AI Consultancy for UK Small Businesses

We build it.
We train you.
You own it.

I'm Jonny — a self-taught AI consultant who believes small businesses deserve the same edge as the big ones. No jargon. No retainers. No dependency. Just AI that works, handed over completely before I leave.

Book a free audit My story →

I only take on a handful of projects at a time, so whatever I build gets proper attention — not squeezed in around twenty other clients.

AI neural network visualisation — glowing teal data nodes on dark background
8h+ saved per week, typically
£0 monthly retainer
100% yours after handover
Fixed project fees, always

The AI gap in UK small business

The data from 2026 makes the picture clear. Demand is there — but operational AI expertise for small businesses is almost nowhere to be found.

54%

of UK SMEs now use AI in some form — up from 25% in 2024

11%

actually use it in a meaningful, operational way

£78bn

in unrealised AI value sitting in the UK SME market

80%

of UK small businesses have no formal AI strategy at all

Sources: Staffing Industry Analysts, Mole Valley Chamber SME AI Report, Harri Digital — 2026

About Jonny Symes

Jonny Symes — founder of Symplify, AI consultant for small businesses

I got into AI because I was obsessed with it — not because someone paid me to be. I figured things out by trying them, breaking them, fixing them. That's exactly the energy I bring to every client.

— Jonny Symes, Founder

✦ Self-taught · Not corporate. Just curious.
My background

I didn't come from big tech.
I came from wanting to help.

A few years ago I started teaching myself AI — not with any grand plan, just because I found it genuinely fascinating. I spent evenings and weekends learning how large language models work, how automation pipelines are built, how small tools can be strung together to do remarkable things.

The more I learned, the more I saw a problem. Big agencies were selling AI to small businesses on retainer contracts — keeping them dependent, keeping the keys.

That felt wrong to me.

I started Symplify because I wanted to do the opposite. Come in, understand your business properly, build something that genuinely solves a real problem, teach you how to run it, and leave. You shouldn't need me every month.

This isn't a corporate venture. It's something I do because I genuinely love the work and I love seeing what happens when a small business owner realises their week just got a lot lighter.

How it works

Three steps. Then it's entirely yours — with no ongoing dependency on me.

Discover

A proper conversation — not a sales pitch. I want to understand where your time goes, what's broken, and what would make a real difference. Most audits take 30–60 minutes, and I'll be honest if AI isn't the right answer. Either way, you'll walk away with a clear yes or no — and if it's a yes, a scoped plan and fixed price to follow.

Free · No obligation

Build

I build a bespoke solution around your business — not an off-the-shelf tool with your logo on it. Every automation, workflow, and integration is designed specifically for how you work.

Custom · Tested · Yours

Train & Hand Over

We spend proper time making sure you and your team can run everything independently. Full documentation, hands-on sessions, a defined support window. After that — it's yours. Completely. No ongoing fees.

Documented · Trained · Done

What I tackle

Every business is different, but the time-wasters tend to look familiar. Here's where AI typically makes the biggest dent.

AI-powered workspace — laptop with teal data visualisation

Built for how you actually work

Every solution custom-built.
Nothing off the shelf.

📬

Customer communications

AI that handles enquiries, FAQs, and follow-ups — so your inbox isn't running your day.

⚙️

Admin automation

Invoicing, scheduling, data entry, reporting — the stuff that eats evenings and weekends.

📱

Social media & content

Scheduling, caption drafting, and content repurposing — showing up consistently without the grind.

🔍

Lead qualification

Filter serious enquiries from tyre-kickers automatically, so you spend time on the right conversations.

📊

Reporting & insights

Simple dashboards that tell you what's actually happening in your business — without a spreadsheet degree.

🤔

Something else entirely

If you've got a problem that's eating time or money, let's talk. I'll tell you honestly if AI can help.

Why Symplify is different

Most AI consultancies make more money the longer you need them. That's not a criticism — it's just how their model works. Symplify is built differently, by design.

You own the keys

Every tool, workflow, and automation we build is yours — not locked into our account or platform. When we're done, you have full access to everything.

Others: lock you into their systems Symplify: full handover, full ownership

Training is the point

Most AI consultants are weakest at training — because their income depends on you not being independent. Training is the centrepiece of everything I do.

Others: training as an afterthought Symplify: training as the deliverable

Built for your size

Big AI agencies charge £25,000–£150,000 for implementation. Every Symplify solution is sized, priced, and explained for a real small business — not a corporate IT team.

Others: enterprise pricing, enterprise complexity Symplify: built for your actual business

Honest about fit

I'll tell you if AI isn't the right answer. That's not a common thing to say in this industry, but it's the only way I'd want someone to work with me.

