Arden Group’s Lasercomb Team amongst 20 new digital leaders empowered to deliver smarter manufacturing with Made Smarter

Posted on: Monday, February 17th, 2025

The Lasercomb Team, part of the Arden Group, are in the latest cohort of 20 manufacturing firms to have completed Made Smarter’s trailblazing leadership programme.

Two team members at our Redditch site, Izzy Roberts and Mike Parker, are amongst the recent graduates to have completed the Leading Digital Transformation (LDT) Programme.

This initiative, part of the government-funded Made Smarter North West Adoption programme, empowers SME manufacturers to embrace cutting-edge digital technologies. It’s designed for leaders in the manufacturing sector, equipping participants with the strategies and skills to drive smarter manufacturing.

Delivered over three months by Manchester Metropolitan University, the programme includes a mix of workshops, webinars, case studies, and site visits to see digital technologies in action.

Izzy, an Operations Analyst, and Mike, Sales and Technical Support, have both found the programme really beneficial for their roles and to help drive forward our digital transformation.

Izzy said: “Recent developments and partnerships in our company, especially since our acquisition by Arden Dies, have allowed us access to more resources for continued professional development. This course was one of the first steps in a long journey to digital advancement and has helped establish a road map to share with our team.”

Mike added: “This programme has helped Izzy and I develop the skills to contribute to the transformative change taking place at Arden. One of the key takeaways has been how to look at technology projects from the perspective of everyone involved and to map out all the processes. It has been a valuable experience.”

The Arden Group has been part of the Made Smarter initiative since its launch in 2019, and it has played a key role in accelerating our digital transformation by equipping our business and team with the skills and strategies necessary to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry.

Manufacturers across the North West are now encouraged to register their interest for the next series of programmes.

Ruth Hailwood, Made Smarter’s Organisation and Workforce Development Specialist Adviser, said: “Made Smarter has taken a people-first approach to helping SME manufacturers adopt technology tools to take their businesses forward.

“Our Leading Digital Transformation programme is designed to be flexible for manufacturing leaders to fit around their busy schedules, allowing them to take time out of their business to reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas, experiences and opportunities with their peers in manufacturing.

“This supports leaders to take their entire organisation and people through digital transformation successfully and maximise the opportunities for their business.”

To find out more visit: madesmarter.uk