Preston students brings digital innovation to Lancashire factory floors
Students from University of Lancashire are helping manufacturers across Lancashire adopt digital tools and modern production methods through the Made Smarter Digital Internship programme.
The government-funded initiative enables paid placements to give businesses a fast, low-risk way to test and apply new technologies, modernise processes and build confidence in digital transformation, while giving students real, hands-on experience inside live manufacturing environments.
Ibrahim Syed Shah, a graphic design student at the University of Lancashire, worked with TheWorkwear Ltd in Burnley to improve digital design, branding and production workflows.
“The placement helped me develop my design skills in a real working environment and understand customer and market needs,” he said. “I created brand assets the team can continue to use and contributed ideas around the future direction of the brand.”
Ibrar Syed, Director at TheWorkwear Ltd, added: “Ibrahim brought fresh creative thinking and practical design skills that added real value to our business. The placement allowed us to explore new ideas and approaches we may not otherwise have considered.”
In another project, Sana Fatima, a Master of Business Administration student at the University of Lancashire, was paired with a rubber manufacturer on a system integration project, applying digital and business skills to a live operational challenge.
“It’s been a valuable opportunity to apply what I’ve learned to a real business challenge,” she 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 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.