A collaboration between leading business support provider Oxford Innovation Advice, Shoestring | Digital Manufacturing from the world-renowned Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) at the University of Cambridge, and a progressive regional further education college is empowering apprentices to lead the charge in digital transformation for SME manufacturers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Oxford Innovation Advice’s ‘Digitisation for Manufacturers’ (D4M) programme partnered with Truro & Penwith College to run a pilot of the innovative D4M Shoestring Apprenticeship Programme last year.
Eight Truro & Penwith College apprentices worked to deploy low-cost Shoestring digital solutions in their companies, tackling challenges in particulate monitoring, environmental tracking, downtime analysis, and temperature and power monitoring.
These solutions, built using off-the-shelf technologies, are designed by the IfM Digital Shoestring programme to be simple, affordable, and non-disruptive – perfectly suited to the needs of SMEs.
The programme was delivered over 12 weeks by Oxford Innovation Advice through a mix of workshop sessions and on-site visits. Apprentices were guided through the full lifecycle of digital deployment – from identifying a need and selecting the right solutions, to building hardware to resolve network issues and modifying solutions based on real-world feedback. These skills map onto the role of a Production Engineer, helping apprentices stretch their learning and applied industrial understanding.
One participating manufacturing business commented:
“Having our apprentice lead a digital improvement project was a real eye-opener. The Shoestring approach meant we could test solutions quickly without major investment, and the data we’re now collecting is already helping us make better day-to-day decisions. It’s boosted our confidence in digital technology and shown us the value apprentices can bring far beyond their core role.”
This hands-on approach is central to the Shoestring philosophy, which aims to demystify digitalisation and make it accessible to non-technical users. By enabling apprentices to lead deployments, the programme not only boosts productivity and sustainability for businesses but also builds vital digital skills and confidence among the next generation of engineers.
The programme directly supports UK Government priorities to grow high-quality apprenticeships that drive productivity, support progression into skilled roles, and respond to employer demand. By embedding real-world digital adoption projects into apprenticeship training, the initiative demonstrates how apprenticeships can act as a catalyst for innovation, levelling up skills and competitiveness in regional manufacturing economies.
The reality is that manufacturers never reach digital maturity, because digital technology evolves faster than their ability to implement it. Therefore, it is vital that digital adoption is a constant presence at all levels of a business. The apprentice digital adoption programme addresses this and harnesses digitally native apprentices – many of whom are more tech-savvy than some of their more experienced colleagues.
Professor Duncan McFarlane, founder of Shoestring and professor of industrial information engineering at University of Cambridge, said: “Apprentices are uniquely placed to act as agents of change within manufacturing businesses. They bring fresh perspectives, digital confidence and the ability to challenge established ways of working. By combining the Shoestring approach with apprenticeship learning, this programme shows how low-cost, practical digital solutions can be deployed quickly and sustainably, while developing skills that industry genuinely needs. It is a powerful example of how apprenticeships can support productivity, innovation and long-term capability building in SMEs.”
Hayley McKinstry, Director of Business Partnerships and Skills from Truro & Penwith College said:
“This programme has given our apprentices the opportunity to apply their learning in a meaningful, employer-led context. Working on live digital challenges has helped them build confidence, problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of how technology can improve manufacturing processes. It also demonstrates how apprenticeships can support business innovation while creating clear progression pathways into skilled engineering and production roles.”
Funded by Cornwall Council, the D4M programme, which delivers the Shoestring model locally, offers support to manufacturing SMEs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Their mission is to help businesses adopt new technologies and practices that drive growth and efficiency. Through dedicated 1:1 support, digital maturity diagnostic tools, workshops, peer learning, and expert guidance, D4M ensures companies can start their digital journey with minimal risk and maximum impact.
Matthew Giles, Regional Director in the South West for Oxford Innovation Advice adds; “It is great to know that other businesses and colleges are already interested in the apprentice programme. Last month, National Apprenticeship Week highlighted the role of apprentices in building the workforce of the future, the Oxford Innovation Advice D4M Shoestring Apprenticeship model showcases a compelling approach for how apprenticeships can drive innovation, productivity and sustainable growth in UK manufacturing.”
