Stockport manufacturers join steering group for SMEs, Stockport 2026

Key Points

• Two Stockport manufacturers have joined a new North West steering group to strengthen support for SME manufacturers in the region.
• The steering group will map existing support, identify unmet needs, and co-design interventions to boost technology adoption, access to funding and workforce skills.
• Members will share practical operational insights, promote peer-to-peer learning and help shape programmes that are fit for smaller manufacturers.
• The initiative will coordinate with regional bodies and programmes such as Made Smarter and business growth hubs to scale successful pilots.
• Success will be tracked through measurable outcomes including SME engagement, technology uptake, training completion and improved productivity.

Stockport(Manchester Mirror)May 21, 2026 — Two Stockport-based manufacturers have been named as members of a newly formed North West steering group designed to strengthen support for small and medium-sized manufacturing firms across the region. This initiative brings together industry practitioners, local growth organisations and sector specialists to identify gaps in existing support and to shape targeted programmes that help SMEs adopt new technologies, improve productivity and access funding and skills support.

Who are the Stockport companies and why were they selected?

As reported by Marketing Stockport, the two companies were chosen for their sector experience and local presence, and organisers said their real-world manufacturing knowledge will ensure the group reflects the immediate needs of SME firms. The named firms will share practical insights from operations, advise on interventions likely to work for smaller manufacturers, and promote group initiatives across local supply chains.

What are the steering group’s immediate objectives and success measures?

The steering group’s immediate objectives are to map existing support, identify unmet needs, and co-design interventions that deliver tangible outcomes for SMEs, such as higher adoption of digital tools, more successful funding bids, and improved workforce skills. Success will be measured through metrics such as the number of SMEs helped, technology adoption rates, productivity improvements and the volume of follow-on investment or training delivered to participating firms.

Which partnerships and programmes will the group work with?

The group will coordinate with regional initiatives and business support bodies already active in the North West, including programmes that promote digital adoption in manufacturing such as Made Smarter and local business growth hubs that offer funding, innovation support and training pathways. These established networks will provide routes for scaling successful pilots and for directing SMEs towards grants, advisory services and technical expertise.

How will the steering group improve access to funding and innovation?

By pooling the lived experience of manufacturers and the resources of public and private partners, the steering group intends to clarify application routes, highlight relevant funding opportunities, and tailor grant support or advisory offers to the realities of smaller plants and workshops. Members will also act as advocates for policy or programme adjustments where current offers are ill-suited to micro and small manufacturers, aiming to reduce administrative barriers and align support with on-the-ground needs.

Why is local manufacturing support necessary in the North West in 2026?

Regional analyses and sector programmes point to persistent barriers that smaller manufacturers face: limited management capacity to lead digital transformation, skills shortages, and difficulty converting innovation into scalable business outcomes. The North West has a strong manufacturing base, but translating regional ambition into results for SMEs requires intermediaries that connect policy and programmes to practical operational changes on factory floors — a gap this steering group aims to close.

Who will benefit directly from the steering group’s work?

Local SME manufacturers, particularly those with limited in-house resources for R&D, digital adoption or skills development should be the main beneficiaries, gaining easier access to tailored support, mentoring and peer-to-peer learning. Supply-chain partners and regional economic development actors also stand to gain as stronger SMEs increase regional productivity and resilience, and as successful pilots create repeatable models for other places to adopt.

What governance and engagement model will the steering group use?

Organisers have indicated the steering group will use a mix of regular meetings, themed working groups and sector consultations to ensure outputs are practical and tested by businesses before wider rollout. This governance approach aims for transparency, with clear short-, medium- and long-term milestones tied to measurable business outcomes such as technology uptake and training completion rates.

What commitments have local public-sector partners made?

Local business support organisations and growth hubs have committed to providing channels for communication and delivery—matching SMEs to specialists, promoting funding windows, and facilitating workshops and events that link manufacturers to technical advisers and peer networks. Such commitments will help ensure that solutions developed by the steering group reach firms that need them most and are accompanied by the practical help required to implement change.

What role will digital adoption and AI play?

Regional initiatives in the North West increasingly focus on digital adoption, automation and AI as levers for productivity and competitiveness. The steering group will prioritise helping SMEs understand which technologies deliver meaningful returns, how to access trials or pilot funding, and how to recruit or upskill staff to operate new systems, aligning closely with the objectives of programmes like Made Smarter.

What immediate activities can SMEs expect?

SMEs can expect an initial phase of needs-mapping and outreach, followed by pilot projects that test new advisory models, funding navigation clinics, and peer-learning roundtables. These practical activities will be designed to generate fast feedback loops so the group can adapt support models quickly and scale successful approaches across the North West.

What do industry leaders say about peer-led support?

Industry leaders and regional programme managers have emphasised that peer-led and practitioner-informed support often has better uptake among SMEs because it is grounded in real operational experience and avoids the pitfalls of overly academic or one-size-fits-all interventions. The Stockport firms’ inclusion on the steering group is intended to ensure that the voice of working manufacturers is central to programme design.

What are the risks and how will they be mitigated?

Potential risks include the duplication of existing services, insufficient reach into micro-businesses, and the challenge of sustaining long-term funding for programmes once initial pilots conclude. The steering group plans to mitigate these by coordinating closely with existing delivery partners, prioritising measurable pilot outcomes, and setting clear escalation routes to regional funders and policymakers where systemic gaps are identified.

What does this mean for the North West economy?

Stronger SME manufacturing support can contribute to regional productivity gains, foster higher-value jobs and encourage investment in local supply chains. By helping smaller manufacturers to adopt technology and skills, the region could see incremental improvements in competitiveness that compound across sectors over time.

Background of the development

The North West has a long industrial heritage and a dense network of small and medium-sized manufacturers that form the backbone of local supply chains. In recent years, national and regional programmes such as Made Smarter have sought to accelerate digital adoption among SMEs by offering technology adoption guidance, funded trials and brokered expertise. Despite these offers, many smaller manufacturers struggle to navigate funding streams and practical implementation, creating a persistent gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground change; local business growth hubs and councils have advocated for practitioner-led groups to co-design fit-for-purpose interventions.

Prediction: How this development can affect SME manufacturers in the North West

This steering group is likely to produce more practical, targeted support that fits the day-to-day realities of SME manufacturers, increasing the chance of successful technology adoption and productivity gains among smaller firms. If the group achieves rapid, measurable pilot results such as higher digital tool uptake, successful grant applications and demonstrable efficiency improvements it could catalyse wider investment and greater confidence among SMEs to engage with innovation programmes. For micro and family-run manufacturers, the immediate benefit will be clearer signposting and peer advice, while medium-term gains could include improved workforce skills and stronger local supply chains that raise resilience to market shocks; however, tangible impact will depend on the group’s ability to scale pilots, secure sustainable funding and coordinate with regional delivery partners.