Manufacturing businesses across West Sussex have secured match-funded technology grants of up to £20,000 through the Made Smarter South East growth programme to implement artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and digital software.
The initiative, delivered by a consortium including West Sussex County Council, is in its second year of operation following funding secured from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The scheme offers technology grants, leadership development, digital skills training, funded internships, and technical advice to regional manufacturing firms.
Among the recipients, Worthing-based plastic injection moulding specialist Nordell secured a £17,000 grant to implement an artificial intelligence invoice processing system.
In Partridge Green, cycling product developer The Rider Firm secured a £10,000 grant toward advanced computing equipment and 3D printing technology. The investment project is expected to create four jobs alongside training existing employees.
Paul Mason, Managing Director of Nordell, said: “We joined the Made Smarter programme to challenge our thinking, strengthen our internal skills, and identify practical opportunities where technology could support the next stage of our growth. This investment goes beyond digitising a finance process. It is focused on creating a platform for future growth, freeing our people to focus on activities that add value, and giving us better visibility and control across the business.”
Councillor Yvonne Gravely, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, went on to say: “We’ve been listening to West Sussex businesses to understand what they need in order to seize opportunities for growth. Made Smarter South East does just that; it enables our manufacturers to embrace innovation, access specialist support, upskill their employees, and make the most of funding to adopt and embed new technologies with confidence.
“It is fantastic to see local businesses such as Nordell and The Rider Firm benefiting from the programme. Their investments demonstrate how digital technology can drive productivity, support workforce development and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of manufacturing in West Sussex.”
The regional funding distribution follows Made Smarter’s national expansion, which has allocated grant funding across regional manufacturing clusters in the North West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire. Public sector evaluations confirm that match-funded technology adoption across regional small and medium-sized manufacturers has generated measurable gains in operational productivity and headcount growth.
Image source: West Sussex Council
