Two Buckinghamshire manufacturers have been awarded grant support to adopt digital technology as part of a wider regional drive to modernise industry. The Government-backed Made Smarter South East initiative is backing projects at Bradbury Tracks in High Wycombe and Gibbs Gears Precision Engineers in Aylesbury, alongside 15 other firms across the region.
Local firms to upgrade systems and processes
Bradbury Tracks has secured a £20,000 grant towards a £40,000 investment in a proprietary digital ordering platform called Bradbury Order Buddy (BOB). The company describes the system as a means of simplifying specification and ordering for made-to-measure curtain-track systems by centralising product data, measurement guidance and checks on data accuracy.
Gibbs Gears has been awarded a £14,000 grant to support the installation of a second Modula Lift vertical storage system. The Aylesbury firm says the additional lift will form part of its Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing strategy, improving storage and tracking for tools, gauges, consumables and production equipment.
"We believe technology should support people, not replace them," said Bradbury Tracks managing director Kris Theophanous.
The programme totals a regional investment of £563,000 in digital technology, supported by £245,000 in match-funded grants. Organisers forecast the package will help create 50 new jobs and deliver an additional £3.8 million in profits across participating firms.
- Bradbury Tracks (High Wycombe): £20,000 grant for a £40,000 digital ordering platform; expected to create seven jobs, upskill nine employees and generate an estimated £600,000 increase in profits over three years.
- Gibbs Gears Precision Engineers (Aylesbury): £14,000 grant towards a second Modula Lift vertical storage system, supporting the company’s Industry 4.0 plans.
- Regional impact: Part of a wider Made Smarter South East funding round supporting 17 manufacturers.
| Company | Location | Grant | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradbury Tracks | High Wycombe | £20,000 | Digital ordering platform (BOB) |
| Gibbs Gears Precision Engineers | Aylesbury | £14,000 | Second Modula Lift storage system |
Implications for jobs and skills in Buckinghamshire
Bradbury Tracks says the BOB platform will free employees from routine tasks and allow them to focus on customer service, problem-solving and continuous improvement; the company expects the investment to create seven new roles and to upskill nine existing staff. Gibbs Gears frames its investment as a step towards a more connected and efficient production environment.
For Buckinghamshire, the awards underline a push to support small and medium manufacturers through digital adoption rather than large-scale automation that displaces staff. The stated aims — job creation, improved efficiency and increased profitability — are likely to be closely watched by other local firms considering similar investments.
Further details about the Made Smarter South East programme and other supported projects can be obtained from the scheme’s regional information outlets.
