Small manufacturers across the capital are set for a major digital upgrade after London awarded more than £300,000 in grants as part of the first round of the Made Smarter London scheme.
The fund, delivered by London & Partners, aims to help local manufacturers adopt new technologies, improve productivity and strengthen their resilience in the face of increasing demand and global competition.
Twenty small manufacturers have secured grants ranging from £4,500 to £20,000, enabling investment in artificial intelligence tools, robotics, software systems and digital sales platforms. The program aims to increase the technological firepower of London’s manufacturing community, 99.6 per cent of which are SMEs – almost nine in ten companies employ fewer than ten people.
For many of these companies, limited budgets and a lack of digital expertise have historically held back investment in new tools and processes. The new funding will help deliver efficiencies, open access to new markets and support the creation of high-skilled jobs across London’s creative, industrial and food sectors.
The rollout marks the first year the capital has taken part in the Made Smarter initiative, which has already supported more than 3,000 manufacturers in other UK regions, creating thousands of jobs and a projected economic value of more than £300 million.
Vanesa Pérez-Sánchez, head of small business at London & Partners, said manufacturers in the city are keen to innovate: “Manufacturers play a huge role in supporting London’s economy; from creative makers fueling the West End to food and drink suppliers on our high streets. This funding encourages businesses to adopt digital technologies that enable them to work more efficiently and be ready for the future.”
Signorelli Bakery in Newham is one of the first recipients. Founder Rebeca Rosmini secured a £20,000 grant to invest in staff training and digital tools.
“This grant allows us to invest in our team and our future at a time when that is difficult,” she said. “With smarter equipment and a new digital training academy, we can grow, support and educate our neurodiverse and multilingual workforce while maintaining our handmade quality.”
In Croydon, Dancesport International, which makes outfits for West End and cinema productions, has received £12,000 to install digital pattern making software. Founder Gerald Schwanzer expects the technology to reduce costs, reduce waste and increase productivity by up to 40%.
Meanwhile, Bromley-based Laundre will use a £12,700 grant to overhaul systems with AI, CRM tools and digital data libraries. Founder Salli Deighton said the funding allowed her team to make long-planned upgrades that they didn’t have the time or expertise to carry out.
Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth Howard Dawber said the initiative was vital to helping London’s manufacturers modernize and compete: “This funding will provide huge support to small manufacturers across the capital, helping them to invest in new technologies and become more efficient. By helping them to thrive, we can continue to build a better, more prosperous London for all.”
Further rounds of financing will open in early 2026, providing manufacturers with additional opportunities to scale, digitize and strengthen their operations.
Manufacturers seeking support can find details on the Made Smarter website.
