Turn one useful workflow into a controlled AI pilot

For UK SMEs moving beyond ad hoc AI use: define approved sources, the human reviewer, blocked actions and one measurable 30-day result.

Start with the workflow

Choose the department, owner and result before choosing the tool.

Sales
Call notes become CRM-ready fields: pain, budget, owner and next step.
Operations
Updates from Teams, boards or forms become a source-linked status summary.
Finance
Invoice lines are checked against supplier, threshold and purchase-order rules.
HR
New-starter packs are drafted from approved policy and onboarding checklists.
Customer support
Ticket threads become handoff summaries with issue, fixes, risk and next action.
Leadership
KPI commentary is drafted from approved numbers with assumptions shown.

AI use has nearly tripled

About a third of UK businesses with ten or more staff now use AI, up from one in eight in late 2023.

35%of UK businesses with 10 or more staff used at least one AI technology in June 2026, up from 12% in late 2023

Businesses using AI, by quarter

Source: Artificial intelligence in UK businesses: 2023 to 2026, Office for National Statistics, July 2026. UK businesses with 10 or more employees unless stated.

Staff are ahead of the business

More than half of employees use AI for work, while about a third of businesses say they use it. The rollout starts from what is already happening.

Staff use runs ahead of business use

Employees using AI for work55%
Businesses with 10+ staff using AI35%

Businesses using AI, by size

28%0 to 9 staff
35%10 or more
49%250 or more

Source: Artificial intelligence in UK businesses: 2023 to 2026, Office for National Statistics, July 2026. Employees: Great Britain, May to June 2026. Businesses: UK businesses with 10 or more employees, June 2026.

What small businesses use it for

Improving how the business runs comes first by a wide margin. New products and markets come later.

What small businesses use AI for

Improve business operations58.7%
Provide or personalise products or services31.2%
Develop a new product or service24.4%
Explore a new market17.1%

Source: Artificial intelligence in UK businesses: 2023 to 2026, Office for National Statistics, July 2026. UK businesses with 0 to 9 staff that use AI, June 2026.

Not sure if the estate is ready?

Score AI readiness before you fund a rollout.

Score AI readiness

The question teams ask first

What does the first step cost?

The AI Rollout Diagnostic is £1,500 fixed for two weeks. It covers one workflow decision and ends with one recommendation: build, pause, clean up first or do nothing.

Go a little deeper

Have a workflow in mind?

Start a conversation

Turn one useful workflow into a controlled AI pilot

Start with the workflow

Sales

Operations

Finance

HR

Customer support

Leadership