The Data Lab is expanding its fully funded support for Scottish SMEs looking to adopt and integrate AI.
A new round of funding for the National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs was announced on Wednesday, the 19th of August, by Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Ben Macpherson, with £1.8 million of continued Scottish Government funding supporting the programme in its second year.
The funding will continue to support the National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs. It will help businesses across Scotland build the skills, confidence and practical capability they need to make AI work for their organisations.
Minister Macpherson announced the new funding during a visit to Border Biscuits in Lanark. The business has recently benefited from adopting AI to improve areas including data analysis, production line monitoring, and sales forecasting.
For The Data Lab, the new phase builds on strong demand and impact from the first year of funded support. More than 375 organisations were reached through The Data Lab’s interventions. This support reached businesses across Scotland, including rural areas. Businesses that benefited from skills development and participated in project implementation pilots are still experiencing ongoing impacts.
Practical support for businesses at different stages of AI adoption
The next phase will provide targeted support to help SMEs move from understanding the potential of AI to identifying where it can deliver meaningful value in their businesses – and to take practical steps towards implementation.
The programme meets businesses where they are in their AI adoption journey. Support can be accessed as a standalone intervention or as part of a wider journey, allowing organisations to build their capability as their needs develop.
A key focus of this phase will be leadership and skills development. Senior leaders and C-suite teams will discover the opportunities and challenges of AI, develop the skills and confidence to lead adoption, and align AI with their wider business strategy.
For SMEs ready to explore a specific opportunity, The Data Lab offers hands-on data and AI consultancy and project support. Working with The Data Lab’s technical team, businesses scope and plan a tailored AI project to understand what is practically and commercially feasible.
“AI adoption is not simply about introducing a new technology. For SMEs, it is about understanding where AI can make a real difference, having the confidence and skills to act, and making sure any investment aligns with the needs of the business.
Heather Thomson, CEO of The Data Lab
“The first phase of this programme showed us the significant appetite from businesses across Scotland to explore what AI could do for them. With this new funding, we can build on that work and provide more targeted, practical support to help SMEs turn that ambition into meaningful business impact.”
Boosting businesses across Scotland
The impact of this support is already evident in businesses that have worked with The Data Lab through the programme.
For Edinburgh-based EdTech company Professor Me, support from The Data Lab helped the business build confidence in adopting AI. This demonstrates that businesses do not need to have extensive technical expertise to take the first steps.
“What I would say to other businesses is – apply. Don’t be put off if you feel you don’t have the technical ability or that you don’t have the AI knowledge. Just apply because you will work with The Data Lab’s brilliant team and take it from there.”
Kate Smith, CEO of Professor Me
For Inverness-based sustainable building company Makar Ltd, The Data Lab provided more hands-on technical support. The team explored how data and AI could be applied to a specific business challenge. The support included full monitoring of a prototype home, with the supply of sensors and a dashboard to monitor live data.
“We found the assistance we got from The Data Lab and the AI Adoption Programme hugely beneficial. The entire team was great, and the result has been phenomenal, really.
Neil Edgar, CEO of Makar Ltd
“The Data Lab delivered full monitoring of a prototype home for us, including the supply of sensors and a dashboard to monitor live data. This has been invaluable in helping us make informed decisions about the heating strategy of our products.”
The experiences of Professor Me and Makar show how the programme can support businesses at different stages of their AI adoption journey, from building confidence and capability through to applying data and AI expertise to a specific business challenge.
Speaking at Border Biscuits in Lanark, Innovation Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“Ensuring our businesses have the skills to identify appropriate AI opportunities – and adopt new technologies safely and in line with Fair Work principles – will help drive sustainable growth across the economy and futureproof Scotland’s businesses.
“The vast majority of Scottish businesses are SMEs. The continuation of this programme means that even more of them will have access to the tools and expertise they need to help grow, innovate and flourish.”
Access AI adoption support
The new funding forms part of Scotland’s wider ambition to support responsible and inclusive growth through the country’s AI Strategy.
Scottish SMEs can find out more about The Data Lab’s AI adoption support and how to access the programme:
The Data Lab’s AI Adoption Support for SMEs
Visit AI Scotland’s website to find out more about the support available. Partners include Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise: