Working across the West Midlands
Business, AI & automation consultancy for SMEs across Birmingham and the Midlands
We get to know your business and the problems slowing it down, then build the systems around you so it runs better.
- Save time on operations
- Save money on tools and suppliers
- Grow with smarter systems
Delivering solutions for clients
Sound familiar?
Does this sound like you?
- Hours lost to manual admin
- Systems that don’t talk
- Spreadsheets that never agree
- Paying agency rates for design
- Brand rules nobody follows
- Leads going cold too often
Your partner
Up-Stride becomes your partner.
- Small and medium businesses
- Lean teams on stretched budgets
- No in-house tech or AI expertise
- AI-curious, unsure where to start
- Growing without adding headcount
- One partner for ops, sales and marketing
Sound like you? Let’s talk.
A free consultation with no obligation.
- AI insights for your business
- A phased AI roadmap
- A strategic business proposal
- Your AI questions answered
Mark BlakeStrategy and systems
Thomas McElroyCreative and AIWe cover your business from the inside out.
Operations.Sales.Marketing.
01
Operations
The systems that run the business day to day.
- AI consultancy and strategy
- Process mapping
- Proposals and roadmaps
- CRM, ERP and business systems
- Apps and internal tools
- Automated workflows
- Reporting and dashboards
- Data cleansing
02
Sales
Turning activity into booked, won work.
- Automated outbound
- Cold calling systems
- SDR cockpits
- Lead scoring and enrichment
- AI-personalised outreach
- Pipeline and follow-up automation
- AI sales agents and chatbots
- Shopify and ecommerce
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Marketing
On-brand content and reach, at volume.
- Brand identity and brand kits
- Websites
- SEO and GEO
- Content apps for image and video
- Email and outreach campaigns
- Explainer videos
- How-to guides and videos
- UGC and influencer marketing
- Product and business videos
- Social media content
Process
How we work, for real business results.
- 1Free consultationWe learn how your business runs
- 2Map and planA clear plan with targets you agree
- 3Build and proveOne affordable project, then scale
Our work
Real results from real businesses.
Image coming soon
Fire protection contractor
Fire safety certification on a bespoke ERP
Same daycertificate turnaround
Read moreImage coming soon
Children's charity
Secure hardship-grant platform
1 hr to 30 secper application
Read moreImage coming soon
Up-Stride SDR Cockpit
Research, call and book from one screen
5 daysfrom brief to working tool
Read moreWhat clients say
Trusted by growing UK businesses.
“When I read the emails, it was like I had written them myself, only 10 times better and personalised to everyone.”
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FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what businesses ask us most. Anything else, just ask.
How can AI support my team's productivity?
AI significantly boosts team productivity by automating repetitive tasks, freeing employees to focus on strategic initiatives. Up-Stride's human-centred AI solutions enhance efficiency and support teams without disrupting existing workflows, driving measurable growth.
Which AI solutions are best for streamlining operations?
AI is most useful for streamlining operations where work is repetitive and rule-based: data entry, customer enquiries, reporting and handovers between systems. Up-Stride maps how your business runs first, then builds the automations, AI agents and internal tools that fit your processes.
Is AI worth it for small businesses?
Yes, AI is absolutely worth it for small businesses. Up-Stride helps SMEs bridge the AI advantage gap, making intelligent tools accessible and valuable, ensuring competitive growth and operational excellence regardless of size.
How much does AI consulting cost for a small business?
AI consulting costs for small businesses vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. Up-Stride provides transparent, end-to-end solutions tailored to SME budgets, focusing on delivering measurable results quickly rather than lengthy engagements.
What practical AI tools exist for SMEs?
Practical AI tools for SMEs include customer support chatbots, automated reporting and dashboards, data cleansing, and AI agents that handle routine admin. Up-Stride designs, builds and supports these for small and medium-sized businesses across Birmingham, the West Midlands and the UK.
How do I implement AI in my company?
You implement AI in your company by first identifying key business challenges and opportunities where AI can provide value. Up-Stride offers end-to-end services, from strategic guidance and development to seamless implementation, ensuring AI solutions integrate effectively with your existing infrastructure.
Where can I find AI consultants for my business?
You can find expert AI consultants for your business by seeking firms with proven SME experience and C-suite business acumen. Up-Stride specializes in providing human-centred AI solutions to UK SMEs, offering strategic guidance and practical implementation expertise.
What is human-centred AI and why is it important?
Human-centred AI is an approach that designs and implements AI systems with human needs and capabilities at the forefront. It is important because it ensures AI tools support, rather than replace, human intelligence, leading to better adoption, ethical outcomes, and enhanced team performance, a core principle at Up-Stride.
How do I choose an AI partner for my business?
Choose an AI partner that offers end-to-end services, deep business understanding, and a focus on measurable results, not just technology. Up-Stride provides secure, compliant, and scalable AI solutions backed by C-suite business experience, ensuring practical infrastructure and rapid ROI for SMEs.
What are the benefits of AI for small businesses?
The benefits of AI for small businesses include less manual admin, faster and more accurate reporting, quicker responses to customers and more time for the work that grows the business. Up-Stride helps SMEs get there by mapping how they work and building AI and automation into their day-to-day systems.
Free consultation
Discover your AI potential.Book a free consultation.
A free session to map where AI can take your business, and the plan to get there.
You leave with:
A taste of how we work: meet us, see how we approach your business, and leave with something to consider.
- A chance to meet Mark and Tom
- AI insights for your business
- A phased AI roadmap
- A short written report to take away
- A strategic business proposal
- Your AI questions answered
- Pick it up again whenever you're ready
Book free consultation
No obligation. The only cost is your time.
Mark Blake · Strategy and systems
Thomas McElroy · Creative and AI