SME Leaders Forum July 2025: Exploring the Future of AI for Small Businesses
Leeds University Business School welcomed small business owners and senior leaders from across the region to its latest SME Leaders Forum on Wednesday 2nd July, held at Nexus, University of Leeds.
The focus of this well-attended event was the timely and topical question: “Generative AI (GenAI): Profit or Peril?”
The afternoon brought together academic experts, industry leaders, and SME delegates for an engaging programme of discussion, practical insight, and peer learning. The event aimed to help SMEs navigate the hype surrounding AI and explore both its opportunities and risks in a business context.
Amy Warburton, Managing Director of Energyline Ltd., opened the discussions with reflections on her organisation’s journey through innovation and change within the energy infrastructure sector. Her contributions helped ground the debate in the realities faced by SMEs today.
This was followed by breakout sessions where delegates exchanged experiences and ideas on how AI technologies might impact their businesses, whether through automation, customer service improvements, or operational efficiencies.
In the latter part of the event, Professor John Palfreyman, Associate Professor at Leeds University Business School and Founder of Palfreyman Ventures, provided deeper insights into the evolving AI landscape. Drawing on his extensive experience in digital strategy, he encouraged SMEs to think critically about both the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption.
What impressed me the most about the event was the energy, enthusiasm and positivity of the delegates,
said Professor Palfreyman.
Everyone was happy to share their views on the much-hyped topic of GenAI in a supportive and open environment.
The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Jaclyn Goddard, Director at Psst Marketing, said:
Professor Palfreyman was brilliantly engaging, and along with the real-world insight from Amy Warburton and our group workshop, we took a lot of useful information away.
Julie Wilford, CEO at Encompass Agency Ltd., added:
As always, I found the latest SME Leaders Forum event incredibly valuable – this time on AI. From the University speaker, to the live business case study, to the quality of the conversations and the lived experiences of those around the table – would always recommend and always find useful.
The event concluded with informal networking, allowing delegates to further discuss the insights shared and forge new connections. For more information about our Executive Education Programmes and future SME Leaders Forum events, please visit our website.
