Liverpool manufacturers deliver £242m economic boost for North West

A pioneering programme helping Liverpool manufacturers invest in industrial digital technology is forecast to create more than 1,550 new jobs and boost the Region's economy by £242m, new figures reveal.

It comes as businesses across the Region mark National Manufacturing Day, on:- Thursday, 28 September 2023.

The Made Smarter adoption programme was launched to help businesses digitalise, decarbonise, and drive growth.

So far 2,500 manufacturers from across the Region have engaged with the programme, with hundreds going on to receive support through grant funding, impartial technology advice and leadership and skills training to help transform their businesses.

The Government-funded, industry-led initiative has delivered 334 technology projects in the North West, which are forecast to create 1,550 jobs, upskill 2,772 existing roles, and increase North West GVA by £242m.

In Liverpool, 60 technology projects are forecast to create 385 jobs, upskill more than 375 roles and boost the economy by £52m.

These achievements were celebrated at Made Smarter's Impact 4.0 Showcase hosted at Siemens' smart factory which brought together industry leaders, stakeholders, and SMEs to explore the success of the programme and its plans for the future.

Speaking at the event, Paul McLaren, Production Director for BAE Systems, and new Chair of Made Smarter North West's Steering Group, praised the:- 'tremendous' impact of the programme.

Paul McLaren said:- "Made Smarter has demonstrated that targeted support can be a catalyst for growth and a real enabler for change. UK manufacturing is moving into a phase where resilience is as important as it has ever been. Made Smarter is helping SMEs create robust plans to deliver impactful results."

Delegates were also given a special tour of the Siemens factory, in Congleton, which produces more than 1.2m drives and controls each year and achieved carbon neutral status in 2022.

It was an inspiring demonstration of digitalisation and decarbonisation for local SME manufacturers which included:- Firstplay Dietary Foods is a specialist food manufacturer based in Stockport, IoT Horizon, a manufacturer of sensor technology based in Rawtenstall, Bury Black Pudding Company, a food manufacturer based in Bury, and Liversidge Windows, a manufacturer of windows, doors and conservatories based in Oldham.

Speaking at the event, Donna Edwards, Made Smarter North West Adoption Programme Director, said:- "Made Smarter has been on an incredible journey over the last 4 years helping businesses navigate the Pandemic and recover, negotiate supply chain disruption, and labour shortages, as well as focus on solutions to mitigate the energy crisis. It is fantastic to bring together so many of the programme's partners and stakeholders to say thank you, to celebrate our achievements, and to share the message that we have plenty more to do to increase the adoption of digital technologies to improve productivity."

SME manufacturers who have benefited from the programme also shared their stories.

IoT Horizon worked with Made Smarter to develop a sensor that utilises state of the art security protocols to secure sensor data, and a platform to support multiple sensors to manage the energy and environment of buildings.

Deyrick Allen, Managing Director of IoT Horizon, said:- "What I like about Made Smarter is that it is not just about throwing money at you. It is about investing in people, the skills needed to make the most of technologies, and the leadership needed to drive digital transformation."

If you are a North West based SME manufacturer looking to take the next step with digital adoption or leadership skills training get in touch with the Made Smarter team.

Southport and Formby Health Celebrate Success at the PEN Awards

SOUTHPORT and Formby Health is celebrating success at the prestigious 2023 Patient Network Experience Awards. The 7-Day GP Service was the winner for the Measuring, Reporting and Acting category and The Sefton Training Hub was the runner up of the Student Educator of Tomorrow category.

The awards event took place on 28th September at the University of Birmingham and gave the team the opportunity to network and share best practice with industry peers.

The 7 Day GP Service's dedication to improving appointment utilisation and patient experience was recognised at the prestigious awards ceremony. Whilst the Sefton Training Hub was recognised for its student led approach for mental health patients and those with learning difficulties in a primary care setting.

The 7-Day GP Service was also a finalist for Using Insight to Improve Equality of Care and the Sefton Training Hub was a finalist for Patient Experience Educator of Tomorrow with Sefton Training Hub Physician Associates Preceptorship: A Southport and Formby Health Ltd and Southport and Ormskirk Trust partnership in supporting newly qualified Physician Associates.

Dr Lindsay McClelland, Chief Executive and Chair of Southport and Formby Health commented:- "I'm so proud of both the 7-Day GP Service for being awarded winner and The Sefton Training Hub for being awarded runner up in their categories. The 7-Day GP Service has gone above and beyond using new ways to improve appointment utilisation, listening to patients and practices to ensure every resident across Southport and Formby has equitable access and a great patient experience. The Sefton Training Hub has developed innovative new ways to offer community placements for all student nurse disciplines, ensuring nurse students get the depth and breadth of experience they need, in order to become independent, holistic Clinicians. The PENNA Awards gives the deserved recognition for all those involved, who worked so passionately to make this happen."

The Patient Experience Network (PEN) National Awards recognise best practice in patient experience across all facets of health and social care in the UK. PEN's vision is to create a unique platform and resource hub of best practice methods and models across the healthcare industry. The PEN National Awards (PENNA) has the advantage of being a free thinking, independent body that can position itself separately from other healthcare awards, with judges that are experts in their field.