AI Unlocked, a new region-first initiative to help businesses, leaders, students and communities turn AI ambition into practical impact, has kicked off across the Thames Freeport area.
Developed by Avencera in partnership with Thames Freeport, AI Unlocked is helping organisations and individuals across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Thurrock build the skills, confidence and capability needed to thrive in today’s AI-driven world.
Bringing together four complementary accelerator programmes focused on corporate leaders, small businesses and students’ AI and employability skills, AI Unlocked is designed to unlock opportunities for innovation, growth and opportunity in the Freeport area.
AI is already reshaping industries, jobs and public services, creating both challenges and opportunities for organisations of every size. The Thames Freeport Growth Plan has identified regional AI deployment as one of four sector clusters that will be engines of growth across the region in the next 20 years. AI and AI-adjacent activity in the Freeport supports around 2,755 jobs, and industrial base across port, logistics, manufacturing, construction provides a real-world, data-rich environment where applied AI can be deployed most effectively.
Through AI Unlocked, Avencera and Thames Freeport are bringing together expert partners, hands-on learning and practical support for AI adoption for businesses of all sizes, young people entering the labour market for the first time, and for people at every stage of their career.
The AI Unlocked accelerators are:
- Leadership Accelerator: Supporting leaders to develop the AI fluency, confidence and strategic capability needed to lead organisational transformation.
- Small Business Accelerator: Helping SMEs understand, adopt and apply AI in ways that improve productivity, strengthen decision-making and drive business growth.
- Student Accelerator: Supporting young people to develop AI, innovation and entrepreneurial skills, helping create the next generation of founders, creators and problem-solvers.
- Employability Accelerator: Helping people build the AI, workplace and human skills needed to succeed as jobs evolve and new opportunities emerge.
Together, the programmes are intended to support economic growth, workforce development and innovation across the Thames Freeport region, while creating a blueprint that can be adopted by other regions looking to unlock the benefits of AI.
Stuart Rimmer, Interim Chief Executive of Thames Freeport said:
“Our Growth Plan identifies regional AI deployment as one of the key growth opportunities for the Thames Freeport. We have a key role to play shaping the AI future for our region. AI Unlocked does exactly that.
“We’re working alongside Avencera to bring practical support, expertise and opportunities directly to the people and organisations that need them most. We want to make sure the benefits of AI are not concentrated in a handful of organisations, but are accessible across our communities, helping businesses grow, supporting people to develop new skills and creating a stronger, more productive regional economy.”
Katy Weeks, Managing Director, Avencera, said:
“AI has become one of the defining economic and societal opportunities of our time, but too many organisations are still asking where to start and how to turn potential into practical value.
“AI Unlocked was developed to answer that challenge. By bringing together leaders, businesses, students and communities across the Thames Freeport, we’re creating a practical pathway to adoption that helps people build confidence, develop capability and realise the benefits of AI in ways that are meaningful, responsible and inclusive.”
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For more information contact EngagementAI@thamesfreeport.com
