Partners & Associations

We’re proud to be connected to programmes and organisations helping businesses and communities grow, locally and beyond.

Community, ecosystem and local impact

Start with the AI Readiness Scorecard

Programmes, Partners & Associations

The organisations, programmes and communities GrowthZone AI works alongside, listed alphabetically.

Business Growth Service

Business Growth Service · Business Academy

Business Growth Service / Business Academy

Expert SpeakerUK Government Business Academy

Kaye Nicholson, founder of GrowthZone AI, was selected to deliver an expert-led Business Academy webinar for founders and small teams.

Business Academy is part of the UK Government's Business Growth Service, bringing free, expert-led learning and practical business support together through business.gov.uk.

Kaye's session, ‘From AI curious to AI confident: For founders and small teams’, focuses on helping businesses move from uncertainty around AI to one practical, low-risk next step — without jargon, pressure or chasing every new tool.

  • Monday 12 October 2026 (delivered)
  • 10:00am–11:00am
  • Online

Part of: Explore AI — Use AI to drive your business' growth

Read the announcementExplore Business AcademyRead the announcement
Inspire South Tyneside logo

Inspire South Tyneside

Inspire South Tyneside is the local infrastructure organisation for the VCSE sector (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise). Often known as the old ‘volunteering centre’ and the umbrella body for local charities, CICs and community groups, Inspire supports organisations with guidance around funding, governance and organisational health, plus connections through local networks and their online community platform, Plinth.

GrowthZoneAI is proud to work alongside Inspire to help local VCSE organisations take practical first steps with AI through clear, confidence-building workshops and real-world use cases.

Visit Inspire South TynesideRead our Inspire update
School Business Manager UK logo

School Business Manager UK

Growth Partner

SBM UK members receive a 10% discount on selected school AI support services.

GrowthZone AI is a Growth Partner with School Business Manager UK, supporting school business managers, school office teams and education operations leaders with practical, safe, plain-English AI guidance.

GrowthZone AI is listed on the School Business Manager UK marketplace, offering practical AI education, workshops and guidance for school business professionals who want to save time, reduce admin pressure and use AI responsibly.

Services are delivered by GrowthZone AI. GrowthZone AI is listed as a Growth Partner with School Business Manager UK.

View AI support for school business managersVisit School Business Manager UK
South Tyneside College logoTyne Coast College logo

South Tyneside College / Tyne Coast College

Digital Advisory Board Member

Supporting digital skills, work readiness and practical AI understanding in the North East.

GrowthZoneAI is proud to be represented on the Digital Advisory Board for South Tyneside College, part of Tyne Coast College.

Through this role, Kaye contributes practical employer insight around AI, digital skills, work readiness and the real-world needs of local businesses. The board brings together education and industry voices to help shape conversations around curriculum, skills and future opportunities for students.

This partnership reflects GrowthZoneAI’s commitment to supporting North East talent, strengthening local digital confidence and making AI more accessible, practical and relevant.

Visit South Tyneside CollegeVisit Tyne Coast College
South Tyneside Pledge logo

South Tyneside Pledge

The South Tyneside Pledge, run by Invest South Tyneside, is a commitment by local businesses and organisations to support the borough’s people, economy and future. It’s about responsible business: giving back, building connections and playing an active role in the community that supports you.

GrowthZoneAI is a proud signatory of the South Tyneside Pledge because we believe growth should benefit everyone around it. We’re based in South Tyneside and deeply connected to the area, from supporting local SMEs and charities to participating in community programmes and events.

Being part of the Pledge reflects who we are: a business built on doing things properly, supporting the people around us and contributing to a stronger, more confident local economy.

Visit the South Tyneside PledgeRead our Pledge update
UMi

UMi

Associate

GrowthZone AI is proud to now be an associate of UMi, joining a wider network focused on helping businesses access useful expertise, support and opportunities to grow.

UMi works with businesses across the UK, helping make it easier to find the information, expertise and finance they need to move forward.

The associate relationship gives GrowthZone AI another opportunity to contribute practical, human-first AI expertise to businesses that want to understand where AI genuinely fits without adding unnecessary complexity.

Visit UMi
WHiST Women's Health in South Tyneside logo

WHiST Women's Health in South Tyneside

GrowthZone AI founder Kaye Nicholson is proud to serve as a trustee of WHiST Women's Health in South Tyneside.

WHiST has spent more than forty years supporting women and communities across South Tyneside. GrowthZone AI is delighted to support the organisation and its continued work.

Visit WHiST WebsiteRead the 40 Years Strong story
Women Build AI community logo

Women Build AI

GrowthZone AI founder Kaye Nicholson is proud to be part of the Women Build AI community, supporting the growth of women in artificial intelligence, sharing knowledge and helping make AI more accessible and practical for businesses and communities.

Hosted by Sabrina Ramonov.

