A new three-year programme is set to deliver free AI support to more than 150,000 micro and small businesses across the UK and Ireland.

The programme, funded by a grant of nearly £1.5 million from Visa Foundation and delivered by Enterprise Nation, will offer small businesses access to free help in adopting and effectively utilising AI tools.

The AI for Every Business programme, which aims to reach 157,000 businesses, will provide participants with regional events, practical videos, webinars and personalised assessments.

More intensive support, including mentorship, coaching and peer learning, will be offered to a smaller cohort of entrepreneurs, enabling them to put AI tools into practice.

Research from Enterprise Nation suggests that just 21 per cent of the UK’s small businesses regularly use AI, with close to half saying they don’t trust AI tools enough and 42 per cent saying they would only utilise such tools if they were completely free.

Enterprise Nation’s report warned that, without targeted support, such businesses are at risk of missing out on “the productivity, growth, and resilience benefits that responsible AI adoption could provide.”

Kanishka Narayan, the government’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence, commented: “AI is the defining technology of our age, and we must ensure that the opportunities it provides are spread equally.”

“We want to make sure that entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and every region of the UK can feel the benefit of advances in AI. That’s why we support this initiative to ensure communities and businesses everywhere can embrace game-changing technology safely and confidently.”

Polly Dhaliwal, Chief Operating Officer at Enterprise Nation, said: “If we want the UK to realise the full potential of AI, the private and philanthropy sectors need to reach the entrepreneurs who have the least time and resources to navigate the technology on their own. For small firms, saving even a few hours each week can be transformative for productivity, growth, and resilience. With Visa Foundation’s support, we can reach more small businesses across the UK and help ensure they are part of this economic shift.”

Rob Cameron, Group Country Manager, UK and Ireland at Visa, added: “Micro and small businesses are vital drivers of inclusive economic growth across the UK and Ireland, yet they continue to face barriers to accessing the resources they need to digitise and thrive.”

“For small business owners unsure of where to start, identifying which AI tools are practical and trustworthy can be a daunting task. By partnering with Enterprise Nation, Visa Foundation is helping to simplify that journey, giving founders free, tailored support to integrate AI tools that fit their business needs and help them grow with confidence.”