Just a few months ago, many Wirral businesses were asking the same question: Where do we even start with AI? For small teams, tight budgets, and packed schedules, AI felt distant; something for tech giants, not SMEs. But the Wirral Chamber of Commerce had a different idea: what if AI could be approachable, practical and tailored to real businesses?

That idea became the Wirral AI Academy, powered by PAIR: a personalised, role-based AI capability building platform, equipping organisations with the skills and tools to become AI-literate and ultimately AI-native. Together we are bringing very necessary skills to the Wirral Chamber of Commerce members. Three months in, the results are clear.

Early impact

Back in April 2025, more than 40 businesses with a wide range of size joined the Academy’s first cohort. Participants came from over a dozen industries, ranging from manufacturing and engineering to creative services and education. Our goal was simple: provide them with the skills to do their work better and faster through our role-personalised AI Masterclasses.

The challenge? Businesses were interested in changing the way of working; though, they weren’t sure how to get started. Before joining the Wirral AI Academy, a third had never touched tools like ChatGPT or Copilot, and nearly two-thirds lacked confidence using AI in their work. 28% of them didn’t feel confident in their ability to integrate AI into their weekly workflows

However, after certifying on our role-personalised Fundamentals Masterclass, the early results were noticeable:

• 54% were saving 3 or more hours a week

• 96% said the quality of their work had improved

A platform, not a course

The Wirral AI Academy was never designed to be a one-and-done training. Instead, it's a dynamic, evolving platform that grows with its members. Participants regularly return to explore our monthly AI content updates, revisit masterclass content, and seek out new ways to integrate AI into their workflows. This ongoing engagement is what sets the Academy apart.

What we’ve seen since

We recently followed up with members that have completed all three masterclasses to understand the longer-term impact. Follow-ups with over 20 local businesses revealed a powerful shift: AI isn’t just a time-saving measure – it has fundamentally changed how they work:

• 82% now use AI every day

• 84% have adapted their workflows

• 92% have shared tools, prompts, or best practices with others in their team

A pattern emerged in the most successful businesses within the cohort: their leaders embraced AI, often got certified themselves, and encouraged staff to experiment. Staff didn’t just build widgets that sped up their existing workflows – they fundamentally redesigned their workflows with AI to improve them. What brought the AI Academy full circle was when members built something useful, they shared it within their teams and even with other businesses that might find their progress useful.

The power of practical learning

One thing we heard over and over again: the Wirral AI Academy made AI feel useful to me and my organisation.

Theresa Brock from Regal Wholesale said, “My personal experience is that I didn't understand how AI would help in my role. After taking part in the [Wirral AI Academy], it provided a better understanding of how AI can assist in my day-to-day role.”

• Regal Wholesale have reengineered their customer service process, using Copilot to build an app that improves service levels, enables timely support, and provides actionable trends and statistics – a change helping maintain their ISO9000 certification.

• Heatons Group introduced an AI agent to handle first-line customer support, routing enquiries to the right teams. Response times dropped from 2–3 days to just one.

• Pharmapac UK reduced investigation and SOP processing time – from three days to three hours – freeing up their team for higher-impact work.

• Heap & Partners created an AI agent that checks whether a product requires an export licence, finds the relevant regulation, and outlines next steps.

• Westminster Associates are seeing 7x more leads, converting into new revenue streams for the business.

  
  

  

On individual performance improvement, several participants credit their promotion or role development to the skills and confidence they gained through our role-personalised AI Masterclasses.

Participants also praised the Academy’s accessible learning approach. Over 70% of members are now certified, with Jason Abbott, Managing Director at Your Future Home Ltd, saying, “the training is challenging but concise so making progress in a short period of time is very achievable”.

From individuals to teams

What started with individual learning is now spreading across organisations. Phil Jones, Quality Vice-President at The Wirral Met College, called it a “game changing journey”. Some participants have become internal AI champions – running informal sessions, demoing tools, and helping colleagues discover how AI fits their roles.

This ripple effect has been significant. Paul Thompson, Director at Westminster Associates, said, "The peer networking alone is worth it. Sharing ideas with others in different roles gives you real insight into what’s working".

A shift in mindset

Perhaps the most powerful shift isn’t technical – it’s cultural. Members no longer ask if they should use AI. They ask how. That mindset change is unlocking bigger conversations: How do we scale this? What new skills do we need? How can AI support our strategy, not just our tasks?

Building an AI-native workforce

Creating a truly AI-native workforce means building a community of practice. People need spaces to discuss, explore and experiment together. We’ve seen that having internal champions makes a huge difference. These are the people driving conversations, encouraging experimentation, and helping others overcome the initial friction of change.

Organisations like Vigo IT Solutions are leading the way, empowering their teams to actively use AI wherever it can add value. Hi-impact is doing that and going the extra mile by offering the platform to their partners. Their AI CPD initiative is bringing PAIR into the education sector, supporting the educators who will shape future generations.

What’s next?

The Wirral AI Academy is having a tangible impact on businesses in the region. The next cohort begins in October, with an even greater emphasis on peer learning, practical application, and real-world results.

Thanks to the success of the Wirral AI Academy and the support we’ve received from Mark, Elliot and the team from day one, we are now partnering with the British Chambers of Commerce. Together, we are rolling out the AI Academy nationally and internationally – making it available to all Regional and International British Chambers of Commerce.

This means the AI Academy will now support Chamber employees and their members across the UK and beyond. It’s a game-changing opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses to join the movement, build future-ready skills, and unlock the full potential of AI in their own organisations.

The Wirral AI Academy has turned AI ambition into AI adoption.