Research from BT and Small Business Britain – which recently launched a popular new ‘AI for Small Business’ training programme – found most are using the technology in marketing (47%), operations (17%), and customer service (8%)
Small businesses are racing to embrace AI tools, with almost two thirds (62%) now using the game-changing technology as the demand for AI skills training grows.
Research from BT and Small Business Britain – which recently launched a popular new ‘AI for Small Business’ training programme – found most are utilising the technology in marketing (47%), operations (17%), and customer service (8%).
Driving the eagerness to adopt and integrate AI is the feeling many business owners are being held back by a lack of knowledge and skills, with 51% saying they need hands-on support to implement AI effectively.
Five hundred small businesses across the UK recently took part in Small Business Britain and BT’s free AI programme to bridge this critical skills gap. Through expert-led webinars entrepreneurs were helped to unlock the AI opportunity, with a special follow-on course focused on AI Tools.
“Small businesses want to be at the forefront of AI innovation, and so many already use it, but they need the right tailored support to make the most of its potential,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain.
“Together with BT Group, we are proud to have delivered the AI Tools programme, which has given entrepreneurs practical advice for their journeys with AI, helping them to integrate it into their operations for even more efficiency and growth.”
A growing range of AI tools – across text generation, image creation and automation – are available that can help small businesses across day-to-day operations and broader strategic goals. The course highlighted how with no previous technical skills, small firms can build simple AI tools tailored to their needs which can boost efficiency and take the pressure off by planning and executing tasks such as writing content and analysing data, communication and more.
Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Business, at BT said: “This programme, delivered with Small Business Britain, shows that AI is no longer just the priority of big companies. It highlights the eagerness of small businesses to harness AI’s power to work faster and smarter, giving them valuable time to focus on innovation, customer relationships and growth.”
Jamie Bykov-Brett, AI expert and co-founder of the Executive AI Institute, who hosted a session as part of the AI Tools course, said: “The most important thing about the AI revolution is that it should help those who are furthest from opportunity. I enjoy running workshops for Small Business Britain because it’s my way of making sure people from all backgrounds see AI as something they can access and benefit from.”
For more information visit smallbusinessbritain.uk/ai.
