NatWest Group · 25 Sep, 08:59 · Business briefing

How business adoption of AI can power UK economic growth

A recent report by NatWest Group highlights how widespread business adoption of artificial intelligence can significantly accelerate economic growth across the United Kingdom.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent report by NatWest Group highlights how widespread business adoption of artificial intelligence can significantly accelerate economic growth across the United Kingdom. The analysis suggests that integrating AI technologies into core operational processes will enhance productivity, drive innovation, and create new market opportunities for organisations. This development underscores the critical role technology plays in modernising traditional industries and fostering a more competitive economic landscape. For professionals, this signals a shift towards data-driven decision-making and automated workflows, requiring a strategic approach to leveraging these tools effectively within their respective sectors to maintain relevance and drive organisational success.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must now prioritise understanding how AI transforms your specific industry. Professionals who can bridge technical capabilities with business strategy will see their value rise sharply. Focus on developing skills in AI implementation, data literacy, and ethical governance. If you are in management, you need to lead digital transformation initiatives confidently. For individual contributors, learning to collaborate with AI tools is no longer optional but essential. Audit your current skill set immediately. Identify gaps in your understanding of machine learning applications relevant to your role. Enrol in targeted upskilling programmes to stay ahead. Ignoring this shift risks professional obsolescence, while embracing it opens doors to leadership roles in tech-enabled organisations. Start by mapping AI opportunities within your current projects.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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