From Evidence to Action: Helping Manufacturing SMEs Go Digital and Green in the West Midlands

Manufacturing SMEs across the West Midlands want to go digital and green, but many are held back by advice that does not reach them, funding schemes they cannot decode and support that is not designed around how a small firm actually operates. From Evidence to Action: Helping Manufacturing SMEs Go Digital and Green in the West Midlands turns findings from an earlier IRC funded study (FFTwo012) into practical, policy ready guidance for government, innovation agencies and regional delivery partners.

The project’s Policy and Practice Framework sets out seven priorities for improving digital and green adoption. It also includes a practical SME support pathway, showing how firms can move from diagnosis through to prioritisation, trial, implementation, scaling and shared learning. A third element, the 3i stakeholder implementation matrix, shows how national policy bodies, regional and local delivery partners, education and training providers, and manufacturing SMEs and their employees could each contribute to delivery.

A Case Study Compendium brings the evidence to life through four anonymised firm level cases, showing different pathways through digital and green adoption, from an integrated digital and green transition supported by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to a green led firm whose digital adoption remains constrained by cost and legacy equipment. A set of infographics presents the key findings in a format designed for quick reference by busy policymakers and delivery partners.

Together, these outputs are intended to help government, Innovate UK and regional partners design support that is easier to navigate, better connected and more responsive to the needs and readiness of manufacturing SMEs.

Download the framework, case studies and infographics using the buttons on the right.

You can read the report from the earlier study by following this link.