English (UK) Accelerate Your Growth
This Amazon-led training programme will include multiple cohorts of small and medium sized and not-for-profit businesses from regions across the UK & Ireland, boosting organisations’ leadership and management capabilities and digital readiness. AIA is designed to help businesses understand and apply proven strategies to drive efficiency, scale smarter, and compete more effectively in today’s fast-moving economy.
Unlocking Growth Through Innovation
The Amazon Innovation Accelerator helps SMEs unlock growth through innovation. Participants get hands-on training from Amazon experts, learning how to build a culture of innovation within their own organisations and adopt tools used by one of the world’s most innovative companies. You will also join the AIA digital hub, an online platform packed with resources—including the AIA Innovation Leadership Course, expert talks, and peer networking—to apply these lessons in your own organisations.
Who Should Apply?
This programme isn’t just about learning—it’s about equipping SMEs with real-world strategies to think bigger, move faster, and innovate like industry leaders.
SMEs & Not-for-Profit Organisations
Organisations looking to embrace digital transformation, improve operational efficiency, and scale their business using proven innovation strategies.
Business owners and decision-makers
Who are eager to learn from Amazon’s approach to innovation, leadership, and automation to drive growth in their organisations.
SMEs across all sectors
SMEs that want to connect with like-minded peers, access expert insights, and gain practical tools to future-proof their business.
Why Apply?
The Amazon Innovation Accelerator is a unique training programme for small businesses designed to boost small business growth and productivity. If you are selected for the programme you will experience business-boosting workshops, explore Amazon’s Innovation Principles, tour the cutting-edge robotics centre, and connect with key stakeholders from Amazon, AWS, and the local community.
Learn from Amazon’s Innovation Framework
Gain exclusive insights into how Amazon drives efficiency, automation, and continuous improvement, and apply these strategies to your business.
Unlock Growth Opportunities
Access expert-led workshops, a digital learning platform, $1000 AWS credit and a chance to win a share of £100,000 through the Innovation Challenge Prize to fuel your innovation journey.
Connect And Collaborate
Join a community of forward-thinking SMEs, industry experts, and policy influencers to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
What To Expect
AIA is a free, hands-on programme designed to help ambitious SMEs scale, automate, and innovate just like Amazon. Learn the innovative techniques used by Amazon to hire and manage teams, develop new products, create leadership structures, and maintain their relentless focus on innovation and growth.
- Phase 1
The Amazon Innovation Day in Your Region
Day One of your journey through the programme is the AIA Innovation Day at one of Amazon’s fulfilment centres in your region, where you will experience innovation firsthand with an exclusive tour through a state of the art fulfillment centre and workshops by Amazon leaders.
- Phase 2
Access the AIA SME Hub
After the in-person day, you will be onboarded to the AIA digital hub, an online platform with the AIA Leadership Accredited Course, exclusive AIA resources, fireside chats and events, peer networking and more.
- Phase 3
Complete the AIA Innovation Course
Complete the expert-led AIA Innovation Leadership Course to earn accreditation. This unlocks access to the £100,000 Innovation Challenge Prize and gives you practical tools to apply Amazon’s innovation framework in your own business.
The Amazon Innovation Day in Your Region
Join senior Amazon executives for hands-on workshops and sessions at your local Amazon Fulfilment Centre. Learn how Amazon makes fast, impactful decisions and see its innovation in action on an exclusive site tour.
- See innovation in action with an exclusive tour
- Connect with like-minded SME leaders
- Gain insights into Amazon's Culture of Innovation
Experience Amazon's Innovation in Action
Join senior Amazon executives for hands-on workshops & sessions at your local Amazon Fulfilment Centre. Learn how Amazon makes fast, impactful decisions and see its innovation in action on an exclusive site tour.
$1,000 AWS Credits
Every SME receives $1,000 in AWS credits to kickstart digital innovation and put new ideas into action.
Community and Networking
Connect with like-minded business leaders to exchange ideas and build valuable partnerships.
Get Access To The AIA SME Hub
The AIA SME Hub is your digital home for innovation. It’s packed with tools to help you put ideas into action—from the 11-module course to expert-led fireside chats, exclusive content, and a community of peers to learn and grow with.
- Complete the 11 module course
- Attend live events and expert fireside chats
- Connect with other SMEs across the UK
Attend Expert Firesides and Events
Get invited to exclusive fireside chats with Amazon and industry experts, covering everything from leadership and digital innovation to real-world SME case studies—designed to spark ideas and inspire action.
Access Exclusive Resources
Access exclusive resources only available to the programme’s participants including a series called ‘Lifting the Lid at Amazon” with insights into AI Tools, AWS, ESG in Business and more.
Join a Thriving SME Community
By working together, and collaborating, we can build a thriving SME landscape together, one where businesses across the UK have the tools, knowledge, and networks to scale, innovate, and succeed in an evolving economy.
Get invaluable insights with the AIA Innovation Course
Get access to expert-led masterclasses, case studies, and the SME AIA Leadership Courses designed to help you adopt Amazon’s innovation framework in your business.
- Learn how to innovate, scale, and automate your business—just like Amazon does
- Complete the 11-module course
- Unlock access to enter the Innovation Challenge Prize
Access the AIA Innovation Course
Access the programmes exclusive SME Innovation Leadership Course which include 11 modules about Amazon’s Culture of Innovation, Working Backwards, PRFAQs and more.
Built with Amazon’s Innovation Principles
Learn directly from Amazon’s proven frameworks—used to scale, solve complex problems, and stay customer-obsessed. These tools are practical, repeatable, and designed to work for SMEs.
Earn AIA Innovation Leader Accreditation
On completion, you’ll receive the AIA SME Innovation Leadership Accreditation—showcases your commitment to innovation and growth. It also unlocks access to enter the Innovation Challenge Prize with prizes totalling £100,000 (First prize is £50,000).
