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The event was also attended by Harry Gurney, Managing Director of The Cat & Wickets Pub Company in Loughborough, who shared his lived experience of harnessing AI to boost his business and complement Access’ expertise in AI and digital innovation, as an AI-forward business.
Undergraduate students Jesse Ikuesan and Moth Burton have experienced AI learning first-hand through their Loughborough University Access Foundation Scholarships and placement year at Access Group. They were given the opportunity to contribute to the discussion based on their experiences of pivoting from university to the working world at Access.
"Taking part in discussions like this is invaluable as a student. Along with the placement year, these initiatives allow us to move beyond the textbook to gain real-world business context for what we are studying and invaluable soft skills through active dialogue with experts and politicians, and build a professional network that three years of reading can never offer,” said Moth Burton, Loughborough University student and Access Foundation Scholar
The discussion highlighted four key themes, ranging from the digital divide to the need for investment in skills, as well as the necessity of deliberate government plans to ensure that everyone can benefit from AI technology, which is vital for achieving the estimated billions of pounds in economic benefits.
- The Digital Divide: Access data showed that large companies are using these smart systems at a rate of 68%, but for smaller firms, adoption drops significantly to just 15%. The main hurdles for smaller firms are a lack of technical know-how (35%) and the cost (30%).*
- Local Business View: Harry Gurney, Managing Director of The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, offered a candid perspective on how AI and automation have enabled him to thrive during tough economic times, particularly in the hospitality sector. He also shared serious concerns about rising food costs and the upcoming budget, leading him to predict a tough period ahead for the hospitality sector.
- Skills and People: Access is committed to developing future talent and currently sponsors 44 computer science students through The Access Foundation. The company aims to expand this commitment to developing digital skills by growing its Apprenticeship Academy in Loughborough and beyond. As part of these efforts, Access is seeking better ways to navigate the apprenticeship levy and is keen to work with the government to create opportunities for training and employing people from the local community.
- Government Policy Challenge: Access raised the Apprenticeship Levy issues, noting that current rules make it overly complex and difficult to find apprentices and that a simplified process would allow them to take on more trainees. Notably, recent ONS data indicate that the UK unemployment rate was 5.0% (June-September 2025), the highest since the pandemic began.
Following the discussion, Dr Sandher commented:
“Small and medium-sized businesses like the Cat & Wickets Pub Company are the backbone of our economy, yet too many are being left behind in the AI revolution. With adoption at just 15% among smaller firms compared with 68% for larger companies, the digital divide is stark and we are addressing this in government through major investment, clearer regulation and support to help SMEs adopt AI with confidence.
It was hugely encouraging to meet Jesse and Moth, two students gaining real-world experience through The Access Foundation Scholarships. Initiatives like this show how businesses and universities can come together to build the skilled workforce our future depends on. We must ensure every business has access to both the technology and the talent they need to thrive in a modern, competitive economy.”
Jon Jorgensen, Chief Revenue Officer at Access added:
“From classrooms to restaurants, the necessity to adopt and train businesses on AI was highlighted in our recent survey of 900 firms, whereby AI is enhancing the human element of jobs. For example, in the education sector, teachers reported that marking time has been reduced by half, giving them more time to be engaged with pupils’ learning.
In the care sector, AI-enabled smart notes remove the extensive hours carers spend writing up reports, allowing them valuable time with patients. Additionally, in the hospitality industry, we see customers utilising AI for menu management, guest experience, and purchasing, all to reduce their operating costs and enable their staff to focus more on the guest experience.
As businesses step outside their technology comfort zone, we are seeing them reap the rewards in a way that has not been seen since the creation of the Internet.
It was great to hear Dr Jeevun Sandher MP share this excitement, as we share a critical goal: ensuring young people are digitally literate and supported as they enter the world of work, and helping businesses across the UK get the skills they need to genuinely prosper in the digital world.”
About The Access Group
The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered providers of business management software. It provides solutions that empower more than 160,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, the USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what's important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs approximately 9,000 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow us @TheAccessGroup