Six in ten UK businesses (60%) say their employees have not completed comprehensive AI training, despite AI investment set to rise by 40% over the next two years, according to research from SAP SE (NYSE:SAP).

The Value of AI in the UK: Growth, People & Data report, produced in partnership Oxford Economics, finds that while the average UK business is already generating around £2.7 million in returns from AI, many organisations are not equipping employees with the skills, confidence and guidance needed to use the technology responsibly.

The gap in training may be fuelling the rise of so-called shadow AI, with 68% of organisations reporting that staff use unapproved AI tools at least occasionally as part of their day-to-day work. While seven-in-ten businesses have begun reskilling or upskilling staff to help close the emerging AI skills gap, progress is falling behind current rates of adoption.

Katie King, Published Author & CEO of AI in Business said “Shadow AI isn’t a sign of resistance, but a sign of enthusiasm. Employees are hungry to use these tools, but this eagerness is seeing some move faster than their organisations can support them. This energy is a huge opportunity for UK businesses, if it’s guided in the right way. The answer isn’t to damper this enthusiasm and the solution is reasonably simple. Give people access to approved tools, clear guardrails, and role-specific training. When staff understand how to use AI responsibly, it becomes a source of innovation and confidence rather than risk.”

“AI has become a part of our every working day, and it has to be used responsibly,” said Jon Curtis, Financial Systems Manager at Aspen Pumps. “We built a generative AI tool that sorts through hundreds of emails each day, from warranty claims to price enquiries, and flags what needs a human response. It’s saving huge amounts of time while keeping customers happy. But we’re also clear with our teams about using the right tools and keeping data secure. We train people to use approved corporate systems, so they get the benefits of AI safely and confidently.”

AI is shifting from the experimentation phase to becoming a tool to drive growth, competitiveness and resilience in organisations. Yet while leaders believe AI can deliver returns faster than other technologies, the report finds just 7% of organisations have adopted an enterprise-wide AI strategy. Without a long-term, robust strategy bringing together data, people, governance and partners, businesses risk missing out on the full value of the technology.

Leila Romane, Managing Director, SAP UK&I, said “AI is fast becoming a key driver of growth for UK businesses. When organisations make the technology part of their long-term strategy, they can innovate faster, scale with confidence and compete globally. It’s essential to get data foundations right, while giving employees the training, tools and space to experiment safely. That’s how businesses create a culture of responsible AI adoption from day one. The UK already has the talent, research and entrepreneurial spirit needed to lead in AI. The question now is whether businesses will take a strategic approach and turn this potential into future growth.”

Read the full report here: The Value of AI in the UK: Growth, People & Data

Methodology

SAP commissioned Oxford Economics, an independent research services provider, to script and host an online quantitative survey of respondents fielded between July and August 2025.

The research is based on a representative sample of global businesses. The sample comprised of 1,600 senior executives across eight global markets, including 200 respondents from the United Kingdom. The sample was evenly distributed between midmarket organisations (500 – 1,500 employees) and enterprises (1,500 or more). Respondents were qualified to ensure they were at least director level and above.

About SAP

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP (NYSE:SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit www.sap.com.