Made Smarter West Midlands’ first cohort of learners for its Leading Change in Digital Transformation programme has successfully been completed, equipping another 6 manufacturing professionals with the skills, confidence and leadership capabilities needed to drive digital change within their organisations.
The programme brought together business leaders from manufacturing businesses across the region, helping them deepen their understanding of digital technologies, automation and organisational change. Through a blend of expert-led sessions, industry visits and peer-to-peer learning, participants explored how to successfully adopt and embed new technologies that can improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
Designed specifically for manufacturing leaders, the programme, led by Ian O’Donnell MBE of Coventry University, focused on the people, processes and leadership behaviours required to deliver successful digital transformation. Participants completed the course with a greater understanding of how to lead change, engage colleagues and encourage them to embrace new processes and systems, and foster a culture of innovation within their businesses.
Ian O'Donnell MBE, Programme Lead and Associate Professor at Coventry University, said:
"It has been a pleasure to work with this cohort of manufacturing leaders and see their commitment to driving meaningful change within their organisations. Digital transformation is about far more than introducing new technologies. It requires strong leadership, clear vision and the ability to engage people at every stage of the journey. Throughout the programme, participants have demonstrated a real willingness to challenge existing ways of working, explore new opportunities and develop the skills needed to lead transformation with confidence. I am delighted to see them complete the programme and look forward to following their continued success as they put their learning into practice."
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.
Participant, Oliver Newbury, Director of Newbury Commercial Glazing said "I thought the course was extremely informative and useful. The sessions provided valuable insights into digital transformation and offered a great opportunity to learn from both the programme content and the experiences of other participants.
“I would recommend the programme to anyone looking to develop their understanding of digital change within manufacturing."
Another of the cohort’s participants, Xu Cao, Technical Director of James Kent Consolidated Ltd said:
"The Made Smarter Leading Change programme has been a valuable and practical learning experience. It has provided me with a much clearer understanding of how digital transformation should be approached as a strategic change process rather than simply implementing new technologies.
One of the most beneficial aspects of the programme was learning structured methods for leading organisational change, engaging stakeholders, and overcoming resistance to new ways of working. The discussions with participants from different industries were particularly insightful, as they demonstrated that many businesses face similar challenges when adopting digital technologies, regardless of their sector.
The programme has encouraged me to evaluate our current manufacturing processes more critically and identify opportunities where digital tools, automation, and data collection can improve efficiency, quality, and decision-making. It also reinforced the importance of developing a clear digital roadmap with measurable objectives and ensuring that people are engaged throughout the transformation journey."
The completion of the first cohort of 2026/27 marks another important milestone in Made Smarter West Midlands' commitment to helping manufacturers develop the skills needed for the future. By investing in leadership development alongside technology adoption, the programme is helping to build a digitally confident workforce capable of driving long-term growth and innovation across the region's manufacturing sector.
Interested in Joining the Next Cohort?
If your business has previously engaged with the Made Smarter programme and you would like to develop your digital leadership skills, we would love to hear from you about joining the next Leading Change in Digital Transformation cohort.
For manufacturers that have not yet taken part in Made Smarter, now is the perfect opportunity to explore how the programme can support your digital transformation journey. From expert advice and technology adoption to skills development and leadership training, Made Smarter offers a range of support designed specifically for manufacturing SMEs.
To find out more about Made Smarter West Midlands or to express your interest in the next cohort of Leading Change in Digital Transformation, get in touch with the team today at madesmarter@wmgrowth.com.