Borders businesses are in a good place to exploit the global growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and turn it to the advantage of small, rural firms.
That was the view to emerge from the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Expo, held at the Peebles Hydro Hotel. More than 100 delegates from a wide range of Borders businesses, from large-scale employers such as Scottish Borders Council, Plexus and Farne Salmon to a variety of micro businesses, came together to discuss and debate AI, and plot how to use it across the region.
The day event, which featured keynote speeches, panels and workshops, was followed in the evening by the latest SBCC Leadership Dinner, which featured 28 leaders from the local authority, business and third sector in discussion around the key challenges of the Borders economy and how to take the themes of the day forward.
Trevor Jackson, SBCC Chairman, said:
“The whole event was really successful I think primarily because of the way people were so positive about the challenges we face and how we find solutions to them.
“There are fears around AI, of course, and there was a lot of discussion around where it can be dangerous and what we have to be careful of, which was helpful in itself. But we heard a lot from the speakers and the workshop leaders, who are experienced in the development and use of AI globally, on how we use AI to develop products and leaderships across our businesses.
“And I was very encouraged hearing how it allows us to work together across the Borders with small firms helping each other but also bigger companies helping our smaller ones to develop.
“There was such a buzz in the room which carried on into the leadership dinner at night, and a real feeling of optimism across people representing many different sectors, and that enthusiasm for collaboration and working together to improve everybody’s chances is exactly what we at the Chamber are seeking to achieve.”
Among the speakers were Louisa Macdonnell, the Scotland Director of Business in the Community. She sits on the Board of Social Investment Scotland and was previously Head of Economic Development at the UK Government’s Scotland Office, delivering Borderlands, the UK’s first rural and only cross-border regional growth deal.
She challenged delegates by asking how many were fearful of AI and how many embraced it and was pleased to see more of the latter. She said:
“This has been a great event for bringing lots of people together to look at how we are adopting AI, what that looks like, and what the impact is on our workforce, and yes, it was really pleasing to see that many people are starting to get on board with AI and make it work for this area.
“And it was also just really good to see how businesses are getting on in the Borders, what challenges they are facing and how they are tackling that, and where organisations like ours can help them.”
Sudha Mani, CEO of Civika AI and a former government adviser on technology, was similarly encouraged by the feedback she received from Borders businesses.
“I spoke about how AI is being developed across the world and how, rather than run away from it, we have to understand that it is about humans controlling AI and making it work for us, and I got the feeling that Borders businesses are well placed to do that.
“At the moment we have issues with a lack of public trust in it, in governments and employers being able to safeguard us, and so an event like this is huge for being able to grow confidence and understanding.”
SBC leader Euan Jardine told the delegates: “This conference is a great example of how we can come together in an area like the Borders quickly and effectively and really make some progress that benefits everyone. People are sick of hearing me say that I no longer think the Borders is a small region punching above its weight but is actually a heavyweight in terms of the tremendous variety of businesses we have here contributing to the Borders, Scottish and UK economies.
“Seeing people from so many businesses spend a day together, discussing, debating and helping to find solutions to challenges they face is really inspiring and says a lot about the determination we have in the Scottish Borders to be at the forefront of the changes we’re seeing happening around the world.”
The Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce also announced at the event that it is seeking businesses to join a trade visit to Scandinavia later this year. Its next events will be Coffee & Connections networking sessions for local businesses, first at Beirhope Alpacas, Kelso, on Tuesday 28th April, and then at Faldonside Eco on 19th May. More information is available at www.borderschamber.com
