FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — 23 July 2026
Farnborough International Airshow, 23 July 2026 — The AI Growth Alliance (AIGA) officially launched at the Farnborough International Airshow, bringing together leaders from business, education, local government and the innovation community to help position Hampshire and the Solent as a national leader in responsible AI adoption, skills development and inclusive economic growth.
The launch was opened by The Rt Hon Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, who delivered the keynote address and highlighted the importance of AI skills, innovation and regional collaboration in supporting the UK’s AI ambitions.
A key milestone of the launch was the publication of the AI Leadership and Skills Strategy for Hampshire and the Solent (2026–2029), a collaborative strategy designed to help individuals, businesses and organisations develop the skills, confidence and leadership needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy.
Six strategic priorities
The Strategy focuses on six priorities:
- Digital Foundations for All
- Workplace Digital and AI Readiness
- AI Awareness and Applied Skills
- Advanced Data and AI Skills
- Leadership and CEO Confidence
- A Connected Learning Ecosystem
Developed in partnership with employers, universities, colleges, public sector organisations and community groups, the Strategy aims to support responsible AI adoption, improve productivity, strengthen workforce capability and ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to everyone.
AIGA will act as a regional platform to convene, connect, coordinate, catalyse and amplify AI-related opportunities across Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together businesses, educators, public services and communities around a shared vision for responsible AI-enabled growth.
Founding sponsors
The launch and Strategy were made possible through the support of AIGA’s founding sponsors:
- AiGentic Lab
- Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
- University Centre Sparsholt
- University of Portsmouth
As Hampshire and the Solent prepare for a new era of devolved growth and investment, AIGA aims to play a leading role in helping organisations collaborate, share knowledge and seize the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
For further information visit www.aigrowthalliance.co.uk.
What our partners say
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform every sector of the South-Central region’s economy, but no single organisation can realise that potential alone. As Government plans the investment our nation will make in this critical opportunity, the AI Growth Alliance is bringing together the expertise, ambition and experience that already exists across our region, so that together we can make the strongest possible case for investment and create opportunities that benefit everyone.
— David Patterson, Chair, AI Growth Alliance
Hampshire’s economy is built on the ambition and resilience of its businesses — the vast majority of them SMEs and microbusinesses who are already exploring what AI can do for them. As the region’s Employer Representative Body, the Chamber has heard directly from over 1,000 businesses through the Hampshire and Solent Local Skills Improvement Plan, and the message is clear: AI skills, confidence and practical support are among the most pressing priorities for employers of every size and sector. This strategy translates that employer evidence into a regional framework that gives businesses, communities and the wider workforce the tools to adopt AI with confidence and on their own terms. We look forward to working with our partners across Hampshire and the Solent to turn this strategy into real opportunity for all.
— Mandy Boughton, President, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
The University of Portsmouth is delighted to support the launch of the AI Leadership and Skills Strategy for Hampshire and the Solent. Its focus on responsible, inclusive and employer-led AI adoption strongly aligns with our mission to create, share and apply knowledge to make a difference to individuals and society. Developing AI leadership, digital confidence and future skills is vital to regional prosperity, enabling local businesses, learners, communities, and public services to benefit from AI. Through transformational education, research, innovation and strong cross-sector partnerships, we are committed to helping build an inclusive AI ecosystem that widens opportunity, reduces digital exclusion, and delivers lasting regional impact.
— Dr Rinat Khusainov, Industry Lead, Portsmouth AI and Data Science Research Centre, and Associate Head (Research & Innovation), School of Computing, University of Portsmouth
AI adoption fails on skills and leadership far more often than on technology, and this Strategy tackles both. It gives businesses, learners and public services across Hampshire and the Solent a practical, employer-led route from digital confidence to applied AI capability — with SMEs and inclusion at its centre, where they belong. AiGentic Lab is proud to be a founding sponsor, and prouder still of what cross-sector collaboration has produced here: a plan the region can actually deliver.
— Vasilij Nevlev, Founder, AiGentic Lab
Media enquiries
Email: chair@aigrowthalliance.co.uk
AI Growth Alliance Website: https://aigrowthalliance.co.uk/ LinkedIn: AI Growth Alliance – Hampshire and the Solent
Notes to editors
The AI Growth Alliance (AIGA) is a collaborative partnership bringing together education providers, employers, government, industry bodies and innovation organisations to accelerate AI skills development, capability building and adoption across Hampshire and the Solent. The AI Leadership and Skills Strategy (2026–2029) provides a coordinated regional framework for inclusive, responsible and employer-led AI adoption.