A VISION AND ACTION PLAN FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING GROWTH
ACROSS THE WEST MIDLANDS
MAY 2026 PDF
Why Project MADE?
The West Midlands sits at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing economy, with globally recognised OEMs, deep supply chains, world class research and industrialisation assets. However, the sector faces mounting pressures, including global competition, automation gaps, skills shortages, land constraints and fragmented leadership.
Project MADE was established to respond to these challenges with a shared vision and a practical, industry informed action plan - focused not on analysis alone, but on execution.
Partners and Leadership
Project MADE is an industry led collaboration involving leaders from across manufacturing, research, and the public sector, including:
Their combined insight and commitment have been central to shaping a credible and deliverable plan.
The Vision
By 2035: A UK Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster
By 2035, the West Midlands will be the UK’s leading advanced manufacturing supercluster, recognised globally for turning world class research and development into scaled production.
The supercluster will integrate multiple subsectors and leverage the region’s engineering expertise to build resilient high value supply chains that underpin long term competitiveness and economic growth.
What the Report Delivers
The Project MADE report sets out a clear and deliverable framework for action, including:
- A diagnosis of the five structural challenges facing advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands
- A long term vision aligned with national and regional industrial strategy to deliver 50% growth in the sector by 2035
- A practical action plan focused on leadership, customer demand generation, investment, skills, land and integrated delivery
- A recommendation to establish an advanced manufacturing supercluster to provide strategic leadership and coordination
- Clear, targeted asks of industry, regional partners and government
MAY 2026 PDF
“The central question is not whether the West Midlands has the capability to compete globally, but how effectively it deploys its assets in an increasingly competitive environment. Project MADE is about coordination, ambition and disciplined execution. The opportunity is clear. The task now is delivery.”
STEVE RIGBY,
CHAIR, PROJECT MADE
What Happens Next
The Project MADE report marks the transition from consensus to action. The next phase is implementation - establishing the advanced manufacturing supercluster, stimulating investment and demand, and convening the region’s assets to drive growth and scale.
With strong industry commitment, devolved powers and a renewed national industrial strategy, the conditions for action are now in place. The priority is execution.