York businesses gain competitive edge with Google's AI programme

For the second year running, York hosted a meeting of medieval architecture and cutting edge technology as local businesses boosted their digital skills and learned how to use AI to grow their enterprises.

Over 80 businesses from York and North Yorkshire gathered on Tuesday 16 July for a day of free digital skills training delivered by Google Digital Garage in partnership with City of York Council.

Held in the city’s fourteenth-century Hospitium, Tuesday’s session concluded a series of three events – two online webinars and one live training day.

Over two years of the council’s partnership with Google Digital Garage, over 400 businesses have been able to learn new digital skills thanks to these events.

Cllr Pete Kilbane, the council’s Executive Member for Economy and Culture, opened the event by encouraging businesses to seize the opportunities offered by emerging digital technologies, and called for York to be at the forefront of a new era of innovation.

Kickstarting the day with a session on boosting productivity using AI, Google trainers revealed that among businesses that have adopted AI technologies, 70% have seen an increase in revenue and 28% have made cost savings.

Among the topics covered were crafting effective AI prompts, how to save time using AI-powered tools and techniques and the fundamentals of data analysis. Businesses also learned how to problem solve like a consultant, by defining a ‘problem statement’, implementing proven problem-solving techniques and finally, evaluating solutions.

Attendees at the live event also had the chance to take part in small-group mentoring sessions, where they were able to discuss their specific digital challenges with an expert Google trainer, and work with other businesses to share ideas and solutions to problems they faced.

Cllr Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of City of York Council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture , said:

“I was delighted to welcome Google’s digital experts back to York to help our business community harness the power of these exciting technologies.

“York is well known for its fabulous history, but it is also at the cutting edge of science and innovation. This Google digital garage taking place in our medieval Hospitium shows how York's future economy sits easily with our proud heritage. 

“Our Council Plan, ‘One City for All’ aims to build a thriving economy that is driven by innovation and good business. These events are just one example of the work our business growth managers are doing to help local businesses to upskill, innovate and grow.

“We’ve seen rapid growth in the AI tools now available to businesses of all shapes and sizes, and it’s vital that our local businesses are able to use these to their advantage, to boost their profits and remain globally competitive.

“It’s been a really enjoyable, engaging day and I hope that our city’s businesses have been inspired to seize the opportunities offered by AI.”

 Debbie Weinstein, Managing Director of Google UK & Ireland said: 

“Digital technologies are truly transformative and can help businesses and individuals across the UK to increase their earnings, boost their productivity and unlock their full potential.

“As a former business owner myself, I understand how tough it is to know where to turn to for advice. That's why we're providing hands-on support as part of our nationwide digital skills drive to help equip more people with invaluable skills that help to create jobs and economic opportunities.”

Between sessions, attendees networked over lunch, enjoying refreshments in the medieval Hospitium and the surrounding Museum Gardens.

Google Digital Garage is one of Google's flagship investment programmes in the UK, helping businesses and individuals learn free digital skills through a range of courses or one-to-one sessions.

Google mentors and City of York Council Business Growth Managers were on hand throughout the day to offer personalised support and advice to businesses.

This event forms part of City of York Council’s business support offer, after the council was allocated £5,507,510 from the UK’s Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to spend over 3 years to March 2025. This is one of several initiatives using the funding to help businesses in the city thrive.