstrand, said:
"As a heritage business with strong roots and skilled people, we have recognised the need to update how we work. Made Smarter helped us identify where digital tools can have the biggest impact. We are now looking at collaborative robotics for repetitive machining tasks, video-based training to capture key processes, and smarter inventory management to reduce waste and improve traceability. With Made Smarter’s support, we are shaping a more connected and efficient operation while laying the groundwork for future sustainability.”
Olivia Stroud, Chief Operating Officer at 3-Way Displays, said:
“We’ve built our reputation on craftsmanship, flexibility, and client relationships, but many of our internal systems are still manual or fragmented. Made Smarter is exactly what we need. We now have a clear set of priorities and are engaging with the right programmes to upskill our team, improve our systems, and future-proof the business.”
Made Smarter South East is delivered by Surrey County Council in partnership with 11 local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Bryan Vint, Programme Manager for Made Smarter South East, said: “It is hugely encouraging to see so many beginning their transformation so soon after launch. It shows the real appetite among South East manufacturers to embrace digital technology and highlights the immediate impact Made Smarter is having.
“Every company is on its own journey, starting from a different point and with different ambitions, but each has found a clear path forward through the programme. Together, these firms are already showing how digital tools can reshape manufacturing, from optimising production and improving traceability to reducing waste and upskilling people, with benefits that range from higher productivity and revenues to new jobs, internships and more sustainable operations.
“Every SME manufacturer in the South East has the potential to benefit, whether they make chocolate, electronics, precision components or furniture. Made Smarter is here to help them build confidence, take the right next steps and unlock growth.”