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Nava Yousef, intern with Ionix Advanced Technologies, (pictured above right with Simon Baldwin, associate director for knowledge exchange at Leeds Beckett University) won the Graduate of the Year award at this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards. Find out more about how digital interns are helping Yorkshire manufacturers bring AI, automation and advanced digital tools to the factory floor: Made Smarter digital interns accelerate smart manufacturing across Yorkshire | Made Smarter
Yorkshire manufacturers are turning to graduate digital talent to develop new products, improve processes and accelerate the use of new technologies, with support from the Government-backed Made Smarter programme.
The digital internships are part of a wider support package available through Made Smarter which offers manufacturers specialist advice, training for digital champions and leaders and grant support for investment in new digital technology, with the package extended this Autumn to include fully funded cyber-security training and accreditation.
Already, demand for places on the digital internship programme has exceeded its target, delivering 26 three-month placements this year, with the 2027/28 programme open for manufacturers to register interest in future opportunities from January.
Fully-funded internships give manufacturers access to graduates with specialist digital skills while providing young people with hands-on experience of technology and innovation in the manufacturing sector.
Leeds-based sensor technology company Ionix Advanced Technologies, is just one of the businesses to take advantage of the programme, recruiting University of York digital design graduate Nava Yousef as an intern.
Nava worked as Ionix’s sole UI/UX designer, redesigning the interface of a desktop application used to monitor and analyse sensor data. She also worked with engineers on the development and launch of a new Internet of Things (IoT) product.
Her internship led to a full-time role with Ionix, while she was also named Graduate of the Year in the 2026 Leeds Manufacturing Festival awards.
She said: “Made Smarter gave me the opportunity to contribute to a real product from the outset. Moving into an employee role allowed me to take greater ownership of its development. It was incredibly motivating to see my work become part of a commercial solution and know that it was creating value for Ionix and its users.”
Ionix technical director Dr Tim Comyn said Nava’s work had made a direct contribution to the development and launch of a new IoT product.
“Nava designed, developed and deployed software for the product, which we launched this year. We have already progressed to sales from the product that Made Smarter helped to support,” he said.
Ben Wilson, managing director of composites manufacturer MPM Group and spokesperson for Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which includes Made Smarter as one of its sponsors, said the programme highlighted the opportunities available to young people in the manufacturing sector.
“Leeds Manufacturing Festival is all about bringing the next generation into the industry and Nava’s experience at Ionix is a great example of what can happen when you bring talented skilled young people together with manufacturing employers.
“Manufacturing offers fantastic opportunities to build a career, develop skills and make a real contribution from the outset.”
MPM Group received Made Smarter grant support, enabling the business to invest in 3D-scanning technology, improving the accuracy of patterns and moulds. The company also recently employed an intern through the programme.
The digital internship programme is part of Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, which helps manufacturers adopt digital technology, develop skills and improve productivity.
Yorkshire manufacturers interested in accessing the new cyber-security training and accreditation, and other support available through Made Smarter, can find out more via Boosting manufacturing in Y&H – Made Smarter.