Visit Women Build AI
Bdaily

Kaye Nicholson, Bdaily Columnist

Media & Editorial

Kaye Nicholson, founder of GrowthZone AI, is a columnist for Bdaily, sharing practical, straight-talking perspectives on artificial intelligence, business confidence, change and the realities of running a business.

Her latest column, “Is your business using artificial intelligence right?”, was published on 18 October 2026 and looks at an important question for businesses adopting AI: should the task be automated in the first place?

The column explores why sensible AI adoption starts with understanding the process, removing unnecessary work and only then deciding where technology can genuinely help.

Previous column: AI scepticism is healthy. Inaction isn't.

Read Kaye's latest Bdaily columnView Kaye on Bdaily

Upcoming Events, Podcasts & Community

GrowthZone AI isn't just about what happens in a one-to-one session. Kaye regularly speaks, joins conversations and brings useful people together to make AI and the wider business landscape easier to understand. Here's what's coming next.

Coming up

Kaye Nicholson standing between the #NotAllWomenWearCapes banner and the GrowthZone AI banner
Featured Community EventMovember Special
Featured in Shields Gazette (opens in a new tab)

#NotAllWomenWearCapes: Movember Special

  • Wednesday 4 November 2026
  • 9:00am–11:00am
  • The Vigilant Inn, Harton Village, South Shields
  • Guest speaker: Wayne Groves, founder of the Red Bench Project

The next #NotAllWomenWearCapes morning is opening the room to men too for a special Movember event focused on real business conversations, useful connections and community.

Guest speaker Wayne Groves, founder of the Red Bench Project, will also join the morning to share some of his experience around the pressures and mental-health challenges that can come with running an organisation.

Who can come

Men are invited to this special event.

Book the Movember Special (opens in a new tab)Read the Shields Gazette feature (opens in a new tab)
Read our Movember Special news storyRead the September event recap
Women in AI event flyer: Your way into AI starts here. Guest speaker Kaye Nicholson, keynote Brianna Mills and moderator Clare Teunissen. Tuesday 27th October 2026, 10am to 2pm, The Mayor's Parlour, City Hall, Sunderland SR1 3AA
SpeakingWomen in AI

Women in AI Sunderland

Kaye Nicholson’s session

AI Curious to AI Confident

  • Tuesday 27 October 2026 · City Hall Sunderland
  • Kaye speaking 10:30am–11:10am
  • Kaye Nicholson · Founder, GrowthZone AI

Organised by The Northeast AI Buddy Framework · Event runs 10:00am–2:00pm

Kaye Nicholson will be delivering “AI Curious to AI Confident”, a practical session designed to help people move past the feeling that they should already understand AI and towards a clearer, more confident way of using it.

The session will cut through the jargon, look at what generative AI can and cannot realistically do, and show how to find a useful place to start while keeping human judgement firmly in control.

Women in AI Sunderland

AI Curious to AI Confident

What will AI Curious to AI Confident cover?

AI is becoming part of everyday working life, but that does not mean everybody feels confident using it.

AI Curious to AI Confident is designed for people who are interested in what AI could do but do not want the hype, jargon or pressure to become technical experts.

Kaye will cover:

  • what generative AI can genuinely help with
  • what it cannot reliably do
  • some of the reasons people lack confidence with AI
  • how to choose one useful and manageable place to start
  • how to give AI better instructions and context
  • why AI-generated answers still need checking
  • simple boundaries for safer AI use
  • where human judgement must remain in control
  • how to think about different AI tools without chasing every new platform
“You do not need to understand every AI tool. You need enough confidence to make one sensible decision at a time.”
Kaye Nicholson, Founder, GrowthZone AI

Kaye will also use examples from GrowthZone AI to show how AI can become part of real working life without taking the human out of the work.

GrowthZone AI now uses several AI-supported workflows and assistants across areas such as content, research, administration, proposals and business processes, but Kaye remains responsible for the decisions, quality and final output.

Who is it for?

  • people curious about AI but unsure where to begin
  • small business owners
  • founders
  • employees who do not consider themselves technical
  • people who have tried AI but have not yet found it particularly useful
  • anyone worried about getting AI wrong
  • people who want practical examples rather than another AI sales pitch

What should you leave with?

  • a clearer understanding of what AI can and cannot do
  • greater confidence around using AI
  • a more sensible way of choosing where to start
  • practical ideas that can be applied to real work
  • a better understanding of where human judgement still matters

City Hall Sunderland, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA

Organised by The Northeast AI Buddy Framework

Book Women in AI Sunderland (opens in a new tab)AI Training in Newcastle & the North East
Book Women in AI Sunderland (opens in a new tab)Explore GrowthZone AI Training
SpeakingAwaiting final details

Speaking in Newcastle

  • Late October 2026 · Newcastle
  • Kaye Nicholson speaking

Kaye is expected to speak at another Newcastle event later this October, bringing GrowthZone AI’s practical, human-first approach to the conversation around AI and business. Full event details will be added once they’re confirmed.

