A recent YouGov poll found that 54% use AI just to automate tasks and 45% for marketing. Useful, yes but not transformational.
That raises the bigger question: How ready is your business to use AI strategically not just tactically?
Why benchmarking matters
You can’t improve what you can’t measure. And until now, SME leaders have had no easy way to benchmark their AI readiness against their peers.
That’s why we’ve launched the UK SME AI Readiness Check-up, a short, 3-minute survey designed for decision-makers not tech teams. It asks practical questions about where you are on your AI journey, the barriers you face and the outcomes you’re aiming for.
By taking part, you’ll get two things:
A chance to see how your answers compare with SMEs across the UK, we’ll be sharing results for the next few months and a final report.
An opportunity to shape the insights we’ll publish in future Elite Business columns, so every participant benefits from the bigger picture.
And because we know your time is valuable, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a 1-hour ‘AI Laying the Foundations’ session with Alcea Consulting (worth £1,000), a practical workshop to help your Board take the first confident step.
The questions every SME leader should be asking
When it comes to AI, no two SMEs are in the same place. Some are experimenting with marketing tools, others are running pilots in operations, while many are still deciding where to start. What unites them is uncertainty.
That’s exactly what this check-up is designed to capture. By answering a few short questions, you’ll not only reflect on your own priorities but you’ll also help create a clearer picture of what UK SMEs are really struggling with, whether that’s strategy, skills, culture or technology.
The results will give you a chance to see where your organisation sits against the national picture. Are you ahead of the curve, keeping pace or slipping behind?
What’s holding SMEs back?
The latest YouGov data shows that many SMEs still feel blocked: 49% cite data privacy and security, 30% don’t yet see the value and 1 in 5 worry about ethics. These are valid concerns but they also highlight why comparison matters.
Are your worries the same as everyone else’s, or are you falling behind while competitors are already finding safe, structured ways to move forward? The AI Readiness Check-up is designed to help you find out.
Why now
Because the biggest risk isn’t being behind today, it’s being stuck tomorrow. The SMEs already acting on AI are moving faster on efficiency, customer service and innovation. Those who hesitate will face a widening gap.
The AI Readiness Check-up is designed to help leaders take stock, learn from peers and decide their next step with confidence.
Click Here to Take the 3-minute AI Readiness Check-up today
About Alcea Consulting
Alcea Consulting helps medium-sized businesses adopt AI safely, strategically and with people at the heart of the journey. From readiness workshops to training and pilot projects, we support Boards and leadership teams to move from confusion to clarity. Learn more here.
