More than 150,000 micro and small businesses in the UK and Ireland will be able to access free help to adopt and effectively use AI tools through a new three year programme funded by a grant of almost £1.5 million from Visa Foundation.
Delivered by Enterprise Nation, AI for Every Business will provide practical videos, webinars, regional events and personalised assessments. It aims to reach 157,000 businesses.
A smaller cohort of entrepreneurs will receive more intensive support including coaching, peer learning, and mentorship to help them put AI tools into practice.
According to research by Enterprise Nation, only 21% of small businesses in the UK regularly use AI.
Almost half don’t trust AI tools enough to act, while 42% said they would only engage with AI if it were completely free.
The report warned that without targeted support, “these businesses risk missing the productivity, growth, and resilience benefits that responsible AI adoption could provide”.
AI minister Kanishka Narayan said:
“AI is the defining technology of our age, and we must ensure that the opportunities it provides are spread equally.
“We want to make sure that entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and every region of the UK can feel the benefit of advances in AI. That’s why we support this initiative to ensure communities and businesses everywhere can embrace game-changing technology safely and confidently.”
Polly Dhaliwal, chief operating officer at Enterprise Nation, said:
“If we want the UK to realise the full potential of AI, the private and philanthropy sectors need to reach the entrepreneurs who have the least time and resources to navigate the technology on their own. For small firms, saving even a few hours each week can be transformative for productivity, growth, and resilience. With Visa Foundation’s support, we can reach more small businesses across the UK and help ensure they are part of this economic shift.”
Rob Cameron, group country manager, UK and Ireland at Visa, said:
“Micro and small businesses are vital drivers of inclusive economic growth across the UK and Ireland, yet they continue to face barriers to accessing the resources they need to digitise and thrive.
“For small business owners unsure of where to start, identifying which AI tools are practical and trustworthy can be a daunting task. By partnering with Enterprise Nation, Visa Foundation is helping to simplify that journey, giving founders free, tailored support to integrate AI tools that fit their business needs and help them grow with confidence.”
