Robotics: Small Businesses
(asked on 4th September 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on accelerating the uptake of robotics via expanding the Made Smarter Adoption programme for SMEs.
Answered by
Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to accelerating the adoption of robotics and other advanced technologies among SME manufacturers by expanding the Made Smarter Adoption programme and establishing the Robotics Adoption Hubs.
Over the past three years of the programme, more than 1,600 businesses have benefited from digital roadmaps, over 400 SME leaders have received digital adoption training and over £16 million in private investment has been leveraged. Since April 2025, the programme now covers all nine English regions and, from 2026/27, up to £99 million will support further programme growth and impact.