New roles to help Lancashire firms invest in technology and skills

Four new specialists have joined the government backed growth support agency Made Smarter to help manufacturers across Lancashire invest in technology and skills.

Mike Richards-Brown and Tabs Khojani will help firms find practical ways to digitalise their operations, while Jane Duffy and Mike Connolly will help businesses prepare their people and develop the leadership needed to deliver change.

Together they bring decades of experience from some of the region's leading manufacturing, technology and business support organisations.

Mike Richards-Brown joins following roles at the Blackburn based Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC).

Tabs brings 20 years of experience in Greater Manchester's innovation and business support sector and also joins from NERIC at the University of Salford.

Jane previously supported businesses through the Business Growth Hub across Greater Manchester, while Mike Connolly, a mechanical engineer, has spent more than three decades with global manufacturer Hubbell, working across engineering, quality, operations and HR.

Donna Edwards, programme director for Made Smarter North West, said: “Manufacturers know they need to change, and the appetite to embrace digital transformation continues to grow.

“Technology can unlock huge gains in productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, but businesses need the right expertise and the right people to make it work. These four appointments bring an incredible breadth of experience and will help us meet that growing demand and support even more manufacturers to turn their ambitions into action.”

Their recruitment comes as manufacturers face growing pressure to become more productive, overcome skills challenges and keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies.

New registrations rose 49% last year, with a further 128 manufacturers coming forward in the first five months of 2026/27.

The new recruits will work alongside Made Smarter's existing team to help companies develop a digital roadmap and decide where and how to invest, including accessing match-funded grants of up to £20,000.

They will also help businesses build the leadership and workforce skills needed to make those investments work, through the Leading Digital Transformation and Leading Change for Digital Champions programmes, and Digital Technology Internships.

Tabs said: “Technology can feel overwhelming, so my role is to help businesses understand where it can make a practical difference. It's not about technology for technology's sake, it's about solving genuine business challenges and creating lasting value.”

Mike Connolly, organisational development and skills specialist, said: “I've spent my career in manufacturing and experienced many of the challenges businesses face, from engineering and operations to skills and people development.

“Made Smarter gives me the opportunity to use that experience to help SME manufacturers develop their people, navigate change and build the skills and capability they need for the future.”

Launched in 2019, Made Smarter North West has engaged with 2,500 manufacturers, created 705 digital roadmaps and supported 451 technology projects. The programme has provided £8.3m in funding, helping unlock £28m of investment from manufacturers, while 282 businesses have received skills or leadership training and 105 digital interns have been placed with businesses.

Technology projects supported by the programme are forecast to generate £336m in additional gross GVA, create 2,231 new jobs and upskill 4,036 roles, delivering an estimated £8 return for every £1 of government investment.