Sheffield-based digital skills programmes to help manufacturers build AI-ready leaders

New digital skills courses delivered by experts at Sheffield Hallam University are aiming to help SME manufacturers embrace and capitalise on artificial intelligence to boost productivity and drive growth.

Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber is offering fully funded training to help companies develop leadership capability as advanced technologies become increasingly central to competitiveness and innovation.

Delivered by a team of experts at Sheffield Hallam University, the programmes draw on expertise from across its business, technology and engineering schools. Participants gain practical insight into how digital manufacturing technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing, are applied in real-world settings.

The government-backed digital adoption programme is inviting manufacturing SMEs to register their interest in two complementary skills programmes, Digital Manufacturing Leadership (Digital Leaders) and Digital Manufacturing Champions (Digital Champions), which support businesses at both strategic and operational level with digital transformation.

Digital Leaders focuses on equipping senior managers with the strategies and skills to adopt cutting-edge digital technologies and lead organisational change. Meanwhile, Digital Champions is designed to equip engineers and operational leads with the practical skills and confidence to successfully drive digital adoption and business growth.

Participants also gain access to Sheffield Hallam University’s manufacturing and engineering labs and are supported in developing a bespoke, tech-enabled business strategy. This helps businesses connect leadership development with wider Made Smarter support such as digital internships, technical advice and capital investment grants.

Since 2021, 88 manufacturing businesses have built digital leadership capability through these courses, including Sheffield Forgemasters, a major UK steel and heavy engineering manufacturer, and Laser Scanning, providers of laser scanning and metrology services, both in Sheffield; and Andel, a Barnsley-based manufacturer of specialist leak detection, flood defence and environmental protection systems.

Dr Marshall Booth, technical director for Andel, said: “One of the most valuable aspects of the course was not just the new processes and project management skills we were introduced to, but the focus on staff engagement. Helping people get on board with change, especially when they have been working in the same way for more than 20 years, can be the biggest challenge when making significant changes.”

The next programmes will see Digital Manufacturing Champions delivered in Leeds and Digital Manufacturing Leadership in York, both starting on Wednesday February 4.

The courses, which are delivered over eight and nine weeks respectively, blend face-to-face workshops, online webinars and a manufacturing site visit, allowing participants to see technology adoption in action.

Vincent Traynor, associate professor of change leadership at Sheffield Hallam University, said:

“While these programmes focus on AI, robotics and digital technology, their real impact is on people. We support leaders at every level of a manufacturing business, from senior decision-makers to those on the shop floor, helping them learn from others and build the confidence needed to lead change successfully.

“The programmes are designed to be flexible and realistic for busy manufacturing businesses, giving delegates the space to step back, reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas with peers facing similar challenges.”

Jessica Armitage, programme manager for Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, said: “Over the past five years, these programmes have shown just how powerful the right skills and leadership support can be for manufacturing SMEs. We have seen businesses grow in confidence, improve communication between leadership and the shop floor, and move from talking about digital transformation to actually delivering it.

“January is an ideal moment for manufacturers to kick start their digital transformation, particularly as technologies like artificial intelligence become central to productivity and competitiveness.”