The Mayor's £12m AI Support Package: A Great Opportunity - If You Build the Right Foundations
Artificial Intelligence has enormous potential to improve productivity and competitiveness. London's new AI initiative could help many organisations take the next step - but lasting value comes from introducing AI with clear objectives, strong governance and secure implementation.
We encourage eligible London businesses to take advantage of the Mayor's AI support initiative.
AI should solve genuine business problems - not simply be adopted because it is fashionable.
Governance and security are essential foundations, not optional extras.
Independent advice can identify opportunities, but implementation and governance determine success.
Organisations that establish good governance now are better placed to scale AI safely as capabilities evolve.
What has been announced?
On 8 June 2026, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced a major new £12 million investment to help small and medium-sized businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence. Unveiled at London Tech Week, the programme will invest £4 million annually over three years, developed by London's growth agency London & Partners in consultation with the Mayor's new AI and Jobs Taskforce, chaired by Baroness Martha Lane-Fox.
The programme provides SMEs with practical support including AI readiness assessments, expert mentoring, workshops and tailored adoption guidance. It aims to help businesses improve productivity, build workforce capability and unlock growth opportunities.
The gap between ambition and action is striking. While nearly two-thirds of SMEs believe AI will be critical to their competitiveness over the next five years, fewer than one in six currently use AI technologies in their operations. Many report barriers including lack of expertise, uncertainty around implementation and concerns about cost.
SMEs that have adopted AI report average productivity gains of more than 35% within the first year - a significant competitive advantage for those that get implementation right.
The AI adoption gap among London SMEs
Read the full details of the programme on the Mayor of London's website: Mayor unveils £12m AI support package
We believe businesses should take advantage of initiatives like this
Programmes such as this can provide valuable independent perspectives and help organisations identify opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked. The mentoring, workshops and readiness support on offer represent a genuine opportunity for London's SMEs to build capability and confidence.
We actively encourage eligible businesses to explore these initiatives. External support can be particularly valuable in the early stages of an AI journey, when organisations are still mapping their opportunities and building internal understanding.
However, every organisation has different systems, risks, processes and priorities. Any recommendations from external programmes should be evaluated within the context of your own governance, security and long-term business objectives. The most valuable outcome of any AI initiative is not a list of tools - it is a clearer understanding of where AI can genuinely improve your operations.
"The most successful AI projects don't start with technology. They start with a business problem worth solving.
Wavex
AI isn't the destination - better business outcomes are
The most common mistake in AI adoption is starting with the technology rather than the problem. Organisations that begin by asking"where can we use AI?" often end up with tools that are technically impressive but operationally marginal. The right question is always:"What business challenge are we trying to solve, and is AI the most effective way to solve it?"
When AI is introduced at the end of a well-considered process - after the business challenge, process design, people considerations and governance have been addressed - it is far more likely to deliver lasting, measurable value.
The biggest AI risk isn't AI
The most significant risk facing organisations today is not that AI will make a mistake. It is that employees are already using AI tools - often personal accounts, consumer applications and unapproved platforms - without any governance, oversight or security controls in place. This is known as Shadow AI, and it is already widespread in most organisations.
Shadow AI is not a technology problem. It is a governance problem. Addressing it requires policy, ownership and clear guidance - before any formal AI programme begins.
Before implementing AI, ask these questions
These twelve questions are not a checklist to complete and file away. They are the foundation of a governance conversation that every organisation should have before committing to any AI implementation. If you cannot answer most of them clearly, the governance foundations need attention first.
AI works best when built on good governance
AI is not a substitute for governance - it is a multiplier of whatever governance already exists. Organisations with clear ownership, strong security controls, well-managed data and defined accountability structures will find AI adoption significantly more straightforward and more productive.
Organisations without those foundations will find that AI amplifies the gaps. Poor data quality produces poor AI outputs. Unclear ownership creates accountability problems. Weak security controls become critical vulnerabilities when AI tools begin accessing sensitive information.
This is why governance readiness should be assessed before any AI programme begins - not after the first implementation has encountered problems.
The Wavex approach to SME governance provides a practical framework for organisations at any stage of their governance journey. Read more: Why technology projects fail - and how governance prevents it
AI should strengthen an already well-governed organisation - not compensate for missing foundations.
Choosing AI software still requires good software selection
Every software supplier now claims to have AI. The important question is not"does it include AI?" - it is"will it improve our business securely, practically and measurably?"
Poor software selection often results from focusing on features rather than operational outcomes. An AI-powered platform that does not integrate with your existing systems, does not fit your governance model, or requires data handling practices that conflict with your security policy will create more problems than it solves.
The evaluation criteria for AI-enabled software should be the same as for any business-critical platform: does it solve the right problem, can it be governed appropriately, and does it fit within your existing technology environment?
Read the Wavex guide to software selection: Why software selection fails - and how to get it right
Where Wavex can help
We actively encourage organisations to benefit from initiatives such as the Mayor's AI support programme. External programmes provide valuable awareness, education and new perspectives. Our role is to help ensure that recommendations are implemented securely, governed appropriately and aligned with wider business objectives.
The two work best together. External initiative support helps organisations identify opportunities and build confidence. Wavex helps ensure those opportunities are realised safely, with the governance and security foundations that lasting AI adoption requires.
Practical next steps
Whether you are starting from scratch or already exploring AI opportunities, these seven steps provide a practical framework for moving forward with confidence.
Explore available support
Review the Mayor's AI programme and assess whether your organisation is eligible. Understand what mentoring, workshops and readiness support is available.
Identify genuine business opportunities
Map your operational challenges and prioritise the areas where AI could deliver measurable improvement - not where it sounds impressive.
Assess governance readiness
Review your existing governance framework. Identify gaps in ownership, accountability, and policy before any technology decisions are made.
Review security and data
Understand what data AI tools will access. Ensure confidentiality, data handling, and access controls are appropriate before implementation begins.
Evaluate technology options
Assess platforms against your business requirements - not their AI feature lists. Prioritise tools that integrate with your existing environment.
Implement safely
Pilot with a defined scope, clear success metrics, and a rollback plan. Involve your IT partner from the start, not after problems emerge.
Measure outcomes and continually improve
Track results against the original business objectives. Review governance regularly as AI capabilities and your organisation evolve.
Further reading
Exploring AI for your organisation?
Whether you have participated in the Mayor's AI initiative or are simply beginning to explore AI opportunities, introducing AI successfully requires more than choosing the right technology. Good governance, secure implementation and measurable business outcomes are what turn AI into lasting value.