Sheffield, 03 November 2025 — INCIT UK, a new, independent not-for-profit, launches today in Sheffield to help the UK deliver its Modern Industrial Strategy with a single, trusted way to measure and improve industrial performance, digital maturity, sustainability and AI readiness across every region and sector.
Sheffield is a deliberate choice. The city has a rich industrial heritage and is today synonymous with advanced manufacturing. From this base, INCIT UK will work with ministers, mayors, clusters and trade bodies, and directly with manufacturers, to create a comparable national baseline and a clear scoreboard that links firm-level change to national outcomes.
At the heart of the offer are globally recognised readiness frameworks stewarded by INCIT: Operational Excellence Readiness Index (OPERI, SME operational excellence), Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI, digital transformation), Consumer Sustainability Readiness Index (COSIRI, sustainability) and AI Maturity Readiness Index (AIMRI, AI maturity and scaling). These frameworks provide certified, independent, vendor-neutral assessments and practical roadmaps so companies can focus investment where it matters most and evidence impact over time. SIRI was originally developed by Singapore’s Economic Development Board with international partners, including the World Economic Forum, to achieve goals similar to the UK’s: consistent metrics, targeted interventions and transparent impact.
“After many well-intended but fragmented initiatives, Britain needs a common yardstick that every manufacturer, region and national programme can use,” said Nicholas Leeder, Chief Executive of INCIT UK. “Our mission is simple: measure what matters, improve what counts, and prove the result. With the Operational Excellence Readiness Index (OPERI), the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), the Consumer Sustainability Readiness Index (COSIRI) and the AI Maturity Readiness Index (AIMRI), manufacturers can accelerate gains in productivity, profitability and competitiveness while reducing energy use and carbon intensity. At the same time, government gains a transparent scoreboard to target interventions and show value for public money.”
Raimund Klein, Chairman and CEO of INCIT (Global), added: “The UK is setting a long-term course for industrial renewal. Standardising on internationally recognised readiness indices will accelerate that journey. By shining a light on where capability gaps exist across supply chains, leaders can focus funding where it moves the dial and strengthen the UK’s position in global value networks.”
What this means for government and industry
- A comparable UK baseline and scoreboard that improves targeting of public investment and makes impact transparent.
- Firm-level assessments and roadmaps that help companies realise measurable gains faster and de-risk transformation spend.
Lifting firms and entire supply chains
To achieve national-level impact, progress must move beyond individual sites. The goal is uplift across whole supply chains aligned to the Industrial Strategy’s eight sectors. Portfolio analytics and supply-chain views show where capability gaps sit across tiers, guide interventions that remove constraints, and track uplift at six to twelve months.
Building UK delivery capacity
INCIT UK will grow a vibrant community of trained and certified assessors to deliver at pace and to a consistent standard. There are nearly 50 certified assessors active in the UK already, providing a strong platform to accelerate coverage and ensure local capability in every region.
Independent, impact-led and aligned to national goals
INCIT UK is a not-for-profit. Success will be measured by outcomes: higher productivity, stronger supply chains and clear evidence of return on public investment. While not formally connected to the Modern Industrial Strategy or its sector plans, our purpose is to enable them against their goals and support the relevant councils with objective insight.
Looking Ahead:
- National maturity baseline: Rapid assessments in priority sectors and regions, with regional and sector heat-maps to inform delivery and funding.
- Index-linked delivery: Re-assessment at six to twelve months to evidence uplift and guide the next wave of interventions.
- SME on-ramp: OPERI pathways with Star Emblem ratings to help smaller firms build capability and step into SIRI, COSIRI and AIMRI.
- Assessor network growth: Training and activating assessors to ensure consistent, nationwide delivery.
Ministers, Mayors, Cluster Leads and Trade Bodies: Partner with us to stand up the first UK baseline and put a single scoreboard behind delivery. Manufacturers: join the first assessment cohorts to get a practical roadmap to measurable gains.
About INCIT UK: INCIT UK is the independent, UK not-for-profit arm of the International Centre for Industrial Transformation, custodian of the world’s leading industrial readiness indices. We work with governments, regions, trade bodies and manufacturers to standardise measurement, target interventions and demonstrate impact.
For more details and updates, follow our announcement on our LinkedIn here
For collaboration & further enquiries, please contact contact@incit.org or Ask IC4IT
For UK Equiry
INCIT UK Office: incit.uk@incit.org
