Full House at Salford Innovation Forum for the Salford AI Works Summit

How Greater Manchester businesses are moving past the hype to win customers with practical AI.

On Tuesday 15 September, we opened our doors at Salford Innovation Forum for the Salford AI Works Summit. A free, half-day event bringing together founders, business owners, and innovators from across Greater Manchester.

We welcomed over 70 business leaders into the centre for the morning. When we set out to plan this event, our goal was simple: steer completely clear of tech buzzwords and abstract panels. Instead, we built the whole summit around one practical question: How do you actually use AI to win more customers today?

From the moment the centre opened, the energy was electric. Seeing our spaces packed with local founders proved just how ready our business community is for honest, practical conversations about real-world tools.

Buzzing from the Start

Our exhibitors arrived bright and early, and it was brilliant to welcome guests alongside our centre team and Ian Balderson, Innovation Director at The Wellsprings in Bolton (another centre run by Oxford Innovation Space).

By the time we kicked off the first session, the room was full. Having our breakout areas buzzing with people chatting and introducing themselves before the first mic was even switched on set the perfect tone for the rest of the day.

Three Practical Takes from the Salford AI Works Summit

To unpack our main question, we asked three brilliant speakers to share their real-world experience:

• Matt Tomkin Tao Digital Marketing: Matt kicked off with the commercial side. He shared straightforward, practical ways growing businesses can use AI in marketing to find qualified leads and actually bring in new customers.
• Ben G. Inevitable: Ben took us under the hood of sales technology. He broke down how AI tools connect together in practice and what it takes to get them working smoothly in day-to-day operations.
• Emma Walker EA Technology: Emma tackled the big question most people skip: readiness. She walked the room through deciding when AI actually makes sense for your business, and how to get your team and processes ready before jumping in.

Meet the Exhibitors

Our exhibitors weren’t just standing behind tables. They joined the audience for the sessions and spent the morning connecting with attendees across the centre. A huge part of what made the Salford AI Works Summit work so well was having these innovative specialists on hand to share their knowledge:

• Natasha Howells – Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI)
• Sarah Ayton – Kensington Peak Advisory
• Eloïse Perrot – The Growth Company
• Gareth Hanks – Motion Graphics
• Abdulla Elhardello – Demandive
• Tom Firth – Manchester Agentic
• James Hobson – Sarala Systems

The Best Part: The Conversations

The talks wrapped by midday, but the room stayed busy well into the afternoon.

Founders stuck around to compare notes, follow up on questions from the talks, and make genuine connections. As an Innovation Director, seeing that level of organic, peer-to-peer collaboration unfold across our centre is easily the most rewarding part of what we do.

A Quick Thank You

Events like this take a lot of quiet hard work behind the scenes. A massive thank you to Kristina and Sarah for looking after every detail and making sure our guests felt welcome from the second they walked through the door, and to the wider Oxford Innovation Space team for helping make the morning run so smoothly.

What’s Next at Salford Innovation Forum?

While the Salford AI Works Summit was a fantastic morning, the support doesn’t stop once an event wraps up.

• Looking for a base to grow your business? Dedicated 1-to-1 innovation and business growth support is built directly into our packages for resident businesses. If you’re looking for a private office or dedicated desk space in a thriving community, check out our Available Space Page to see our current spaces.
• Want to join us at the next one? Keep an eye on our Events Page so you don’t miss our upcoming workshops, masterclasses, and networking mornings.