London Packaging Week announces raft of new strategic partners
A number of new associations and industry bodies have partnered with London Packaging Week 2026, with the event hoping to promote a more unified and collaborative industry approach
The announcement came as part of the Autumn Budget released by the UK government on October 30th
Made Smarter, a government programme aiming to accelerate digital transformation among SME manufacturers, has been expanded include all regions of England, following the announcement of the Autumn Budget on October 30th.
Among the announcements made in the Budget, the UK government expanded on its plans for the Made Smarter adoption programme by investing £16m into all nine English regions in 2025/26.
Launched in the North West of the UK in 2019, Made Smarter has so far engaged with 2,500 manufacturers and 330 businesses which have all reportedly secured £7.1m of matched funding from the initiative over the last six years.
The industry-backed scheme has so far helped companies to invest in robotics, 3D printing, sensors, and AI, among other technologies.
The investment in the North West includes 379 technology projects which are reportedly forecast to create over 1,700 new jobs and add £267m to the UK economy over the next three years.
The Budget also set out plans for an updated industrial strategy which would extend the Made Smarter programme even further with £37m of funding in 2025/26 as well as long-term funding for what has been described as “growth-driving sectors”.
Brian Holliday, co-chair of Made Smarter and managing director of Siemens Digital Industries, says: “Yesterday’s budget announcements on the Made Smarter Adoption and Innovation programmes are a tremendously positive acknowledgement of the impact that Made Smarter is having on UK manufacturing.
“I am particularly pleased the programme has been supported by successive governments, helping to stimulate longer-term thinking and long-term growth, now backed up by an emerging industrial strategy.”
Two packaging manufacturers were among the 23 to recently secure financial backing from the government initiative in the North West.
The Made Smarter grant was secured by Duo UK, a Manchester-based manufacturer of packaging products, and James Labels & Supplies, a manufacturer of self-adhesive labels and swing tickets based in Bacup.
Duo UK has used the initiative to invest in a cloud-based software solution which captures shop floor data from machinery via sensors and displays in real-time on a web app.
Tom Gibson, production manager at Duo UK, says: “Made Smarter’s support, in terms of its guidance, the grant and workforce development, has not only made this data and systems integration project a reality but accelerated our future plans.”
Commenting on the benefit of such grants, director of Made Smarter North West Donna Edwards explains: “These technology projects will have a tremendous impact on individuals, businesses, the sector, and society.
“They will boost efficiency, productivity, and growth, creating new jobs and upskilling existing roles, all while shifting the dial on creating a more sustainable approach to manufacturing.”
Made Smarter also offers SME manufacturers access to workshops on digital transformation, technology advice from industry experts, as well as training courses on skills and leadership.
Made Smarter have encouraged those wishing to apply for future grants to seek out its official website where you can register your interest.
You can also check out Print Monthly’s full coverage of the recent Autumn Budget here.
