University of Leicester secures £300,000 for East Midlands AI skills program
The Innovate UK-funded initiative will provide 180 AI-focused micro-internships for students and a fully funded six-week accelerator for SMEs across the region
Professor Xue Zhou, Dean of AI at the University of Leicester, is co-leading the £300,000 East Midlands Pathways to AI Programme
The UK’s University of Leicester School of Business has secured £300,000 in Innovate UK funding for a new program combining student AI experience with practical support for small and medium-sized businesses in the East Midlands.
The East Midlands Pathways to AI Programme, or EMPAIP, will provide 180 AI-focused micro-internships, giving University of Leicester students experience working on real business challenges.
Alongside the internships, SMEs will be able to take part in a fully funded six-week AI for Business Accelerator designed to help organizations identify potential uses for AI and put them into practice responsibly.
The program is being led by Professor Xue Zhou, Dean of AI at the University of Leicester, and Professor Paul Baines, Professor of Political Marketing.
Zhou said on LinkedIn that the initiative will “help develop AI skills, capability, and confidence across the region,” while connecting students with businesses looking to explore AI adoption.
Students to work on real business challenges
The 180 micro-internships are intended to give students hands-on experience applying AI to problems set by participating businesses.
The School of Business says students will be able to develop practical AI skills while gaining industry experience, with businesses receiving access to emerging talent and university expertise.
Zhou’s work at Leicester focuses on AI in business education, digital pedagogy and the integration of AI into curricula, with particular attention to AI literacy, student engagement and workforce preparedness.
She positioned EMPAIP on LinkedIn as a collaboration between higher education and regional employers, writing that the program will “connect businesses with emerging talent, university expertise, and practical AI innovation support.”
Six-week accelerator targets SMEs
For businesses, the second strand of the program is the fully funded AI for Business Accelerator.
The six-week program is designed to help SMEs identify and implement AI opportunities, with support around practical adoption rather than AI skills development in isolation.
Paul Baines said on LinkedIn that the government-funded initiative is aimed particularly at SMEs and microbusinesses in the East Midlands that want to learn more about AI.
The School of Business says participating companies will also be able to contribute business challenges or host AI internships, creating a direct link between the student placements and the needs of regional employers.
Organizations interested in the AI for Business Accelerator, providing a business challenge or hosting an internship can register their interest with the University of Leicester School of Business.
