Made Smarter expands team with four new appointments to offer more support to Wigan manufacturers
Made Smarter has bolstered its North West team with four new appointments to help Wigan manufacturers invest in technology and skills.
A Government-backed initiative helping Wigan manufacturers invest in technology and skills has bolstered its North West team.
Made Smarter has welcomed Mike Richards-Brown and Tabs Khojani, who will help firms find practical ways to digitalise their operations, while Jane Duffy and Mike Connolly will help businesses prepare their staff and develop the leadership needed to deliver change.
Together they bring decades of experience from some of the region's leading manufacturing, technology and business support organisations.
Mr Richards-Brown joins following roles at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West (AMRC NW) and the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC).
Ms Khojani brings 20 years of experience in Greater Manchester's innovation and business support sector and also joins from NERIC at the University of Salford.
Ms Duffy previously supported firms through the Business Growth Hub across Greater Manchester, while Mr Connolly, a mechanical engineer, has spent more than three decades with global manufacturer Hubbell, working across engineering, quality, operations and HR.
The new recruits will work alongside Made Smarter's staff to help companies develop a digital roadmap and decide where and how to invest, including accessing match-funded grants of up to £20,000.
They will also help businesses build the leadership and workforce skills needed to make those investments work.
Programme director Donna Edwards said: “Technology can unlock huge gains in productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, but businesses need the right expertise and the right people to make it work. These four appointments bring an incredible breadth of experience and will help us meet that growing demand and support even more manufacturers to turn their ambitions into action.”
Ms Khojani, technology adoption specialist, said: “I'm excited to join Made Smarter and work directly with manufacturers to help them unlock their potential. Technology can feel overwhelming, so my role is to help businesses understand where it can make a practical difference. It's not about technology for technology's sake, it's about solving genuine business challenges and creating lasting value.”
Mr Connolly, organisational development and skills specialist, said: “I've spent my career in manufacturing and experienced many of the challenges businesses face, from engineering and operations to skills and people development.
“Made Smarter gives me the opportunity to use that experience to help SME manufacturers develop their people, navigate change and build the skills and capability they need for the future.”