Norfolk businesses urged to embrace AI as Norfolk Chambers launches discounted AI Academy access
Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future; it is reshaping how Norfolk businesses operate right now. And new research confirms the pace of change is accelerating faster than many expected.
According to groundbreaking new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in partnership with Atos, more than half of UK firms (54%) are now actively using AI, up from 35% in 2025, 25% in 2024, and just 23% in 2023. Yet despite that rapid growth, many businesses are still yet to take meaningful action, and the risk of falling behind is real and growing.
Norfolk Chambers is responding to that challenge by offering members exclusive discounted access to the BCC AI Academy, a hands-on training platform designed to embed practical AI skills into everyday working life.
The BCC’s new Future of Work: AI in the Workplace report, produced in partnership with the University of Essex ESRC Centre for Micro-Social Change, offers reassurance alongside the urgency. More than 9 in 10 SMEs (95%) currently using AI report it has had no impact on workforce size, and 86% say job roles have remained unchanged. For now, AI is being used to support employees, not replace them. But the research also shows that businesses investing more deeply in AI are beginning to restructure, making early adoption, and training, even more important.
Productivity gains are already evident for those further along the journey. SMEs actively using AI report strong net productivity improvement expectations of +71 percentage points, compared to far lower optimism among firms still on the sidelines.
The AI Academy, delivered in partnership with PAIR, is built to close the adoption gap. Rather than offering abstract theory, the programme focuses on the tasks that take up most of a team’s working day and teaches people to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot as naturally as they use email. Teams that complete the training have achieved up to 40% faster project delivery and annual time savings of over 122 hours per employee.
The Academy is structured across three progressive levels. The Fundamentals module covers AI for writing and research, taking approximately two hours to complete. The Proficiency level moves into idea generation, data visualisation, and building basic AI agents, while the Mastery module covers advanced workflows, reasoning models, and organisational best practice and governance. Each stage is self-paced and concludes with a LinkedIn-recognised credential.
Jack Weaver, Chief Operating Officer at Norfolk Chambers, said: “Technology shifts don’t wait for anyone. We saw with the dawn of the internet what happens when businesses assume they can catch up later. Those that ignored the seismic shift in their market disappeared.
“The BCC’s latest research shows AI has moved from the margins of business into the mainstream at remarkable speed. For Norfolk businesses, the choice isn’t whether AI will shape the future of work — because it already is. The real question is whether we embrace it now and stay competitive, or risk being left behind by those who do.
“Our role at Norfolk Chambers is to connect, support and give voice to every business in our county. That means making sure Norfolk businesses have the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to move forward with technologies like AI.”
For businesses that already hold licences for tools like Microsoft Copilot, the Academy offers a particularly compelling proposition. Many organisations are paying for AI capability they are not yet using effectively, simply because staff haven’t had the guidance to apply it confidently to their daily work.
Norfolk Chambers members receive a discounted rate on AI Academy licences, with full access to all three masterclasses, personalised assignments, 24/7 platform access, and monthly content updates to keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
With businesses already enrolled, many training at least 30% of their workforce, momentum is building. Norfolk Chambers is committed to ensuring local businesses are part of that shift, not watching it from the sidelines.
Members can book their licences at a discounted rate here: https://norfolkchamber.co.uk/ai-academy/