A lack of artificial intelligence expertise at the board level could be limiting the growth potential of the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies.
According to new research by global growth consultancy Think & Grow, only a third (32%) of UK tech scale-ups currently have board members with AI expertise.
By contrast, 40% of the largest technology firms listed on the FTSE 350 index have such expertise represented at board level — suggesting a widening strategic gap between high-growth startups and established giants.
Jonathan Jeffries, Co-Founder of Think & Grow, said: “AI is transforming business and society — ambitious tech companies won’t fulfil their potential if they don’t embrace it.”
Board expertise linked to revenue performance
The report highlights a striking correlation between AI knowledge on the board and company revenues. FTSE 350 technology firms with AI expertise generate average revenues of £6.8 billion, compared to just £953 million among those without any AI specialists in the boardroom.
A similar pattern emerges among scale-ups. Half (50%) of UK tech scale-ups with revenues above £50 million have AI expertise on their boards, versus only 15% among smaller firms earning below that threshold.
According to Think & Grow, this suggests that AI literacy is increasingly tied to commercial success. Companies with informed leadership teams are better positioned to leverage emerging technologies to drive product innovation, improve decision-making, and attract investment.
The rise — and limits — of AI appointments
Efforts to strengthen boardroom AI capabilities have accelerated in recent years. The research found that directors with AI expertise typically have shorter tenures — around three years compared to five years across all directors — indicating a newer wave of appointments responding to technological disruption.
Despite this momentum, progress remains uneven. While a third (32%) of UK tech companies plan to appoint AI specialists to their boards in the coming year, 13% have no such plans. This hesitancy stands in contrast to record investor enthusiasm for the sector.
Billions flow into UK AI sector
Figures from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and HM Treasury show that UK AI companies attracted £2.9 billion in private investment in 2024, with average deals worth £5.9 million. The broader AI industry contributed £11.8 billion to the UK economy over the same period.
Against this backdrop, Think & Grow warns that many firms risk falling behind if they fail to embed AI literacy into their leadership. As competition for funding intensifies, investors are increasingly drawn to companies that can demonstrate deep technological understanding at the governance level.
About the research
The findings are based on an analysis of the board composition of the UK’s 25 fastest-growing technology scale-ups, according to the Sifted 100, and the 25 largest technology companies listed on the FTSE 350 index.
The study was conducted by independent research agency Opinium, which surveyed 400 board members and senior decision-makers in UK and US tech companies with up to 500 employees between 14 August and 22 September 2025.
Think & Grow’s findings will feature in its forthcoming report, “Breaking & Remaking the Next Generation of High Impact Boards”, due for release in November. The report aims to help businesses navigate how to build future-ready boards capable of responding to rapid technological change.
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