Small manufacturers across the capital are set for a major digital upgrade after London awarded more than £300,000 in grants through the first round of the Made Smarter London programme.
Delivered by London & Partners, the fund is designed to help locally based makers adopt new technologies, improve productivity and strengthen their resilience amid rising 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 programme aims to lift the technological firepower of London’s manufacturing community, 99.6 per cent of which are SMEs — almost nine in ten employing fewer than ten people.
For many of these businesses, limited budgets and a lack of digital expertise have historically slowed down investment in new tools and processes. The new funding will help unlock efficiency gains, open access to new markets and support the creation of highly skilled jobs across London’s creative, industrial and food sectors.
The rollout marks the capital’s first year participating in the Made Smarter initiative, which has already supported more than 3,000 manufacturers in other UK regions, generating thousands of jobs and more than £300 million in projected economic value.
Vanesa Pérez-Sánchez, Director of Small Businesses at London & Partners, said the appetite for innovation among the city’s manufacturers was strong: “Manufacturers play a big part in supporting the London economy; from creative makers that fuel the West End to food and drink suppliers across our high streets. This funding is encouraging businesses to adopt digital technologies that allow them to work more efficiently and be future ready.”
Among the first wave of recipients is Signorelli Bakery in Newham. 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’s difficult to do,” she said. “With smarter equipment and a new digital training academy, we can grow, support and upskill our neurodiverse and multilingual staff while keeping our handmade quality.”
In Croydon, Dancesport International, which produces outfits for West End and cinema productions, has received £12,000 to install digital pattern-cutting software. Founder Gerald Schwanzer expects the technology to cut 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 allows her team to complete long-planned upgrades they never had the time or specialist knowledge to deliver.
Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth Howard Dawber said the initiative is essential to helping London’s makers modernise and compete: “This funding will hugely support small manufacturers across the capital, helping them invest in new technologies and become more efficient. By helping them thrive, we can continue to build a better, more prosperous London for all.”
More funding rounds will open in early 2026, offering manufacturers additional opportunities to scale, digitise and strengthen their operations.
Manufacturers seeking support can find details on the Made Smarter website.
