SEFTON business leaders are urging small and medium-sized manufacturers to tap into local support as they face rising costs, skills pressures and tough decisions about where best to invest.

The call came at a partnership event at Glass Futures in St Helens, organised by Made Smarter North West, the government-backed programme that helps manufacturers adopt digital technology.

InvestSefton, Sefton Council’s enterprise, business growth and inward investment service, was among the organisations that reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Liverpool City Region’s more than 2,500 manufacturing businesses, which employ around 50,000 people and contribute £2.9bn to the regional economy.

Kristina Swift, Business Development Manager at InvestSefton, said:- “Bringing manufacturers together with Liverpool City Region’s business support and innovation community demonstrated the strength of our regional network. Hearing how Made Smarter and other partners have helped businesses was a reminder of what manufacturers can achieve with the right support. We want Sefton manufacturers to make full use of that expertise. From workforce development and process improvements to technology adoption, there is practical help available. Start a conversation with InvestSefton and we can help you explore the options and connect with the right people.”

Launched in 2018, Made Smarter North West has worked with thousands of manufacturers. Its support includes digital transformation workshops, tailored roadmaps, leadership development, Digital Champions training, internships and match-funded technology grants.

Sefton manufacturers that have worked with Made Smarter include Camper Camper, Happy Drinks Group and Edwards & Hampson in Bootle, Flavourfresh Salads in Southport, and Northwest Fencing and ULEMCo in Aintree.

The event also brought together organisations from the region’s business support and innovation ecosystem, including Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University, RTC North, Sci-Tech Daresbury, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Innovate UK.

Panellists from SolidTek, JPL Flavours and Algeos shared how Made Smarter’s support helped them pinpoint bottlenecks, weigh up their options and decide where to invest in digital technology.

Alain Dilworth, Programme Manager for Made Smarter North West, said:- “Our job is to take the pain out of adopting technology. When you’re running a factory, finding the time to work out what’s worth investing in can be hard enough. AI is widening the choices, and the pace of change makes those decisions harder. Start with what you want to improve in your business. We’ll help you work out what to tackle 1st, what skills you’ll need and where an investment could make a difference. That’s where our partners across Liverpool City Region come in. Between us, we can help businesses find the right expertise and stay with them as they put their plans into practice.”

Sefton manufacturers can contact InvestSefton or visit this website to find out what support is available.