{"id":9131,"date":"2026-09-07T08:46:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T07:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/?p=9131"},"modified":"2026-09-25T13:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:57:10","slug":"fully-funded-ai-ready-robotics-workforce-programme-launches-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/fully-funded-ai-ready-robotics-workforce-programme-launches-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises\/","title":{"rendered":"Fully funded AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme launches for small and medium-sized enterprises"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, address skills shortages and remain competitive. While robotics, automation and AI offer significant opportunities, many SMEs lack the capability to adopt these technologies effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help address this, UWE Bristol is launching the <strong>AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme<\/strong>, delivered through the world-renowned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bristolroboticslab.com\/\">Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)<\/a> in partnership with the <a href=\"https:\/\/uspc.co.uk\/\">United Strategic Planning Centre (USPC)<\/a>. Designed specifically for manufacturing and production small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this fully funded programme will help participants build practical robotics skills and understand how AI can enhance industrial applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What participants will learn<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participants will gain practical, hands-on experience in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Operating and programming industrial and collaborative robots<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working with sensors, communication interfaces and machine vision systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrating robotics within manufacturing environments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using AI tools to support programming, diagnostics and process monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applying robotics and automation skills to workplace challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding responsible AI use and human oversight in industrial settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.cloud.microsoft\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CBLvBzxBXkuc3WTvMFdU8DOAImbcjr9HsYvY4pJehnhUODI2MVZRTUROWjlDWk4wVlBFQVMwSzlLRSQlQCN0PWcu\"><strong>Register your place<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Programme structure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The programme will run over <strong>10 weeks<\/strong>, with participants attending <strong>one full day per week<\/strong> at Bristol Robotics Laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 1<\/strong>: <strong>Industrial robotics fundamentals and safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with the foundations of industrial robotics. You&#8217;ll explore the different types of industrial and collaborative robots used in modern manufacturing, learn essential safety practices, tour BRL&#8217;s advanced robotics facilities, and gain your first hands-on experience operating a UR5e collaborative robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 2: Collaborative robot operation and programming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build confidence in programming a collaborative robot. Using a teach pendant and introductory URScript commands, you&#8217;ll create movement sequences and complete practical tasks such as pick-and-place operations using a robotic gripper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 3: Robot communication and control<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Discover how robots interact with external systems. You&#8217;ll configure robot networks, access and interpret live robot data, send movement commands through the UR5e&#8217;s RTDE interface, and explore how ROS2 enables communication across robotic platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 4: Sensors and machine vision<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn how robots sense and respond to the world around them. Working with force-torque sensors, cameras and environmental sensors, you&#8217;ll capture and analyse data, carry out inspection tasks, and integrate information using industrial communication standards such as OPC-UA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 5: Multi-robot and cross-platform working<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gain experience with multiple robotics platforms by working with both the UR5e and KUKA iiwa collaborative robots. You&#8217;ll compare programming approaches, evaluate their suitability for different manufacturing applications, and establish communication between robot systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 6: Manufacturing cell design and integration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Put your skills into practice by designing and building a complete manufacturing cell. Working in teams, you&#8217;ll integrate robots, sensors, machine vision and communications technologies, while addressing practical challenges around safety, performance and troubleshooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 7: Agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Begin exploring how AI can support robotics engineering. You&#8217;ll learn the principles of agentic AI, set up Claude Code, connect AI tools to technical documentation using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and develop strategies for validating AI-generated outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 8: AI-assisted robot programming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Harness AI to accelerate robot programming. Using natural-language instructions, you&#8217;ll generate code for both UR5e and KUKA robots, review and verify outputs against technical requirements and safety constraints, and test solutions on physical hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 9: AI-driven diagnostics and process monitoring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Discover how AI can improve maintenance and operational performance. You&#8217;ll connect AI agents to live sensor data, investigate simulated production issues, evaluate AI-generated recommendations, and produce reports to support decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Day 10: Integrated AI and robotics deployment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bring everything together in a final team project. You&#8217;ll design, build and demonstrate an AI-enhanced robotics workflow that uses AI to programme, monitor and diagnose robotic operations, while exploring responsible deployment and identifying opportunities for real-world application within your organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cohort dates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two cohorts starting in autumn 2026, see dates for each cohort below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Cohort 1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Cohort 2<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 14 October, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 3 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 21 October, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 10 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 28 October, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 17 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 4 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 24 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 11 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 1 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 18 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 8 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 25 November, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 15 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 2 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 12 January, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 9 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 19 January, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wednesday 16 December, 09:30-16:30<\/td><td>Tuesday 26 January, 09:30-16:30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefits for employers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By investing in workforce development, employers can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Build confidence in robotics and automation projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop in-house capability rather than relying solely on external expertise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve productivity and operational resilience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen understanding of both robotics hardware and software workflows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support future investment decisions around automation and advanced manufacturing technologies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who can apply?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The programme is open to SMEs employing between <strong>5 and 249 people<\/strong> that have been <strong>operating for at least one year<\/strong> and work within manufacturing, engineering, production, automation or related industrial sectors. Participating organisations must be able to attend training at Bristol Robotics Laboratory on UWE Bristol&#8217;s Frenchay Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first cohorts are expected to start in autumn 2026, with places available on a fully funded basis for eligible SMEs. Places are limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.cloud.microsoft\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CBLvBzxBXkuc3WTvMFdU8DOAImbcjr9HsYvY4pJehnhUODI2MVZRTUROWjlDWk4wVlBFQVMwSzlLRSQlQCN0PWcu\">Register your place<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any questions about this course, please email <a href=\"mailto:workforceskills@uwe.ac.uk\">workforceskills@uwe.ac.uk<\/a> or phone +44 117 328 86303. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This workforce programme is funded by Innovate UK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"490\" height=\"408\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/08\/ukri-innovate-uk-square-logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9146\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.2011461318051575;width:119px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/08\/ukri-innovate-uk-square-logo.png 490w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/08\/ukri-innovate-uk-square-logo-300x250.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 490px) 85vw, 490px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, address skills shortages and remain competitive. While robotics, automation and AI offer significant opportunities, many SMEs lack the capability to adopt these technologies effectively. To help address this, UWE Bristol is launching the AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme, delivered through the world-renowned Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) in partnership &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/fully-funded-ai-ready-robotics-workforce-programme-launches-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Fully funded AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme launches for small and medium-sized enterprises&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":9132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1446,1548,1403,1519,748,108],"tags":[11,150,17,1582,42,1581,722,396,74,75],"class_list":["post-9131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-partnerships","category-innovation","category-partnerships","category-projects","category-research-and-external-engagement","category-skills","category-technology","tag-bristol","tag-bristol-robotics-laboratory","tag-business","tag-funded-skills-programme","tag-innovation","tag-manufacturing","tag-robotics","tag-smes","tag-uwe","tag-uwe-bristol"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9131"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9267,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131\/revisions\/9267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/research-external-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}