Case Study: Kelpi and Made Smarter

Grant scheme: strengthening internal capabilities

The Made Smarter grant scheme of £20,000 addressed a major pain point—subcontractor reliance—by funding critical equipment acquisitions.

Use of grant:

• brought key capabilities in-house to reduce costs, improve speed, and retain knowledge.

Impact:

• enhanced efficiency and control over critical processes.
• accelerated material development timelines, supporting quicker market entry.

The grant also helped secure internal approval for the investment by significantly offsetting costs.

Internship: addressing knowledge gaps

Kelpi leveraged the internship programme to tackle a specific knowledge gap identified in the NCC report. 

• Application process: the Made Smarter Team at the Mayoral Combined Authority team facilitated connections with academic experts to scope the project and identify the right intern. 

• Work undertaken: the intern focused on delivering early modules of a high-impact project, with ongoing support from the University of the West of England technical experts. 

Expected benefits:  

• tailored solutions and knowledge transfer to build long-term internal capabilities. 

• a structured approach to addressing complex challenges, ensuring future scalability. 

Leadership training: building team expertise

Kelpi’s participation in the Leadership for Driving Technological Change training course reflected their commitment to team growth and effective digital transformation. 

Learning outcomes:  

• gained insights into digital technologies and business leadership. 

• networked with peers to share ideas on scaling, process improvement, and innovation. 

Impact on operations:  

• broadened perspectives on creative problem-solving and strategic decision-making. 

• expanded access to a supportive peer network within the West of England