The UK’s small business community has been offered free, practical guidance on applying artificial intelligence to everyday operations through a new webinar programme launched by Small Business Britain in partnership with BT.
Targeted help for time-poor owners
The initiative, called AI for Small Business, opens later this month and is intended to help owners identify where AI can reduce time spent on routine tasks, support growth and improve efficiencies. Sessions will cover identifying inefficient workflows, crafting effective prompts and deciding between the many tools now on the market.
Organisers say the series is aimed at business leaders who may not have the time or expert support to research AI options themselves but want to ensure any adoption is both secure and of clear commercial value.
Concerns over privacy and the pull of peer examples
Polling commissioned by the Small Business Institute found that the top worry among small firms is data privacy and security: 63% identified this as their biggest concern about using AI. That apprehension is tempered by interest; 48% of respondents said they would be more likely to adopt AI or improve cyber security if they saw other small businesses doing so successfully.
- 63% of small businesses cite data privacy and security as their main concern.
- 48% say peer examples would make them more likely to adopt AI or boost cyber security.
These figures suggest that while enthusiasm exists, small firms want reassurance — not just on potential gains, but on the safety and reliability of deployments.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Small businesses citing privacy/security concern | 63% |
| Would follow peers to adopt AI / improve cyber security | 48% |
| Businesses (10+ employees) using AI — Feb 2026 | 35% |
| Businesses (10+ employees) using AI — end 2023 | 12% |
Rising adoption but uneven use
Government research published in February 2026 shows AI use among businesses with 10 or more employees has climbed to 35%, up from 12% at the end of 2023. That jump indicates momentum, but smaller firms — often with tighter margins and fewer specialist staff — may face barriers to translating tools into tangible gains for wages, prices and job quality.
Small Business Britain’s programme includes sessions hosted by practitioners, such as Happiness Psychologist and AI Confidence Coach Julie Begbie, aimed at reframing AI as a practical team member rather than an abstract technology. The series is free and open to anyone.
"Small business owners know that AI is here, and that it can both save time and help scale a business when used properly, but without advice specific to their circumstances it can be hard to make the most of it," said Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain.
That emphasis on tailored guidance matters for the economy. If small firms can use AI to automate routine tasks, they may redirect labour to higher-value activity — potentially lifting productivity without necessarily cutting jobs. Conversely, poor or insecure deployments could expose firms to data breaches or wasted spend on ill-fitting technology.
Implications for firms and policymakers
For business owners, the key near-term decision is whether to experiment with AI in low-risk areas — customer service templates, bookkeeping automations or marketing workflows — or to wait for clearer peer benchmarks. For policymakers, the findings underline the need for accessible, trustworthy guidance and support on cyber security as AI spreads through the economy.
With adoption rising quickly among larger firms, closing the knowledge and confidence gap for small businesses will determine whether AI becomes a broad productivity booster or a source of uneven outcomes across the UK’s business landscape.
Details of the webinar timetable and registration are available from Small Business Britain and partner channels.
