Plain-English Explainers on AI Governance for SMEs
Which rules actually apply to you. How government AI guidance turns into a working policy. What the reformed Article 22 rules (Articles 22A to 22D) mean for HR and finance teams. How to start an ISO 42001 journey. And the simple policy checklist every SME should have today.
The plain-English guide to the two buckets: actual UK legal duties (UK GDPR, DUAA Articles 22A-22D, Equality Act, sector regulators) versus voluntary best-practice frameworks (ISO 42001, EU AI Act as benchmark, and the ground mapped by DSIT's draft AIME).
02Staff are using capable free AI tools on personal devices, often to avoid clunky or slow sanctioned alternatives. A ban drives it underground. The proportionate response is visibility, a genuinely useful sanctioned route, training, and plain-English rules.
03The government shelved AIME in February 2026. The governance need it mapped hasn't gone anywhere. Here is what the consultation response actually said, what it means for your business, and what we recommend instead.
04The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 replaced Article 22 of UK GDPR with Articles 22A to 22D from 5 February 2026. The field guide to what's now permitted, and the safeguards you owe, for HR, credit, insurance and dynamic-pricing teams.
05The only certifiable international AI-management-system standard. Fewer than 100 organisations are certified globally. Why that scarcity makes it a powerful trust signal, and what the journey looks like.
06Your team is already using ChatGPT, Claude and Copilot. You almost certainly don't have a policy. The lightweight starter every UK SME should have in place, done in a fortnight.
07The world's first comprehensive AI law, updated July 2026: the Digital Omnibus deferred the high-risk deadline to December 2027 and added a new prohibition on AI-generated intimate imagery. Full timeline, risk-tier obligations, and a seven-question FAQ for UK businesses.
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