A SPECIAL charity gala dinner held to help celebrate the one year anniversary of West Midlands manufacturing and engineering growth scheme Made Smarter has raised more than £2800 for charity.
The money was raised through a charity auction at the event at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, with the proceeds being donated to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Made Smarter is a scheme to help West Midlands based manufacturing and engineering businesses grow by adopting cutting edge technology.
The £1.9million programme is led by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub, and allows companies access to match funded grant funding, internships and digital experts to help take their business to the next level.
More than 200 businesses have signed up to the scheme since it was first rolled out in June 2021, far more than expected.
Businesses receiving grants as a result of the scheme have generated an average GVA of £757,000.
The CWLEP Growth Hub’s managing director Craig Humphrey said: “It’s been fantastic to see just how successful the Made Smarter scheme has been in the West Midlands over such a short space of time.
“Productivity is such a crucial aspect of the economy here in the West Midlands, and Made Smarter is helping so many of the region’s manufacturing and engineering SMEs get the help and support they need.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice, honorary Vice President, Martin Banbury added:“We’re thrilled that the gala dinner raised so much for Acorns.
“Made Smarter is clearly doing great things for SMEs in the West Midlands, and it was lovely to see so many of those that have worked hard for that success putting in generous bids during the charity auction.
“Visit www.madesmarter.uk/ for more information or to sign up to Made Smarter.
