SME manufacturing membership
Join a vibrant industrial community and gain access to strategic, technical and innovation expertise from one of the world’s leading centres of manufacturing research and practice.
As an SME manufacturing member, you will collaborate with like-minded industry peers and have access to training workshops held throughout the year. You can also meet Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) researchers, practitioners and students who are interested in engaging with your company on research programmes, business improvement assignments or student projects.
MEMBER BENEFITS
- Access to an IfM contact for advice, referrals and relationship brokering with IfM experts and SME peers.
- Places for you and/or your employees on SME Member Training Workshops*.
- Opportunities to engage with talented Cambridge University undergraduate and postgraduate students on potential projects and placements.
- Opportunities to network with peers and IfM staff at social events such as the IfM Showcase.
- Complimentary Affiliate Membership of Make UK (see below for list of additional benefits).
- Receive discount on IfM Engage consultancy services, delivered by Industrial Associates who have extensive experience of working with SMEs.
- Receive 10% discount on IfM Engage training courses, including topics such as roadmapping, ecosytem strategy and manufacturing footprint strategy.
*As part of the membership, employees at your organisation can reserve up to two places on each SME Member Training Workshop – participation is on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Additional places on training workshops cost £200 (ex VAT) per event, per head.
MEMBER BENEFITS
- Access to an IfM contact for advice, referrals and relationship brokering with IfM experts and SME peers.
- Places for you and/or your employees on SME Member Training Workshops*.
- Opportunities to engage with talented Cambridge University undergraduate and postgraduate students on potential projects and placements.
- Opportunities to network with peers and IfM staff at social events such as the IfM Showcase.
- Complimentary Affiliate Membership of Make UK (see below for list of additional benefits).
- Receive discount on IfM Engage consultancy services, delivered by Industrial Associates who have extensive experience of working with SMEs.
- Receive 10% discount on IfM Engage training courses, including topics such as roadmapping, ecosytem strategy and manufacturing footprint strategy.
*As part of the membership, employees at your organisation can reserve up to two places on each SME Member Training Workshop – participation is on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Additional places on training workshops cost £200 (ex VAT) per event, per head.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
MEMBER TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
IfM SME manufacturing membership offers at least three training workshops and two research update events per year. Previous training workshops have included sustainability, innovation, project management, marketing, low-cost digitalisation and management.
Members are entitled to free places for up to two employees per workshop and event on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
There will also be at least one social event offering networking opportunities with peers and IfM experts.
ALREADY A MEMBER?
Employees at your organisation can reserve up to two places on each SME Member training workshop. To find out the list of training workshops and events for this year or to book a place on an upcoming workshop, email ifm-events@eng.cam.ac.uk. Additional places on training workshops cost £200 (ex VAT) per event, per head.
AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP OF MAKE UK
IfM SME Members are entitled to complimentary Make UK Affiliate Membership. This provides you access to a wide range of industry intelligence and insight, policy representation, discounts on business services and use of the Make UK Member Advantages Scheme including:

Online resources covering areas such as industry insights, employment law, health, safety and financing growth.
Representation through participating Make UK surveys, contributing to the aim of building a better environment for UK manufacturing and engineering.
A portfolio of products and services offered by approved Make UK partners, including discounts on business services, healthcare, insurance, employee benefits and more.
Online tools including a funding finder and lean benchmarking, supporting businesses seeking to finance new projects or looking to improve productivity.
AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP OF MAKE UK

IfM SME Members are entitled to complimentary Make UK Affiliate Membership. This provides you access to a wide range of industry intelligence and insight, policy representation, discounts on business services and use of the Make UK Member Advantages Scheme including:
Online resources covering areas such as industry insights, employment law, health, safety and financing growth.
Representation through participating Make UK surveys, contributing to the aim of building a better environment for UK manufacturing and engineering.
Online tools including a funding finder and lean benchmarking, supporting businesses seeking to finance new projects or looking to improve productivity.
A portfolio of products and services offered by approved Make UK partners, including discounts on business services, healthcare, insurance, employee benefits and more.
FIND OUT MORE
If you are interested in SME Manufacturing membership, contact us for more information.