Patrick Milnes
Head of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce
AI adoption is rising quickly among UK SMEs. However, its impact will ultimately depend on whether firms can access the skills and advice to use it well.
Research from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in March shows 54% of firms now use AI, up from 35% in 2025 and 25% in 2024. Adoption is moving fast. Skills must move at the same pace, if not faster.
AI is only as valuable as the people using it. Without the confidence and skills to embrace it, the divide between businesses leading the AI revolution and those left behind will widen.
SMEs need practical support
Businesses see the opportunity. AI can save time, cut admin, improve processes and support growth. Many smaller firms need help that reflects their specific size and sector. Generic advice is unlikely to be enough.
The skills gap is not just about using AI tools. Our research shows deeper AI adoption is changing roles and skills demands. If support does not keep pace, technology may widen productivity gaps rather than close them.
Closing the AI skills gap should be a national priority but delivered locally
For some firms, this will mean retraining staff. For others, it will mean redesigning roles so that people and technology work together more effectively. Either way, skills support must be practical, accessible and linked to real business needs.
Policy must focus on delivery
Closing the AI skills gap should be a national priority but delivered locally. Support must reach firms in every region and not only those already ahead.
For the BCC, that means AI champions for SMEs, Growth and Skills Levy funding for AI literacy and job-specific training, alongside local skills improvement plans shaped by business demand. Government should work with the Chamber Network to make digital adoption support easier to access. Chambers understand local economies and can connect firms to trusted help.
AI adoption is accelerating, but cutting the skills gap will decide who benefits. With the right support, firms can turn a productivity promise into wider economic growth.
