Responsible AI as a Driver of Growth and Innovation for SMEs
The IoD’s Education & Skills Special Interest Group (SIG), in partnership with Brunel Business School at Brunel University of London, is inviting expressions of interest from members to join this interactive roundtable discussion.
Please note, booking for this event DOES NOT guarantee your place - a member of the relationship team will be in touch in due course.
As AI adoption accelerates, SMEs face growing pressure to innovate, remain competitive, and adopt AI responsibly. Representing more than 99% of UK businesses, SMEs are critical to productivity, growth, and employment- yet many organisations still lack the practical guidance, skills, and confidence needed to implement AI effectively and ethically.
This strategy-focused session will bring together business leaders, researchers, and practitioners to explore how SMEs can adopt AI responsibly while supporting business growth, workforce development, and positive social outcomes.
Attendees will explore:
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What responsible AI adoption looks like for SMEs in practice
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The opportunities and challenges SMEs face in implementing AI-enabled business transformation
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How organisations can build workforce confidence through digital upskilling and reskilling
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Whether SMEs share common AI adoption barriers, risks, and capability gaps
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What forms of guidance, leadership, and support are most needed to enable responsible AI adoption.
Participants will gain:
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Practical insights into SME AI adoption and organisational readiness
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A clearer understanding of workforce and leadership challenges linked to AI implementation
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Opportunities to contribute to IoD Education and Skills and Brunel University of London’s emerging research on AI, innovation, and SME competitiveness
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Valuable peer discussion and shared learning with fellow business leaders and practitioners.
This is a collaborative and practice-oriented discussion designed to help leaders better understand the realities of responsible AI adoption and identify practical pathways forward for their organisations and workforce.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights, new perspectives, and the opportunity to help shape future research and policy conversations around AI and SMEs.
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