Where does your business really stand with AI?
We're exploring what AI maturity looks like for SMEs, and the practical steps that help them move forward. Register your interest to be first to hear what we find.
Register your interestAI maturity frameworks weren't built with SMEs in mind.
Most existing tools for assessing AI readiness are designed around large enterprises, with dedicated teams, substantial budgets and established governance.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up 99.85% of UK private-sector businesses, yet they operate with very different resources, processes and organisational structures. As a result, frameworks designed for large organisations rarely reflect the realities SMEs face.
of UK private-sector businesses are SMEs
of UK private-sector employment
of UK private-sector turnover
Source: UK Government, Business Population Estimates.
This project sets out to address that gap by developing a framework designed specifically for SMEs.
A framework shaped around the SME starting point
For an SME, the starting point for AI adoption can look very different. Many do not have a dedicated AI team, a Chief Data Officer, a transformation function or a sizeable innovation budget. Data often sits across several systems, owned by people who already have full-time roles. With a smaller team, every experiment carries a real opportunity cost.
None of this means AI holds less potential for SMEs. Arguably, the opposite is true. Helping more of these businesses use technology effectively could make a meaningful contribution to UK productivity and growth. But the route to adoption is unlikely to be a scaled-down version of the enterprise playbook.
Over the coming months, this research will explore what a more appropriate AI maturity framework could look like, with a particular focus on SMEs at an earlier stage of adoption. It will assess organisations across a number of key areas, identify the themes that SMEs have in common, and set out clear, practical actions businesses can take to progress.
A white paper
Our findings, shared freely with everyone who registers.
Common themes
The challenges and opportunities that SMEs share.
Clear next steps
Practical actions SMEs can take, whatever their starting point.
Who's behind the project
This project is led by Raiven, an innovative AI agency working across development and strategic consultancy for SMEs in every industry. Our team brings over a decade of experience in AI technology and innovation projects, and we're drawing on that experience to create a new framework that supports SMEs on their AI transformation journey.
We're conducting the research with Fernando Clavijo, a student at Aston University, and with the support of our partners at the Aston & Capgemini Centre of Excellence for Enterprise AI, where Raiven is a founding partner. This helps us ground our work in both academic research and industry expertise.
Be the first to know
Register your interest and we'll send you the white paper as soon as it's published, along with what the findings could mean for your business.
Thank you, you're on the list. We'll be in touch when the white paper is published.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this for?
Owners and leaders of small and medium-sized businesses who are interested in AI, wherever they are in their adoption journey. No technical knowledge is needed.
Does it cost anything?
No. Registering is free, and so is the white paper.
When will the white paper be ready?
We're aiming to publish it in February 2027.
Can I take part in the research?
You can register your interest in taking part by ticking the box on the form. Places are limited, so registering interest does not guarantee a place in the research.
What will you do with my details?
We'll use them to send you the white paper and to follow up about the project. We won't share them with anyone else. See our Privacy Policy for more detail.