AI is changing how we work – but most teams still don’t know which skills matter or where to start.
In this episode of Scaling with AI, Alex Bacon talks with Will Roberts from Digital Peninsula Network about the essential AI skills every business needs to stay competitive. Drawing on insights from the government-funded AI for Workplace Productivity Bootcamp, Will shares how UK leaders and teams are learning to use tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Midjourney to boost efficiency, creativity and confidence at work.
You’ll discover how to build an AI-ready workforce, why most training fails to stick, and how to create a culture of experimentation that drives results. They also explore AI in education, the changing expectations of future employees, and how Will uses AI to manage ADHD, turning distraction into focus and productivity.
If you’re leading a business or building a career around AI adoption, digital transformation or upskilling, this episode gives you a practical blueprint for success.
Listen now to learn how to close the AI skills gap and future-proof your business.
What happens when Microsoft becomes its own test case for AI?
In this episode of Scaling with AI, Alex Bacon speaks with George Pearson, Portfolio Lead for Global Partner Support at Microsoft, about the Customer Zero initiative – the internal deployment of Copilot across Microsoft’s vast support organisation.
George reveals how Microsoft used Copilot to transform operations spanning 92 contact centres, tens of thousands of engineers, and over a billion customers. He shares what it really took to modernise global customer service: from consolidating 16 CRM systems into one, to cutting admin time and increasing first-call resolution by 31%.
You’ll learn why Copilot is more than a writing assistant, how “thoughtful deployment” avoids the rubbish in, rubbish out trap, and why human feedback from engineers proved crucial to success.
If you lead a business exploring AI adoption, this conversation offers a blueprint for scaling AI that boosts both customer experience and employee satisfaction.
Listen now to learn how Microsoft made AI work in the real world.
What happens when cutting-edge AI meets one of literature’s most beloved characters? In this episode of Scaling with AI, Alex Bacon explores how the University for the Creative Arts partnered with StarPal AI to bring Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s world into ours as a fully interactive AI avatar.
Discover how students and researchers worked together to design, build and test a digital version of Lizzy that delighted visitors at the Jane Austen House Museum. From witty unscripted conversations to surprising historical knowledge, the project revealed how avatars can transform cultural engagement and make learning more accessible.
We unpack the creative process behind shaping Elizabeth’s personality, the role of iteration in refining her responses, and what this experiment means for museums, education, and the wider cultural sector.
If you’re curious about how AI avatars can breathe new life into heritage experiences - and what it’s like to chat with Jane Austen’s most famous heroine - this episode is not to be missed.
What does it take for a 187-year-old firm to successfully scale AI across every department? In this episode of Scaling with AI, you’ll hear real-world AI strategy, use cases and implementation lessons from Ben Lee of Bidwells.
Most businesses struggle to move AI projects beyond pilot stage. Guest Ben Lee, Head of Data and AI at Bidwells, shares the "Launchpad" framework he developed to move from experimentation to business-wide adoption.
Alex and Ben explore:
This conversation blends strategy with hands-on examples, showing how traditional businesses can adopt AI in a structured, scalable way. Whether you're starting your AI journey or ready to scale, you'll gain a clear framework to follow.
Listen now to learn proven strategies for AI adoption, implementation and scaling across your business.
Everyone’s talking about AI, but is your business ready for it?
In this episode, Alex talks with Josh Berry, Technical Director at Bind Media, about why the real power of AI in marketing begins with your data. Before chasing new tools, Josh explains how agencies and brands must centralise, clean and structure their data so it is AI-ready.
Josh shares how Bind Media, a certified B Corp, built a modular data architecture that now powers AI agents, marketing automation and smarter decision-making across client campaigns. From optimising Google Ads to scaling lead generation, he shows how the right data layer unlocks efficiency, creativity and better results.
You will learn:
Why “garbage in, garbage out” matters more than ever in AI marketing
How to take a modular approach to building AI systems
The cultural shift required to bring teams on the journey
If you want to use AI to drive business growth rather than just experiment with shiny tools, this conversation gives you the roadmap.
Listen now and discover how to future-proof your marketing with data.
'Most sales people are using AI completely wrong'. This is one of Michael's opening statements in this episode of Scaling With AI.
Michael discusses how he is using AI tools in his own business to drive sales, and also how sales people can leverage AI tools to improve their sales techniques and performance.
