Speedy Services launches AI academy with Multiverse

Speedy Services has launched an AI Academy with Multiverse, enrolling 21 employees on a 13-month training course.

The programme is part of the equipment hire group's digital transformation effort and supports an internal target to cut revenue leakage by 50% through more standardised delivery.

Training is designed to help staff automate administrative work that has long absorbed time in operational roles. One example is complex purchase order approvals, which can slow internal processes and leave less time for customer-facing tasks.

The aim is to free employees to spend more time advising customers on machinery and other specialist equipment. Speedy Services operates from more than 130 depots across the UK and Ireland, supplying products ranging from routine site equipment to specialist power, survey and lifting tools.

The academy is being delivered with Multiverse, a training provider focused on AI, data and digital skills. Participants will take part in an AI-Powered Productivity programme centred on practical use of workplace software, including Microsoft 365 Copilot.

The companies say the goal is to embed AI tools into day-to-day work rather than treat them as a separate technology project. Training will take place alongside employees' existing roles, with a focus on applying the software to real tasks inside the business.

Operational focus

The programme is intended to improve consistency in service delivery and reduce delays linked to manual administration. In tool and equipment hire, purchase orders, scheduling, approvals and other back-office tasks can directly affect invoicing, utilisation and customer response times.

In this context, revenue leakage can include lost income from inconsistent processes, delayed approvals, missed charges or administrative errors. By standardising workflows and reducing manual handling, Speedy Services is seeking tighter operational control across its network.

Dan Thompson, Managing Director, Power & Energy at Speedy Hire, said: "At Speedy, AI is reshaping how we operate. This partnership with Multiverse is about building AI capability with the individuals who'll help set the standard for how we work. By giving our people the confidence to use tools like Copilot, we can eradicate inefficient processes, standardise our service delivery, and ensure our workforce has the skills to thrive in a digital-first world."

The launch also ties into the company's broader workforce strategy, which it describes as "People First". It was recently named in the Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces list, ranking 57th worldwide and 11th in the UK.

That emphasis on staff development reflects a wider trend among employers trying to turn spending on AI software into measurable changes in daily work. Businesses across sectors have bought generative AI tools, but many are still working out how to integrate them into established routines and encourage consistent use.

Training push

At Speedy Services, the programme is intended to narrow the gap between software procurement and actual use. Rather than relying on general awareness sessions, it centres on employees learning through direct application in their jobs.

Jay Richman, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Multiverse, said: "Many companies buy AI tools and hope adoption follows. Speedy Hire is going a step further, building the capability to actually put those tools to use. Twenty-one employees are now getting hands-on with Copilot, learning it inside their actual jobs, not in a classroom. That's how you close the gap between what a business buys and what it actually gets out of AI."

Multiverse says it has trained more than 30,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016 and works with more than 1,500 companies. The business focuses on job-based learning programmes for workers at different ages and career stages, as employers seek more targeted digital training for existing staff rather than relying only on new hires.

For Speedy Services, the programme also highlights how AI adoption is moving beyond software and professional services into industrial and operational businesses. In equipment hire, where margins can be affected by utilisation, service consistency and administrative accuracy, relatively small process changes can have a material financial effect.

The use of AI in tasks such as purchase order approvals suggests an immediate focus on workflow management rather than large-scale automation of frontline roles. Staff are instead being trained to reduce repetitive work and redirect time towards customer interaction and specialist advice.

That is particularly relevant in areas such as complex machinery, where customer service can involve more than simple order fulfilment. Employees may need to guide clients on equipment selection, operational requirements and availability, making time freed from internal administration potentially more valuable than a narrow reduction in headcount.

The academy's initial cohort of 21 employees is modest relative to the size of the wider business, but it gives Speedy Services a test group to assess whether AI-led process changes can be repeated across a larger workforce. The programme is intended to help set the standard for how the company works as digital tools become more embedded across operations.