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Small Businesses: Artificial Intelligence

Asked by Llinos MediPlaid CymruDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 16 May 2025UIN 52022

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support small businesses to develop AI investment plans.

Answered by Gareth Thomas

Adoption of new digital technology, including AI, can help businesses become more productive – but we know Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sometimes need additional help and support to do so.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan set out a vision for AI to drive economic growth, including through investment. InnovateUK’s BridgeAI programme helps businesses in high growth potential sectors harness AI, offering funding opportunities and expert advice.

To go further, the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon be publishing their final recommendations on ways to help SMEs adopt productivity-enhancing digital technology, which will inform our upcoming SME Strategy.

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