Enterprise Nation and the Visa Foundation have launched “AI for Every Business,” a three-year initiative designed to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption among micro and small enterprises across the UK and Ireland.
Backed by a $2 million (£1.48 million) grant from the Visa Foundation, the program aims to reach more than 157,000 small businesses, helping them leverage AI tools to increase productivity, streamline operations, and boost competitiveness.
Through the partnership, both organisations aim to offer small business owners practical, accessible pathways to integrate emerging technologies into their daily operations. Under this initiative, entrepreneurs will gain free access to a comprehensive suite of digital support tools, including personalised AI assessments tailored to help business owners identify specific AI opportunities within their sectors, educational content including practical instructional videos, webinars, and curated learning paths, and in-person workshops and networking events hosted across the UK and Ireland.
In addition, the program features an intensive cohort designed for a select group of entrepreneurs. Participants in this track will receive advanced, hands-on guidance from peer-to-peer learning groups and business coaching to one-on-one mentorship from industry experts.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan welcomed the launch, stating, “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.”
“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,” said Polly Dhaliwal, Chief Operating Officer at Enterprise Nation.
“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,” Rob Cameron, Group Country Manager, UK & Ireland at Visa, also added.
