Paid placements give businesses a fast, low-risk way to test and apply new technologies, modernise processes and build confidence in digital transformation, while giving students real, hands-on experience inside live manufacturing environments.
Made Smarter, the government-backed adoption programme, is showing how flexible, project-led internships can help businesses access specialist skills and explore technologies they would not otherwise have the time or capacity to pursue.
Over the past year, Made Smarter North West’s latest cohort of 18 interns has worked directly on factory floors and in engineering teams, applying a wide range of digital technologies to real production challenges. These include robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, CNC and CAD-to-CNC workflows, virtual reality and digital twins, system integration, and wider workflow digitisation.
While the programme is focused on skills development and technology adoption, early employment outcomes are beginning to emerge, with two interns already offered permanent roles as businesses look to retain digital capability and momentum.
Read the full article in DPA's March 2026 issue