AI for Every Business is a three-year programme designed to reach micro and small businesses across the UK and Ireland with practical support to adopt AI tools and use them effectively and securely in their businesses.
Backed by a $2 million (£1.487 million) grant from Visa Foundation, the programme will provide free, targeted support to more than 157,000 small businesses.
Support will range from practical videos, webinars, and regional events to personalised assessments and learning paths. A smaller cohort of entrepreneurs will receive more intensive support including coaching, peer learning, and one to one mentorship to help them put their AI tools into practice.
The launch comes at a time when small businesses face a growing divide in digital adoption. According to the Enterprise Nation Tech Hub report, ‘Digital and AI Adoption among UK SMEs: The State of Play in 2026’, only one in five (21%) small businesses in the UK regularly use AI.
Almost half (46%) of small business owners do not trust AI tools enough to act, while 42% said they would only engage with AI if it were completely free.
The report also highlighted differences in confidence in AI adoption depending on who runs the business with women reporting lower adoption intentions and lower trust:
- 29% of female decision-makers said their business has no plans to adopt AI, compared with 23% of male decision-makers
- 51% of female decision-makers said they do not trust AI enough to use it, compared with 41% of male decision-makers
- Women-owned businesses reported an AI adoption rate of 17%, compared with 20% among male-owned businesses
Without targeted support, these businesses risk missing the productivity, growth, and resilience benefits that responsible AI adoption could provide. Recognising that some entrepreneurs face greater barriers to adoption than others, the programme will place a strong emphasis on reaching underserved entrepreneurs.
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 & 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.”
The programme builds on Visa Foundation’s global commitment to supporting small and micro businesses with access to capital, education, and digital skills. To date, Visa Foundation has committed $350 million globally to over 150 partners, helping reach 12 million small businesses.
AI for Every Business will launch in autumn 2026. Further details about eligibility, cohort intake and online learning will be announced at launch.
Findings are taken from the Enterprise Nation Tech Hub report, ‘Digital and AI Adoption among UK SMEs: The State of Play in 2026’. The report is based on research conducted among 1,320 UK small and medium-sized businesses in May 2026.
Key takeaways
- Enterprise Nation and Visa Foundation have launched a three-year, $2 million (£1.487 million) programme called AI for Every Business, designed to reach micro and small businesses across the UK and Ireland.
- The programme will provide free, targeted AI support including practical videos, webinars, regional events, personalised assessments and learning paths.
- Enterprise Nation research found that 46% of small business owners do not trust AI tools enough to act, and 42% said they would only engage with AI if it were completely free.
- A significant gender gap exists in AI adoption: 29% of female decision-makers said their business has no plans to adopt AI (vs 23% of male), and women-owned businesses report an adoption rate of 17% vs 20% for male-owned businesses.
- AI for Every Business will launch in autumn 2026, with further details on eligibility, cohort intake and online learning to be announced at launch.
