Google and NatWest are teaming up with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to help UK SME leaders implement AI tools after it was found that more than half (59%) of British SME owners have paused ideas due to time constraints.
Google’s AI Works for Business tour will teach SMEs how AI can improve business efficiency and help them to unlock a potential boost in productivity, allowing them to pursue new ideas.
The tour has been created to encourage more business leaders to consider how AI can help them to solve business challenges, improve business performance and unlock growth.
These events have been developed in response to Google’s AI Works Report findings published earlier this year, which shares insights from pilots run in partnership with educators, a union and SMEs on the most effective ways to accelerate AI adoption and upskilling across the UK.
The research found that almost two thirds (64%) of UK SME owners believe that having more time to innovate could unlock significant revenue growth, with a third (38%) citing that their innovations could increase revenues by 30%.
Analysis from Public First found that AI-powered tools could boost SME productivity by 20% – comparable to adding an extra day to each working week. This would play a key role in supercharging business growth and unlocking a £198bn boost for SMEs across the country.
“The finding that over half of SMEs have had to pause innovation is a wake-up call, but also an opportunity,” says Debbie Weinstein, EMEA president at Google.
“There is enormous potential for AI to free up some time for the nation’s business leaders to focus on strategic, innovative tasks that will spur growth for their businesses and the wider economy.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle added: “AI is transforming the way we work, and the partnership with Google will give small businesses vital hands-on experience of how to capitalise on the many benefits of AI to innovate, grow and compete on the global stage.”
Alongside the AI Works for Business roadshow, which will stop in Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Cardiff, Google is also launching the ‘10 Stories’ ad campaign. The campaign showcases ten small businesses including Peregrine, Roly’s Fudge and Kent Brushes and highlights how Google Workspace with Gemini can help solve challenges for SMEs.
