Chamber CEO Supports West Midlands SMEs on the Path to AI Adoption
By Anushka Malhotra
1 minute 6 seconds
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Quick Read: West Midlands SMEs are set to benefit from a 12-week AI adoption programme led by AND Digital and TechWM, with support from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and WMCA.
Black Country Chamber of Commerce CEO Sarah Moorhouse joined representatives from Tech WM and WMCA on the judging panel for a new 12-week AI adoption programme aimed at SMEs and manufacturers in the West Midlands.
The AI Adoption Accelerator Programme, a collaborative effort between AND Digital and Tech WM, offers a free 12-week course designed to help SMEs compete in an AI-driven market.
Photo: Sara Moorhouse, Credit: Black Country Chambers of Commerce
Sarah Moorhouse, along with Naomi Nash from Tech WM and Iain Mansell from WMCA, evaluated the submissions for the Accelerator Programme, which aims to help businesses overcome the cost and skill barriers associated with AI adoption.
Ten businesses gave five-minute presentations detailing their interest in the programme and their suitability, followed by a Q&A session with the panel. Each judge scored the businesses independently and provided recommendations for the final selections.
The programme, which launched on July 1st, welcomed eight successful West Midlands businesses seeking to integrate AI to enhance their processes, improve efficiency, create jobs, and reduce costs.
Among the successful applicants from the Black Country were Arc Metal Design, William King Ltd, and James Lister & Sons, who will now begin the programme.
Sarah Moorhouse commented,
"Judging the AI Accelerator submissions was a fantastic experience. It was great to see entries from Black Country businesses alongside those from other West Midlands institutions. I hope each organisation will have the opportunity to lead the transformation of manufacturing in the West Midlands using AI."
Businesses in the programme will receive expert mentorship, networking opportunities, tools, resources, and dedicated support to design and test real-world AI proofs of concept with a team of technical experts.
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