By Adam Whitehouse, Founder, TMT First
In a time when UK productivity remains behind other G7 nations and SMEs are under pressure from rising costs, at TMT First we believe the solution lies not just in cutting red tape, but in unlocking human potential. We are embracing the power of artificial intelligence to do exactly that. Rather than seeing it as a threat, we see it as an opportunity to rethink how we work and where our time is best spent.
Just last week, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) published their Blueprint for Growth. It lays out a clear set of priorities:
- Boost productivity
- Simplify regulation
- Equip people with skills
- Support the secure uptake of AI among SMEs
For us, these are not distant ideas. They’re already being embedded in our day-to-day operations.
This summer, TMT First will be taking a bold step forward. We’re launching a secure, company-wide AI platform to empower our teams with the latest decision-support tools, safely, responsibly, and with purpose.
Our Philosophy: People First, Powered by AI
We believe AI should make people better at what they do, not replace them. Our mobile device repair technicians will get quicker access to technical guidance, which will reduce repair times and enhance customer experience. Customer service teams can quickly access the right information, improving support even further. Procurement teams will be able to spot patterns in part usage and predict needs. Managers will make better-informed decisions based on real-time insights.
But more than that, our goal is to reduce the time spent looking for information, eliminate wasted time, and give people more confidence, autonomy, and headspace to do meaningful work in the process.
As the BCC rightly points out: “AI has the potential to deliver up to 1.5% productivity gains annually,” [1], which is worth over £47 billion to the UK economy. But the real opportunity lies in giving SMEs like ours the secure, risk-managed access to these tools that big corporations take for granted. I firmly believe the impact on SMEs could far exceed this figure — in many cases delivering productivity gains way over 10%. For smaller businesses like ours, where every hour and every decision counts, the right AI tools can completely change how we work.
Security & Trust at the Core
As an organisation currently being assessed for ISO 27001 accreditation, we know that data and cyber security are non-negotiable, especially when dealing with sensitive device information, customer records, and commercially sensitive data. That’s why our AI system is being built with:
- Data containment and role-based access
- Strict data retention policies
- Use-case boundaries to prevent misuse
- Clear training and onboarding for staff
When the BCC talks about “safe adoption,” and “boosting SME cyber resilience,” this is how it starts.
Where AI Will Help Us Grow
The BCC Blueprint calls for:
- A digital skills revolution
- Wider use of AI in planning and administration
- More digitalised operations and trade
- Less time wasted on admin, and more on value creation
I’d like to describe us as AI trailblazers at TMT First. We are already aligned with many of the points highlighted by the BCC.
Our teams are exploring AI in a number of areas, including:
- Parts forecasting based on historical and real-time diagnostic data
- Component authenticity detection through image analysis
- Faster triage and quoting in customer workflows
- Guided repair documentation and learning for new models
- Sustainability tracking to quantify carbon savings per device repaired, which is vital to our mission to support the continued fight against climate change globally
We’re also keen to explore how AI can support green skills and vocational training pathways, helping grow our apprenticeship programme in line with future workforce needs.
What Do We Want from the Future?
Our challenge to Government is simple.
We echo the BCC’s call for:
- A simple, secure AI adoption framework for SMEs
- Funding for digital transformation that includes vocational workplaces
- Government-backed support to help SMEs upskill and stay competitive
TMT First is ready. We are building, testing, training, and sharing what works — and we want other businesses to do the same.
As the Founder and Chair of a tech company, I don’t see AI as a threat. Myself and the team here think of it as a tool to make good people even better. It’s another way to keep people at the centre of our business while giving them the tools to succeed in a fast-moving world.
To borrow a line from the BCC’s own report: “Businesses have lots to gain from AI.” We’re proving that right here in Staffordshire.
Let’s make the UK not just the best place to do business, but the best place to rebuild skills, restore pride, and reinvent the way we work, together.