Greater Manchester businesses say they are benefiting from a government-backed internship scheme that brings students into the workplace to help introduce digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and data analytics.
Under the programme, employers receive funding to provide paid placements for students from the University of Salford and across the North West who help them trial and implement new technologies to modernise the way their businesses operate.
The students are paid £12.60 per hour for up to 300 hours of work and gain real, hands-on experience in live manufacturing environments, setting them up for life after they graduate.
Enoch Adediran, a robotics and automation student at the University of Salford, worked with Heyside Plastics in Oldham to explore how automation and digital technologies could be deployed across its plastics manufacturing operations. His contribution was so significant that the company has since recruited him into a permanent role.
Enoch, 28, said the placement allowed him to translate academic learning into real-world impact.
“The internship allowed me to gain valuable hands-on experience in plastics manufacturing and to see how automation can be applied in a real production environment,” he said. “The placement has helped me develop my skills further in areas such as 3D modelling and network architecture, while also giving me insight into how digital technologies can be used to improve manufacturing processes in practice.”
Another University of Salford robotics and automation student, Husan Vokhidov, supported Arden Dies in Stockport, applying AI and machine learning techniques to live CAD/CAM manufacturing data.
“The internship gave me the chance to apply AI and machine learning to real CAD/CAM data, building my technical skills while seeing how digital technologies support advanced manufacturing in practice,” he said.
Over the past year, Made Smarter North West’s latest cohort of 18 interns have worked directly on factory floors and in engineering teams, applying a wide range of digital technologies to real production challenges.
These include robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, CNC and CAD-to-CNC workflows, virtual reality and digital twins, system integration and wider workflow digitisation.
Donna Edwards, Programme Director for Made Smarter North West, said: “These digital internships are delivering exactly what manufacturers need, practical digital skills and fresh thinking, while giving students and graduates paid, hands-on experience on real industrial projects, and a direct stepping stone into employment.”
Since its inception in 2019, Made Smarter has supported over 2,500 manufacturers across the North West, providing access to expert digital advice, technology adoption roadmaps, skills development opportunities, and funded technology projects.
Find out more about the Digital Internship programme on the Made Smarter Internship website.
