AI for Growth: Adopting AI Safely, Responsibly and Effectively

Spot the right AI opportunities, understand the risks and leave with a practical 90-day plan.

Artificial intelligence offers organisations a wide range of opportunities to improve productivity, reduce repetitive work and unlock growth. Yet adopting tools quickly, without a clear strategy, objectives or appropriate safeguards, can introduce avoidable risks. This practical three-hour workshop helps business owners and managers spot valuable AI opportunities and make informed decisions about where to start.

Using relatable examples, you’ll explore your organisation’s AI readiness, the importance of accuracy and human oversight, and proportionate approaches to staff guidance and accountability. We’ll also cover cybersecurity, including Shadow AI (employees using unapproved AI tools), confidential and customer data, and the steps your business can take to adopt suitable tools more securely.

Through three connected exercises, you’ll choose a priority AI use case, assess its benefits and risks, and develop an achievable 90-day action plan. No specialist technical knowledge is required. The focus is on cost-conscious decisions, simple safeguards and tangible next steps.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

• Identify one realistic AI opportunity that could improve productivity, efficiency or business performance, with an initial view of potential benefits.

• Assess their organisation’s AI readiness across strategy, people, processes, data and practical responsibilities, highlighting one priority gap.

• Recognise relevant AI and cyber risks, including Shadow AI, sensitive-data exposure and inaccurate outputs, and document risks for their chosen use case.

• Select proportionate safeguards, including approved-tool guidance, safe data handling, human review and accountable ownership.

• Draft a personalised 90-day AI roadmap covering actions, responsibilities, safeguards and simple measures of success.

Practical outputs: readiness snapshot; priority use case; initial opportunity-and-risk assessment; responsible-use actions; and draft 90-day plan.

Bio of Deliverers:

Rob Fox-River

Rob leads EY’s Cyber Security Practice for Healthcare, specialising in making cyber security accessible. Known for his clear and relatable teaching style, Rob is passionate about empowering businesses with the knowledge and confidence to protect their digital assets. He says, “My goal is to help you understand cyber so that you can use it to help your people, your business and your customers.”

Alanah Swift

Alanah is a Technology Consultant at EY, helping organisations adopt AI responsibly and strengthen cybersecurity. She focuses on building AI-ready workforces through strategy, risk management, and secure integration, delivering practical guidance on ethics, resilience, and innovation.

Jordan Campbell

Jordan is a Manchester based consultant at EY, currently working in the Technology Strategy & Transformation team. He was previously worked at a Manchester based AI startup specialising in Inventory and Pricing optimisation.

Spaces are limited – book your place now!

Eligibility:

• Greater Manchester trading organisations & entrepreneurs

As this workshop is fully-funded, businesses are subject to funders' eligibility criteria. If your place is confirmed, you will receive an email from us with further details.

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