Others: always find a reason to sell Symplify: honest advice, always

Builds, not buzzwords

Here's a flavour of the kind of thing I actually ship — three live builds, three completely different problems.

Sports club

Grassroots football club

Social growth + subs automation for a Sunday league club

The club had presence on four platforms but no plan — inconsistent posting, identical content everywhere, and a treasurer manually chasing subs every week.

  • Platform-specific content calendar built around the fixture list — Reels for Instagram, behind-the-scenes for TikTok, results graphics for Facebook
  • Google Apps Script that reads the player roster straight from Sheets and emails personalised subs reminders every Monday — zero ongoing admin
  • One-tap WhatsApp chasing, with a path to fully automated reminders via the Meta Business API

Two tools delivered and live within a week. Setup: under an hour.

See it live →
Gamification

The Apex Stakes

A horse-racing leaderboard that makes performance fun to check

Leaderboards are forgettable. So instead of a table of names and numbers, every person on the team is a jockey racing down the track — overtaking, clearing hurdles, and surging for the line as their numbers move.

  • Animated race track with live horse positions, hurdle checkpoints, and a finish line for whoever's leading
  • Full field view ranking everyone by performance, updating as the race plays out
  • Built as a reusable platform, not a one-off — the same race mechanic can be re-skinned for any team or challenge

Turns a spreadsheet of stats into something people actually want to check.

See it live →
Booking system

Nail studio booking

Self-service booking with built-in no-show protection

Bookings were coming in over Instagram DMs and texts — easy to lose track of, and easy for clients to ghost without a deposit on the line.

  • Self-service booking page with service-specific durations — a 45-minute gel fill doesn't block out the same slot as a 2-hour full set
  • Deposit collection built into the booking flow to cut no-shows, with automatic reminders before each appointment
  • Every booking syncs straight to the calendar in real time — exactly the pattern powering the booking section just above

No more DM admin. The calendar fills itself.

See it live →

Pricing

Every package is a one-off project cost. Once we're done, the solution is yours — no subscriptions, no management fees, no me required to keep the lights on.

★ No monthly retainer. Ever.

Starter Spark
£750–1,500
One-off investment
  • Single AI workflow or tool
  • E.g. automated emails, FAQ chatbot
  • One full training session
  • Complete documentation
  • 30 days email support
  • You own everything built
Most popular
Growth Engine
£2,500–5,000
One-off investment
  • 2–3 integrated AI tools
  • Across one or two business functions
  • Three training sessions
  • Full handover documentation
  • 60 days email support
  • You own everything built
Full Transform
£7,500–12,000
One-off investment
  • Full AI audit across your business
  • Implementation across all key areas
  • Bespoke staff training programme
  • Full documentation manual
  • 90-day handover support period
  • You own everything built

Need a top-up later? Day rate: £350–£500. Everything else is yours — I'm just here if you want to build on it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be technical to work with you?

Absolutely not. I've worked with business owners who'd never heard of an API and had them running their AI setup confidently within a couple of sessions. The whole point is that I handle the technical build and make sure you leave understanding what you've got, not just that it works.

Why no retainer? How do you make money?

I make money on the project fee — same as a builder or a web developer. The retainer model creates a conflict of interest: the agency makes more money if you stay dependent. I'd rather do great work, get a great referral, and move on. It's a better deal for both of us.

What if something breaks after handover?

Every package includes a support window (30, 60, or 90 days depending on tier) specifically for this. After that, I offer day-rate sessions if you want to adjust anything. Part of the handover process is making sure you can handle common issues yourself.

How long does a typical project take?

Starter Spark projects usually take 1–2 weeks. Growth Engine runs 3–5 weeks. Full Transform can be 6–10 weeks depending on scope. I'll give you a clear timeline before we start and I stick to it — no scope creep, no surprise delays.

What kinds of businesses have you worked with?

Hospitality, retail, professional services, tradespeople, online sellers. The AI tools change but the underlying problems — too much admin, slow communications, missed opportunities — are surprisingly consistent across industries.

Can you tell me if AI won't actually help me?

Yes — and I will. The free audit exists specifically for this. If I look at your business and think the ROI isn't there, or there's a simpler non-AI solution, I'll tell you. I'd rather have an honest conversation than sell you something you don't need.

Book your free audit

Let's talk

30 minutes.
No pitch. Straight answers.

I'll look at your business, find where AI could genuinely help, and give you a straight answer — whether that's a project with me or just useful advice you can take anywhere.

The audit is free with no obligation. If I don't think I can help, I'll tell you that too.

✉ jonnysymes@gmail.com

Pick a slot that works for you

Choose a free 30-minute window straight from my live availability. It's added to my calendar instantly — no back-and-forth emails.

Book your 30-minute slot →

Opens Google Calendar in a new tab. You'll get an instant confirmation and calendar invite by email.