Details coming soon

PodcastComing Soon

AI, Cybersecurity and the Questions Businesses Should Be Asking

Podcast conversation with Mark Pynchon

  • Kaye Nicholson · Podcast guest

A conversation about where artificial intelligence and cybersecurity meet, including the practical questions businesses should be asking as AI becomes part of everyday working life.

Recording and release details coming soon

AI Curious to AI Confident is also the theme of Kaye's separate UK Government Business Academy webinar. Read about Kaye's Business Academy AI session

Community

#NotAllWomenWearCapes Events 2026

GrowthZone AI is proud to continue supporting the #NotAllWomenWearCapes community, creating space for honest conversations, useful connections and practical support.

The July and September mornings brought women from across the North East together. For the final event of 2026, the room is opening up to men too for a special Movember event on 4 November.

Featured in Shields Gazette (opens in a new tab)
  • Wednesday 1 July 2026 (past)
  • Wednesday 2 September 2026, Bring Your Brilliance (past)
  • Wednesday 4 November 2026, Movember Special (upcoming)
Book the November EventRead the September recapView Eventbrite Profile

Previous Events & Appearances

Talks, workshops and community mornings Kaye has already been part of, newest first.

  • Business Growth Service
    Past WebinarBusiness Academy

    From AI Curious to AI Confident

    For founders and small teams

    • Monday 12 October 2026
    • 10:00am–11:00am
    • Online
    • Kaye Nicholson · Expert speaker

    UK Government Business Academy · Business Growth Service

    A practical one-hour UK Government Business Academy session helping founders and small teams understand what generative AI can and cannot do, identify one useful low-risk starting point and leave with a simple seven-day confidence plan.

    Read the announcement
  • Past Speaking Event

    Hornets Nest Business Club

    • Friday 9 October 2026 · 12:30pm–2:00pm
    • Hebburn Town Football Club
    • Kaye Nicholson · Guest speaker

    Hosted by The Health Insurance Group (THIG) and Hebburn Town FC

    Kaye Nicholson spoke at the Hornets Nest Business Club at Hebburn Town Football Club, a North East business community bringing local organisations together to make useful connections, share ideas and build relationships.

    Visit THIG (opens in a new tab)
  • Kaye Nicholson and attendees at the #NotAllWomenWearCapes Bring Your Brilliance networking morning outside The Vigilant Inn in South Shields
    Past EventEvent Recap

    #NotAllWomenWearCapes

    Bring Your Brilliance

    • Wednesday 2 September 2026
    • The Vigilant Inn, Harton Village, South Shields
    • Hosted by GrowthZone AI

    A room full of women in business came together for a relaxed morning of real conversation and shared know-how, with everyone bringing something to share and something they needed help with.

    Next event

    Movember Special · Wednesday 4 November 2026, The Vigilant Inn

    Read the event recap
    See the Movember Special
  • AI Without The Overwhelm, Practical AI for Real Businesses workshop hosted by Kaye Nicholson at Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, Newcastle
    Past Workshop

    AI Without The Overwhelm

    Practical AI For Real Businesses

    • Wednesday 15 July 2026
    • Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, Newcastle
    • Hosted by Kaye Nicholson

    A practical, plain-English workshop helping real businesses cut through the AI hype. Get in touch to be the first to hear about future dates.

    Ask about future dates
  • Kaye Nicholson speaking at the Platform event, presenting to a full audience on practical AI for business
    Past Speaking Event

    Speaking at Platform

    • Friday 22 May 2026

    Kaye Nicholson spoke at the Platform event, sharing practical, plain-English insight on approachable AI adoption, reducing overwhelm and where AI can genuinely save businesses time.

    View LinkedIn post (opens in a new tab)
  • #NotAllWomenWearCapes International Women's Day event artwork celebrating real women and real stories
    Past EventHosted by GrowthZone AI

    #NotAllWomenWearCapes: International Women’s Day Event

    • Monday 9 March 2026

    GrowthZone AI hosted an International Women’s Day event bringing together women leaders, creators, founders and changemakers to share real stories, practical insight and community support.

    Speakers

    • Sarah Cookson & Laura Forbes, Charlie & Carter Foundation
    • Sarah, That Cake Girl
    • Janis Blower
    • Di Wilkinson
    • Sharon MacArthur, Miss Menopause
    • WHiST, Women’s Health in South Tyneside
    Meet the speakers

Want Kaye to speak at your event?

If your audience is curious about AI but does not want the jargon, Kaye brings a calm, practical and human approach that helps people understand where AI can actually help.

Invite Kaye to speakBook a short AI chat

Want to collaborate?

We’re always open to partnerships, joint events and community programmes that help businesses and people grow.

If you’re working on something that aligns with what we do, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touchTake the AI Readiness Scorecard