AI Consultancy for SMEs
Drive AI adoption with clarity and confidence.
We help SMEs embed sustainable, compliant, and human-centric AI — from first question to lasting change.
What we do
From first question
to lasting change.
Discovery & assessment
We run on-site, design-thinking workshops — mapping your workflows, surfacing pain points, and identifying where AI can genuinely create value. No hype, no assumptions.
Roadmap development
We plan the path from where you are to where you want to be. Quick wins, strategic bets, honest trade-offs. A roadmap you can actually act on.
Change management
Adoption fails when people aren't carried along. We help teams understand, embrace, and measure the change — so results stick.
Case study
Cambridge GaN Devices: AI discovery and roadmap
Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) develops next-generation gallium nitride power semiconductors — a highly technical, IP-intensive business. They asked a straightforward question: where do we best deploy AI to deliver the most value?
Over two on-site workshop days, we mapped CGD's workflows from R&D and manufacturing through to commercial operations. We surfaced seven high-potential AI use cases — from accelerating literature review to streamlining IP documentation — and delivered a phased adoption roadmap their leadership team could act on immediately.
"Beside Partners helped us validate where AI could create the most impact — turning a known operational challenge into a clear, practical roadmap for action."Cambridge GaN Devices
The challenge
With deep technical expertise and a focused team, CGD prioritises innovation and commercialisation. Beside Partners provided the external AI perspective needed to identify high-impact opportunities quickly and cut through the market noise.
What we did
Two half-day discovery workshops on-site. Stakeholder interviews across R&D, IP, operations, and commercial. Seven AI use cases identified and prioritised.
The outcome
A phased AI roadmap with clear owners and timelines. Leadership aligned. Two pilots launched within 60 days of the report.
You ask, we answer
Frequently asked questions
What is Beside Partners?
Beside Partners is an independent AI consultancy for SMEs. We help organisations embed sustainable, compliant, and human-centric AI — from the first question through to lasting change — with no vendor relationships and no referral fees.
What kinds of organisations do you work with?
We specialise in SMEs — typically organisations between 20 and 500 people — where AI can make a significant difference but dedicated in-house AI expertise is often absent.
How do you start an engagement?
We begin with a free 30-minute conversation to understand your context. If there is a fit, we move into a structured discovery process — on-site workshops, stakeholder interviews, and a practical recommendations report.
Are you vendor-neutral?
Yes, completely. We have no vendor partnerships, preferred platforms, or referral arrangements. Every recommendation is based solely on what fits your organisation.
Where are you based?
Our partners are based in Cambridge, UK and Cologne, Germany. We work with clients across the UK and Europe and travel on-site where needed.
The team
Two partners.
One shared conviction.
Giles Thurston
Cambridge, UK
Nearly 30 years of business and technology leadership across commercial, public, and third sectors. Giles combines cross-sector experience with a direct approach — helping clients navigate complexity and make confident decisions.
Theo Paraskevopoulos
Cologne, Germany
Theo works at the intersection of business strategy, customer experience, and product design. He helps organisations navigate digital transformation and adopt AI to empower teams. He also publishes Humans After All, an AI adoption newsletter on Substack.