Last month, Made Smarter West Midlands successfully concluded its Leading Change in Digital Transformation course.
The course empowered 26 individuals from manufacturing firms to develop their understanding of automation and digitisation within the industry and learn how to embed these skills and new technologies into their businesses.
The inaugural course provided participants with the knowledge required to drive transformational change within their organisations. It fostered personal growth and positioned the cohort members as digital champions, ready to inspire and lead their teams towards a technology-driven future.
The course launched with its first session at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), which has been a key strategic partner of Made Smarter West Midlands since the programme’s inception in 2021. The cohort were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the MTC’s state-of-the-art facility and heard from industry experts representing both the MTC and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
Sessions were led by Coventry University’s Ian O’Donnel MBE, and, focusing on developing the leadership capabilities essential for successful digital transformation.
For the final face-to-face session, participants visited and toured the MakeUK Technology Hub in Birmingham. MakeUK plays a vital role in championing engineering and manufacturing across the UK and this visit provided participants with further insights into cutting-edge developments in the field.
- “Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the Made Smarter Leading Change in Digital Transformation course, but the programme content was also extremely valuable as I embark on a new digital transformation project. It provided me with additional tools to ensure the project’s success.”
— Colin Selstrom, ProtectaPet - “An interesting and engaging course led by a highly knowledgeable tutor with extensive experience. Connecting with peers from other businesses to share knowledge and ideas was incredibly valuable. The MTC tour was a highlight, showcasing impressive equipment and projects.”
— Dan Moir, Wickens Engineering - “Great course with excellent insights into the challenges of digital transformation projects. I highly recommend it to companies embarking on or already undertaking a digital transformation journey. My key takeaway is that digital transformation is a journey, not a destination.”
— Ola Sanda, Craven Dunnill
The successful course illustrated Made Smarter West Midlands’ commitment to skills development and fostering an innovative, digitally skilled workforce -By empowering regional manufacturers, the programme ensures the West Midlands remains at the forefront of manufacturing excellence in the UK.