Business AI adoption in the UK has more than doubled in just over two years: 54% of businesses now use AI, up from 25%. That is the headline from the British Chambers of Commerce’s research. Ben Martin, the BCC’s Policy Manager for digital policy, shared the findings at aiblLIVE London 2026.
The detail is more mixed. Most firms use generic tools, few have changed roles or headcount, and productivity gains are uneven. Here is what the research shows, and how it reaches government.
All figures from BCC research, as stated on stage by Ben Martin.
Mostly through generic tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot. They use them for everyday work: content creation, research, administration and data analysis. Only around 10% of businesses use bespoke tools designed for their organisation. Manufacturing firms are less likely to use AI at all.
Not for most businesses. 95% of firms using generic AI report no change to staffing, and 86% report no change to existing roles. But firms using more bespoke AI are more likely to report some headcount reduction. Looking ahead 12 months, businesses are less sure AI will have no effect.
The depth of AI integration might be quite an important factor in determining whether workforce structures change over time.
Ben Martin, Policy Manager, British Chambers of Commerce
Resourcing, trust, confidence and knowing where to invest. Those are the main barriers the BCC hears from businesses that plan to use AI but have not started. Skills are split too: almost two-fifths of firms plan job-specific AI training in the next year, while 41% do not.
Through policy reports and regular meetings with ministers and officials. The BCC raises barriers to adoption, the support businesses need and examples of success. Martin noted that AI policy is now coordinated primarily by the Cabinet Office, having sat in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
There’s an opportunity for us all to come together to champion good, effective, transparent, responsible use of AI alongside meaningful AI adoption.
Ben Martin, Policy Manager, British Chambers of Commerce
Ben Martin is Policy Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, where he leads on digital policy. The BCC is a network of 51 accredited chambers whose member businesses employ around 7.5 million people in the UK. He spoke on the Efficiency track at aiblLIVE London on 20 October 2026.
If you need to know where your business stands on AI against the rest of the UK, start here. The full PDF goes deeper than this page, in Martin’s own words.
For business owners, CEOs, COOs and HR and policy leads who want a UK benchmark. Five pages, about a seven-minute read.