Michael is a seasoned sales trainer and coach and discusses how sales people and business leaders can use AI to help them sell more.
Michael has grown the business from one-man consultancy business to a full sales training business. Learn about the challenges he faced, the strategies he employed, and how he leverages AI to enhance B2B sales processes. From utilising AI for deep research to avoiding the pitfalls of AI-generated spam, Michael shares valuable tips and experiences that can help any sales professional or business leader. Tune in to explore the opportunities and limitations of AI in the sales cycle, and how authentic, personalised outreach can set you apart in a competitive market.
00:00 Introduction to Growth Genie
00:46 The Journey of Growth Genie
02:37 Challenges and Solutions in Sales
03:47 Leveraging AI in Sales
08:13 AI in Personal Branding
14:17 AI Throughout the Sales Cycle
24:23 The Hype and Misuse of AI in Sales
25:09 Challenges with AI-Generated Content
27:38 AI in Training and Coaching
29:27 Leveraging AI for Business Growth
31:28 Community and Networking for AI Insights
33:06 Adapting to AI in the Workplace
36:50 Future Predictions for AI in Sales and Marketing
40:43 Quickfire Questions and Final Thoughts
Scaling a Lean SaaS business with AI - Chris Allen, CRO & Co-founder of Licenseware
In this episode, Chris Allen from Licenseware shares how a lean Software as a Service business can scale faster and operate more efficiently by embedding AI across sales, marketing, product, and operations.
Chris explains how Licenseware uses AI to automate complex software licensing analysis, streamline sales follow-up, power in-product support, and even accelerate product documentation and demo creation. He discusses the cultural mindset that’s helped the team adopt AI, the balance between building and buying tools, and the guardrails needed to manage data security and ethics.
You’ll also hear practical examples of AI in action — from cutting the time to market for new features, to reducing headcount while increasing capacity, to uncovering unexpected personal uses like race training plans and fish tank maintenance.
Whether you’re in SaaS, enterprise software, or simply curious about applying AI to everyday business problems, this episode is full of actionable insights and hard-earned lessons.
Lessons from Rayo’s Ethical and Scalable Deployment
In this episode, Matt from Rayo takes you through the practical side of scaling AI in business.Matt shares how the company is embedding AI into its operations to drive growth, efficiency and innovation.
Learn about the concept of vibe coding, the ethical considerations that come with advanced AI use, and how Rayo is building secure and scalable processes to support its AI adoption.
Matt also reflects on the evolving role of the CTO, how AI is reshaping traditional responsibilities, and what small businesses can do to get started.
Whether you’re a business leader or tech enthusiast, if you're exploring how to apply AI in real business settings, this conversation offers practical insights and plenty of food for thought.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:06 Background of Rayo and UBDS
01:21 Company Growth and Achievements
02:05 Role and Responsibilities of the CTO
04:19 AI Integration in Business
07:17 Ethics and Risks of AI
28:08 AI in Public Sector
34:55 Future of AI and Final Thoughts
Building an AI Innovation Culture to Scale Marketing: Medico Digital's Journey with AI
In this episode, Ollie from Medico Digital shares insights into how the agency is fostering a culture of AI innovation to scale their marketing. Learn how Medico Digital is improving online access to healthcare information, reflecting on the company’s 10-year journey, their goals for international growth, and how they’re embedding AI into their daily operations. Hear about their practical use of AI to enhance engagement, streamline workflows, and support content creation. If you're curious about how AI can enable growth and operational efficiency, this conversation is well worth a listen.
00:00 Introduction to Medico Digital
00:53 Company Growth and Ambitions
02:33 Scaling with AI
04:44 AI in Practice
06:42 Challenges and Resistance
08:53 AI Tools and Implementation
17:08 Future of AI and Business
19:15 Personal Insights and Conclusion
"Scaling with AI" is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Alex Bacon, aimed at demystifying AI by exploring its practical applications in scaling businesses.
Alex leverages his extensive experience in marketing leadership to delve into how companies integrate AI to grow faster and more efficiently.
Each episode features interviews with founders and leaders from startups and scale-ups, discussing their journey, AI use cases, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Topics include automation of routine tasks, AI-enabled market research, customer engagement, and content creation.
The podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon, and invites audience participation and feedback via LinkedIn. The ultimate goal is to help traditional businesses embrace AI technologies to enhance their processes and strategies.
Subscribe to stay updated and explore the transformative potential of AI in business.
