Digital programme helps firms achieve new ambitions

A programme led by East Midlands Chamber to help firms embrace new technologies has supported more than 1,000 companies across the region.

The Digital Upscaler project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, ran from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2023.

It provided SMEs with knowledge, investment and capacity to scale-up.

It achieved this via intensive digital adviser support and specialist consultancy, capital grants to support technology investment, dedicated peer networks and a comprehensive programme of strategic action-planning workshops.

Technology grants valued at £1.6 million in total, delivered as part of the project, have supported companies across a range of sectors to acquire and integrate new enterprise resource planning (ERP) and material requirements planning (MRP) systems, new access and entry systems, as well as install high-performance servers and high-speed Wi-Fi.

As well as supporting 1,068 businesses, Digital Upscaler delivered 7,598 hours of business support, awarded 20 grants and brokered five specialist consultancy projects, while its events programme attracted 1,877 bookings.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Digital technology support has been a core service of East Midlands Chamber for many years now.

“A significant part of that offer was Digital Upscaler, the impact of which can be seen both in the project’s deliverables and in the subsequent growth of the businesses supported.

“ERDF support may well have ended but the chamber’s innovation and technology specialists continue to be on hand to guide scaling businesses on tapping into support from the chamber’s new East Midlands Accelerator projects and through national programmes such as Made Smarter and Innovate UK EDGE.”