Revolutionising Public Sector Business Support with AI: Birmingham City Council's Digital Transformation ✅
By Polly Barnfield, OBE, CEO of Maybe*
The landscape of public sector business support is dramatically transforming, and Birmingham City Council is leading the way. Through an innovative partnership with Maybe*, the council is reimagining how local authorities can leverage AI to support their business communities in the digital age.
The Public Sector Challenge
"Traditional methods of business support needed to evolve," explains Ben Hau, Tourism Officer at Birmingham City Council. "We needed a solution that could serve our diverse business community 24/7, in multiple languages, while efficiently using public resources."
This challenge was particularly acute in Birmingham's vibrant hospitality sector, where business owners often work long hours and speak various languages. Traditional workshop-only approaches weren't meeting their needs.
Beyond Numbers: The Voice of Your Users
While quantitative metrics provide valuable data points, the richest insights often come from qualitative feedback. Users' stories, frustrations, and victories paint a vivid picture of your AI system's real-world impact. Their experiences highlight not just what works, but why it works – or doesn't.
The Digital Solution
The council's partnership with Maybe* introduced a groundbreaking approach:
- On-demand multilingual training accessible anytime
- AI-powered 24/7 support in multiple languages
- Personalised digital health checks
- Continuous learning opportunities
““Maybe* stood out because it offered genuine flexibility,” Ben notes. “Business owners can learn at their own pace, in their preferred language, with support always available when they need it.””
Results delivered to 300+ Birmingham businesses
1. Enhanced Business Support
- Round-the-clock assistance available
- Multilingual support in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and South Asian
- Positive feedback from Business Improvement Districts
- Increased engagement from diverse business communities
2. Improved Digital Capabilities
- Businesses learning at their own pace
- Enhanced social media presence
- More efficient marketing operations
- Better understanding of digital strategies
3. Scalable Impact
- Wider reach across Birmingham's business community
- Cost-effective support delivery
- Sustainable long-term learning model
- Increased digital adoption rates
Expanding Impact Across Local Authorities
Birmingham's success story represents just one chapter in Maybe*'s transformative work with local authorities across the UK. This innovative approach to business support has been embraced by numerous councils, each seeing remarkable results in their business communities.
Working with forward-thinking local authorities including Buckinghamshire, St Helens, Harrogate, Herefordshire, Essex, and Hammersmith and Fulham, Maybe* has helped reshape how public sector organisations deliver business support. Each partnership has contributed to a growing network of digitally empowered business communities, collectively supporting over 25,000 businesses nationwide.
These collaborations demonstrate the scalability and effectiveness of digital-first business support. From rural communities in Herefordshire to urban centres in Hammersmith and Fulham, Maybe* has proven adaptable to diverse business environments and local needs. Each authority has leveraged the platform's AI powered capabilities to address their unique challenges whilst maintaining consistent, high-quality support for their business communities.
Looking to the Future
As more local authorities recognise the need for innovative, accessible business support solutions, the Maybe* successful track record provides a clear blueprint for digital transformation in the public sector. The platform's ability to deliver multilingual, 24/7 support whilst maintaining cost-effectiveness has set a new standard for public sector business support programmes.
The collective success across these diverse regions demonstrates that digital transformation in public sector business support isn't just possible – it's essential for meeting the evolving needs of modern business communities.
As we look to the future, our growing network of local authority partnerships continues to pave the way for more accessible, efficient, and impactful local business support across the UK.
Need help? The team of Maybe* experts are here to help you get the most from AI.
