Greater Manchester textiles businesses benefit from Made Smarter technology adoption scheme

Made Smarter, the manufacturing sector technology adoption programme, is encouraging more of the region’s textiles businesses to digitalise, and is highlighting the firms in the sector already benefiting from support.

The programme support SME manufacturers with expert technology advice, digital transformation workshops, a leadership programme, digital technology internships, and skills development support. 125 textile firms in the North-west, including 45 in Greater Manchester are already benefiting from the support, including Stockport-based Creative Apparel.

Creative Apparel drew on Made Smarter’s support to invest in a full factory digitalisation. This includes a central IT system to drive and measure smart machinery, linking production all the way to their customers and supply chain, AI for social media trend-spotting and Big Data analytics to identify and respond to patterns sooner. Phil Millar, Managing Director, said:

“The fast fashion industry suffers from a reputation as one of the most damaging to the environment due to the amount of waste generated during the production process and the throw-away nature of many of the products. We want to help address that by becoming a leader for change in the sector by putting sustainability at the heart of our production processes. Accessing support from Made Smarter is helping us accelerate faster towards our vision.”

With a collective turnover of approximately £1.83 billion, and employing around 15,000, Made Smarter believes the textiles industry, which led the first Industrial Revolution in the North West, now has a ‘golden opportunity’ to lead the way in digitalisation also. Alain Dilworth, North West Adoption Programme Manager at Made Smarter, said:

“The textile industry in the North West was at the centre of the first industrial revolution with technological advances enabling cottons, wools, silks and dyestuffs to be produced at unprecedented rates for export around the globe. It is fitting that Made Smarter is now offering its support and expertise to help the same industry embrace the opportunity to lead the fourth industrial revolution.

“Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the industry with supply chains broken, falling sales and regrettably, some businesses having to close. Rebuilding is an opportunity to create a more sustainable approach which enables better resilience by taking advantage of the new digital technologies.

“I am delighted that Made Smarter has been able to support so many of the region’s textile manufacturers to start their digitalisation journey. Our ambition now is to reach out to the hundreds of others across the region to support them to take their first steps to future-proof their business.”

The Made Smarter programme has also been praised by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) for how it is encouraging the sector to adopt new digital technologies and improve sustainability.

Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, commented:

“The success of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West has demonstrated the value of targeted support for SME manufacturers to help them take those first steps on their digitalisation journeys.

“The UK fashion and textile industry has a worldwide reputation for originality, quality, and innovation, combining skilled design and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. To continue building on this achievement and ensure the UK remains competitive against global competition, manufacturers need to embrace current and emerging technologies, and the huge potential digitisation offers, as well as to raise the skills and productivity of the people who work in our sector to the highest level.”