Championing Solihull: Making AI a practical competitive advantage

Written by Phil Webb from Vu Agency

Solihull has a habit of getting on with things. It is known for quality, pride in craftsmanship and a quietly confident business community. That matters because the next phase of growth will not be won by the noisiest places, but by the most capable. Used well, data and AI can help Solihull sharpen that capability and strengthen its competitiveness. 

AI is often framed as futuristic. In practice, the most valuable AI is “boring” in the best sense. It reduces delays, removes repetitive work and helps people make decisions with more clarity. For local employers, that can mean quicker customer responses, better forecasting, fewer errors in finance and admin, improved maintenance planning and more consistent service delivery. The gains might look incremental, but they compound. Over time, they become the difference between keeping pace and pulling ahead. 

Solihull is well placed to benefit. Advanced manufacturing and engineering sit alongside professional services, logistics, retail, hospitality and a growing digital economy. Strong transport links, including Birmingham Airport, the NEC and the wider motorway and rail network, connect local firms to customers, talent and supply chains. Innovation thrives where ideas and goods can move quickly, and where organisations can collaborate across sectors. 

The real differentiator, though, is not whether AI exists. It is whether organisations can adopt it responsibly and effectively. The winners will treat AI as a capability, not a gadget. That starts with getting the basics right. 

First, data foundations. Many organisations already have valuable information, but it is scattered across systems, spreadsheets and inboxes. Improving data quality, access and governance often delivers benefits before any sophisticated model is deployed. 

Second, skills and confidence. People do not need to become data scientists to benefit from AI, but they do need enough understanding to ask the right questions, challenge outputs, and use tools well. Practical training for teams closest to operations and customer delivery is one of the fastest routes to impact. 

Third, trust. Responsible AI is not a nice-to-have. It is a competitive advantage. Organisations that set clear standards for privacy, security, bias and transparency can move faster over the long term because they avoid costly missteps and build confidence with customers and employees. Start with clear business outcomes, such as time saved, costs reduced, revenue protected, or service levels improved, and measure progress. 

There is also a wider opportunity for Solihull to lead through collaboration. Local businesses, educators, public sector partners and technology providers can create shared pathways that help organisations experiment safely and adopt proven solutions. That might include innovation clinics for SMEs, shared pilot programmes, sector-focused working groups, apprenticeships that blend digital skills with domain expertise, and peer networks that share what works. 

Championing Solihull means building on what already works here: strong employers, high standards, practical ambition and a willingness to invest for the long term. With a focused approach to AI and innovation, Solihull can not only keep up with change, but shape it, making local organisations more productive, resilient and globally competitive.