New research shows UK small and medium-sized businesses using AI are saving 5.2 hours a week, but many are at risk of being left behind.
One-fifth of the 1,000 companies surveyed by OpenAI admitted that they do not use AI, with sole traders and small businesses the most likely to do so at 37% and 25%, respectively.
More than half of medium-sized businesses use AI to automate tasks, while 37% of small businesses use AI agents, compared to 1 in 3 micro businesses and less than 1 in 5 micro businesses.
There are also regional disparities. Almost all businesses in London (93%) are now using AI in the workplace, while around one in four companies in regions such as Yorkshire & Humber (26%), the South West (28%) and Scotland (24%) are not using AI at all.
71% of people using AI say it makes them more effective business leaders, with the top benefits cited as time savings (45%), fewer errors (34%), and lower operational costs (24%).
ChatGPT is the most popular tool, used by 64%, ahead of Gemini and Copilot (42% each) and Claude (11%).
For companies not using AI, 28% said training and skills were a barrier.
To address the gap and accelerate adoption, OpenAI, Booking.com, and Enterprise Nation will host a one-day SME AI Accelerator in London on April 29th with free training on using AI to improve productivity, save time, and build practical business workflows.
Sanj Bhayro, Managing Director of EMEA Sales at OpenAI, said:
“Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK are already saving more than half a day a week thanks to AI, but the benefits are not shared equally, with disparities across regions, business sizes and how deeply companies can actually leverage AI. Without action, the smallest businesses risk being left out of the next wave of growth.”
Enterprise Nation CEO Aaron Asadi added:
“We recognize the transformative potential of AI for small businesses. This study is consistent with our own findings and strengthens our commitment to ensuring all small businesses, regardless of size or location, have access to the resources and training they need to take advantage of this technology.”
