It was great to spend the morning at the Dudley Business Expo, an event that stood out for being genuinely useful. The sessions were well thought through, the audience was engaged, andthe conversations were grounded in real business challenges.
I was invited to join a panel discussion focused on the use of AI in business, where the emphasis was very much on practical application. Too often, AI discussions drift into hype or speculation. This panel was different. The questions centred on what businesses are actually doing today, where AI is delivering tangible value, and where it still falls short.
Alongside the panel, I listened to a highly informative presentation from Dr James Shuttleworth of Coventry University, which provided a strong academic perspective on AI adoption and its broader implications. The contrast between theory and practice sparked some excellent discussion—particularly around how smaller and mid-sized manufacturers can adopt advanced tools without losing focus on fundamentals.
During the panel, I was pleased to answer questions from both James and the audience, sharing some straight-talking advice based on our own experience. For us, AI isn’t about replacing people or chasing trends. It’s about augmenting expertise: speeding up analysis, improving decision-making, and helping our teams focus on higher-value work. Used properly, it becomes a powerful assistant; used badly, it’s just noise.
This approach reflects a broader shift within our business. We’re actively modernising how we operate—whether that’s through advanced data analysis, smarter R&D workflows, or more effective communication—but always with a clear purpose. Innovation only matters if it delivers outcomes. Otherwise, it’s just innovation theatre.
Events like this matter because they create space for honest conversation between academia, local authorities, and businesses that are actually building things, employing people, and investing for the long term. That mix is where progress really happens.
My thanks go to Oxford Innovation Advice and Dudley Council for putting on a well-run, thoughtful event that genuinely added value. It’s encouraging to see this level of engagement and ambition within the local business community—and I’m always happy to continue the conversation with anyone curious about applying AI in a practical, no-nonsense way.