The University of Bedfordshire is holding a workshop on 19 March 2026 to show small business owners in Luton how to use artificial intelligence to improve their daily operations.
The event, titled “Artificial Intelligence Adoption – A Value-Focused Framework,” will teach local firms how to use new technology to lower running costs and provide better service to customers. It will take place at the University’s Luton campus at University Square and is aimed at companies that may find technical change difficult or expensive to start on their own.
Staff from the University’s Research and Innovation Service (RIS) are running the session as part of a wider project delivered with Luton Borough Council. The programme is part of the University’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)-backed AI Business Transformation Programme, which supports local shops and industrial businesses to stay competitive.
Attendees will see live demonstrations of technology and have the chance to speak with experts about technical support or potential funding for new projects. The session follows a 2025 partnership in which the University collaborated with London Luton Airport on AI projects to improve airport operations.
Interim Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Church, appointed on 1 January 2026, said the University wants to act as an engine for the local economy. The workshop forms part of the University’s 2021–2026 strategy to ensure its research directly benefits people and businesses in the community.
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