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, has been 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
  • 10:00am–11:00am
  • Online

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

Book the webinarExplore 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
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 value of real-world experience.

Her second Bdaily column, “AI scepticism is healthy. Inaction isn't.”, was published on 25 August 2026 and looks at the difference between sensible caution around AI and simply standing still.

Her columns are written for real businesses dealing with real pressures — focusing on where AI can genuinely help without the hype.

Previous column: Confidence the key to our artificial intelligence future

Read Kaye's latest Bdaily columnView Kaye on Bdaily

Upcoming Events, Podcasts & Community

Upcoming talks, community events, podcast conversations and practical AI sessions with Kaye Nicholson.

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.

Business Growth Service

Featured Webinar

Business 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

Many founders and small teams are interested in AI but still worry about getting it wrong or feel they need technical knowledge before they can begin.

In this practical one-hour Business Academy session, Kaye Nicholson will help attendees understand what generative AI can and cannot do, identify one useful low-risk starting point and leave with a simple seven-day confidence plan.

Book via Business AcademyRead the announcement
Speaking

Hornets Nest Business Club

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

Kaye Nicholson will be speaking 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.

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

View / book Hornets NestVisit THIG
Speaking

Speaking in Newcastle

Late October 2026 · Newcastle

Kaye will be speaking 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.

Kaye Nicholson speaking

Details coming soon

Kaye Nicholson and attendees at the #NotAllWomenWearCapes Bring Your Brilliance networking morning outside The Vigilant Inn in South Shields

Community Event

Event Recap

#NotAllWomenWearCapes

Bring Your Brilliance

  • Held Wednesday 2 September 2026
  • The Vigilant Inn, Harton Village, South Shields
  • Hosted by GrowthZone AI · Breakfast buffet included

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

Don't just bring your business card. Bring your brilliance.

Next event

Wednesday 4 November 2026, 9:00am–11:00am at The Vigilant Inn, South Shields.

Book the November eventRead the event recapView #NotAllWomenWearCapes Events
Podcast

AI, Cybersecurity and the Questions Businesses Should Be Asking

Podcast conversation with Mark Pynchon

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.

Kaye Nicholson · Podcast guest

Recording / release details coming soon

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.

Not All Women Wear Capes International Women's Day event artwork celebrating real women and real stories

Hosted by GrowthZone AI

9 March 2026

#NotAllWomenWearCapes — International Women's Day Event

GrowthZone AI hosted #NotAllWomenWearCapes, 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
Kaye Nicholson standing between the Not All Women Wear Capes banner and the GrowthZone AI banner at Sinia's Bar

Speaking & Community

#NotAllWomenWearCapes Events 2026

GrowthZone AI is proud to support the #NotAllWomenWearCapes community, creating space for real conversations, visibility, support and connection.

Our July and September networking mornings brought women from across the North East together to share experiences, build confidence and make meaningful connections. The next one is now open to book.

GrowthZone AI is proud to continue supporting this growing community.

Networking mornings in 2026

  • •Wednesday 1 July 2026 — 9am to 11am (past)
  • •Wednesday 2 September 2026 — 9am to 11am (past)
  • •Wednesday 4 November 2026 — 9am to 11am (next event)
#NotAllWomenWearCapes#WomenInBusiness#NorthEast#Networking#GrowthZoneAI#Support#Community#Connection
Book the November EventRead the September recapView Eventbrite Profile
Kaye Nicholson speaking at the Platform event, presenting to a full audience on practical AI for business

Speaking & Community

22 May 2026

Speaking at Platform

Kaye Nicholson recently spoke at the Platform event, sharing practical, plain-English insight on how AI can support real businesses without the hype.

The session focused on approachable AI adoption, reducing overwhelm and helping businesses understand where AI can genuinely save time and reduce pressure.

GrowthZone AI continues to support practical AI conversations across the North East business community.

#AI#NorthEast#Community#BusinessSupport#PracticalAI#GrowthZoneAI
View LinkedIn Post

Upcoming and Community Appearances

More community and speaking updates

Kaye is also in conversation around further events across the North East, with more updates to follow as dates are confirmed.

Invite Kaye to speak

Workshops & Events

#NotAllWomenWearCapes Network

GrowthZone AI is proud to continue supporting the #NotAllWomenWearCapes community.

Further networking events and community dates are planned for 2027.

Announcements will be shared when dates become available.

#NotAllWomenWearCapes#WomenInBusiness#Networking#NorthEast#Community#GrowthZoneAI
View Eventbrite Profile

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