AI adoption to advance innovation and social good across the EM3 region

Enterprise M3 LEP is collaborating with a leading authority on Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) – to improve AI adoption amongst businesses.  

This project, AI Readiness, will build capacity in business support organisations to improve their service offer on AI to SMEs, and assist businesses in their understanding of how workplace AI can boost  growth while sustaining and creating high-quality jobs.

Director of the IFOW and lead consultant for the AI Readiness project, Dr Abigail Gilbert, said: “With the adoption of workplace AI technologies continuing apace, we are thrilled to be working with Enterprise M3 LEP to create, deliver and implement training for business support organisations and local businesses on how to make the most of these innovative tools in a way that also sustains good work.

“Covering productivity, risk management, policy compliance and aligning AI to organisational values, this training will help innovation and social good advance together.”

EM3’s Head of Policy, Sajid Butt, said: “We’re delighted to team up with the IFOW to bring a practical solution to the AI mix.

“It’s now or never to translate what we know about AI into actionable solutions for service providers and businesses to implement. Building the know-how for AI adoption is key to better business practices and better prospects for business growth.

“It makes total sense to maximise the productivity gains from AI adoption and use every opportunity that AI and wider digital transformation can create for holistic working practices, thereby improving employee wellbeing, pay and conditions, job retention, career progression and much else.”

The origins of this project stem from evidence suggesting that highly skilled workers employed in the EM3 region are potentially exposed to workplace AI impacts. This demonstrates the rapid advances that AI and automation are now having on the economy - both nationally and locally - and across all sectors and occupational levels. 

Sajid added: “We know that successful economies require intelligence-driven, agile, and highly responsive approaches that are bold and innovative enough to improve conditions for growth. The AI Readiness project is an example of that and seeks to empower others to make it happen.”

For more information, contact EM3’s Head of Policy, Sajid Butt by emailing sajid.butt@enterprisem3.org.uk