A specialist delivery team and a regional steering group have been appointed to lead the Made Smarter South East programme. Their goal is to help manufacturing and engineering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt advanced manufacturing technologies.
The £1.55 million programme is backed by the UK Government and is being run by Surrey County Council. It works in partnership with 11 local authorities and local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) across the South East of England.
Since its launch in April, more than 200 businesses have registered for the programme. It offers expert advice, leadership and skills training, student placements, and match-funded technology grants of up to £20,000. The programme aims to boost productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability for participating companies.
Leading the programme is a team of industry experts. Bryan Vint is the programme manager, supported by Brune Torrente as programme support officer. Technology adoption specialists William Wilsnagh, Jez Heys, and Keith Russell work directly with businesses. They assess company needs and create customised digital roadmaps. Chitra Cherodian, an advisor on organisation and workforce development, focuses on improving leadership skills and workforce capabilities to support long-term change.
This experienced team provides hands-on support to manufacturing and engineering SMEs across Berkshire, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Solent, Surrey, and West Sussex.
Strong Expertise
Bryan Vint, the programme manager, said, “More than 200 businesses have signed up, showing clear interest in the benefits Made Smarter South East offers. We have built a team with strong expertise in technology, leadership, and workforce development to help businesses turn their ambitions into real results.”
The programme is overseen by the Made Smarter South East Steering Group. This group includes leaders from industry, the public sector, and the Department for Business and Trade. Paul Jones, managing director of Morgan Furniture in Hampshire, chairs the group. Cris Hiche, commercial director at MGI Engineering Ltd in Chipping Norton, is deputy chair. Other members include Louise Butt, director of Space South Central Enterprise Network in Portsmouth; Chris Monk, managing director of Blue Leaf Composites in Cowes; and Jim Davison, national membership director at Make UK.
Cris Hiche said, “I am honoured to be part of the steering group. With our experience in Formula 1, MGI shares Made Smarter’s mission to deliver innovative solutions that help businesses grow.”
Jim Davison from Make UK added, “Make UK has long supported the national rollout of Made Smarter. We have seen how digital adoption can increase productivity, boost competitiveness, and create high-value jobs. By bringing our knowledge to the programme, we will help manufacturers in the South East unlock the full benefits of digital transformation. This partnership will support the sector’s growth and resilience for many years.”
The steering group also includes important representatives from regional government and business support agencies. These are Chris Burchell, head of Hampshire Growth Hub; Steve Samson, head of economy at Kent County Council; Helen Brind, head of business and skills for Enterprise Oxfordshire; and Kane Tudor, economic development projects coordinator at East Sussex County Council.
