Scottish Workers Adopting GenAI, But Want Training And Guidance

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A major new report from professional services firm Deloitte has found that most Scottish workers are now using GenAI at work, with those who have adopted it making clear productivity gains. However, while Scottish adoption and usage is broadly in line with the rest of the UK, a clear gap with London remains.

The findings come from Deloitte UK’s inaugural GenAI Workforce Survey, the largest study of workplace GenAI use conducted in a single country. Based on responses from 25,000 workers across the UK, collated between 7th May and 10th June 2026, the research reveals how employees are really using GenAI* in their jobs and how organisations are responding. The survey will be repeated every six months to monitor how usage evolves as the technology becomes more widely adopted.

Adoption trails London, but Scotland is no outlier

Almost six in 10 Scottish workers (58%) have used a GenAI tool for work, compared with 76% in Greater London. Scotland sits slightly below the 61% average across the UK outside the capital, however. In Scotland, 36% of respondents said they use GenAI at least weekly (compared to 55% of those in London), while 21% said they used it at least daily (with London sitting at 37%).

Over seven in ten (71%) of Scottish GenAI users say that they use AI tools that they have permission to use. However. one in five Scottish (21%) said that they use tools at work without their employer’s knowledge, believing they would approve, while a further 9% do so believing they would not, indicating around three in ten don’t have explicit employer permission.

Sentiment is broadly positive across the country. Over a third (37%) said that they see their use of GenAI for work as a positive, against 23% that see it negatively. A quarter (26%) remain neutral.

A fifth (22%) of Scottish GenAI users said that their work is more enjoyable because they’re using it, against 8% that said it is less enjoyable. The majority, 63%, said that enjoyment levels remain the same.

Time saved, but not yet transformation

Just under half of Scottish GenAI users (49%) say the tools save them time. Of those, almost six in 10 (59%) save up to three hours a week and almost one in ten (9%) save more than 10 hours.

That time is coming from routine tasks rather than complex work. Scottish users most commonly turn to GenAI for looking up information (42%), writing or editing emails (41%), summarising documents (32%) and fact-checking (31%).

Almost three in ten (28%) of Scottish GenAI users said they complete ‘some’ of their work by using GenAI. A tenth (12%) said they complete ‘most of it’ by using the technology. However, 22% said that they complete ‘hardly any / none of it’ with GenAI.

Training: an opportunity to boost usage and impact

Fewer than three in ten Scottish employees (29%) have received formal GenAI training, against 47% in London and 33% across the UK. Where it has been given, it is valued, with eight in ten (81%) Scottish recipients rating it as helpful.

A quarter (25%) of Scottish respondents said that training on how to evaluate/fact-check GenAI would be helpful. A fifth (20%) want more GenAI skills training at an advanced level, 21% would like more cybersecurity training specific to AI.

A third of Scottish employees (32%) said their employer has a GenAI policy, the same amount (32%) that said their employer does not, 36% do not know, or aren’t sure whether one exists.

A lack of trust remains in Scotland

More than half of Scottish workers (51%) are concerned about the misuse of personal data, a third (34%) cite bias or discrimination in AI outputs, and 26% worry that managers will overestimate what AI can achieve.

Additionally, nearly six in ten Scottish workers (56%) worry that essential workplace skills will suffer because of generative AI, slightly ahead of the UK figure of 55%.

Turning to leadership, 22% of workers say leaders at their organisation talk about GenAI and have a good understanding of it, while 29% say leaders do not talk about it at all.

Angela Mitchell, practice senior partner at Deloitte Scotland, said:

“Scotland is embracing technological change, supported by a skilled workforce and world-class universities. Our survey points to where businesses can go further to better support their people in harnessing GenAI to deliver lasting productivity gains and economic growth."

“Adoption rates across Scotland are strong, and workers want to learn about the technology, and understand how to use it in a responsible and impactful way. Firms across the country have an opportunity to build genuine workforce capability that moves beyond providing access to tools and focuses instead on capability, confidence and trust. Doing so will enable employees to spend more of their time on the activities that create value for firms, customers and the wider economy."

Nationally, the survey found that British workers are spending close to £1 billion a year from their own pockets on GenAI tools they use for work, with Deloitte estimating annual personal spend at £958 million.

One in six (17%) UK GenAI users pay for at least one tool themselves. In Scotland that figure is 14%, against 24% in London, while 46% of Scottish users rely on free tools.

*In this press release, GenAI refers to generative artificial intelligence: AI tools, including chatbots, that can generate content such as text, images, video and audio in response to user prompts.

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May 29, 2024

3 min read

Trendsetting bakery Doughnotts is leapfrogging the competition by launching a 10p doughnut based on the ever-popular Freddo chocolate bar.

The firm is launching its one-off ‘now or never’ sale in homage to the days when you could purchase a Freddo for just 10p. The last time the classic bar cost this little was in 2005 – when the average cost of an 800g loaf of white bread was 69p, Hurricane Katrina had struck the US and Tony Blair was Prime Minister.

Doughnotts is celebrating the froggie-inspired chocolate treat by offering its mouth-watering Freddo Friday doughnut for just 10p on Friday, May 31st and Freddo fans, who can now pay up to 49p for the chocolate bar alone, will be hopping mad if they miss the price-busting offer.

Lauren Quick, marketing manager for Doughnotts, said:

“Freddo is an absolute favourite among chocolate lovers but there’s always such a furore over its rising cost. The price has multiplied massively since being relaunched by Cadbury’s in the 1990s, and people taking to social media are outraged.”

Freddo, which originally launched in 1930, remained at 10p until 2005, rising to 25p in 2016 and 30p a year later. Its registered retail price is now 49p. As a result of these price hikes, Freddo bars have often been informally used in the UK to measure the cost of living and inflation rates.

Lauren said: “We wanted to give our customers a bit of nostalgia, especially as Cadbury’s celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. So, in a nod to the treat, we have given Freddo an amazing doughnut ‘lily pad’ to sit upon. Who knew you could improve on this classic treat? It will be our cheapest doughnut ever.”

Freddo fans will be treated to a classic Doughnotts doughnut with chocolate frosting, smothered in chocolate cake crumb and topped with the iconic chocolate bar. A chocoholics dream that weighs in at a tad over 650 calories.

Lauren said: “It is a fantastic bargain and that’s why we’ve limited the Freddo Friday 10p doughnut to one per customer. But there will be plenty to go around. We recognise how tough the cost-of-living crisis has been for many people, so we think they will enjoy a bit of ‘price nostalgia’, even if it is for only one day.”

Speciality doughnuts at Doughnotts, such as the ever-popular Biscoff and the Red Velvet doughnut, usually sell for between £2.95 and £3.95. Lauren added:

“Our team of talented bakers has been working flat out to perfect these hand-finished Freddo-based treats, which will certainly make our customers jump for joy.”

Doughnotts, which sells on average over 15,000 doughnuts every week, has created the ‘one day only - get it now or never’ offer to be rolled out across its eight East and West Midlands stores. These include stores in Nottingham, Derby, South Normanton, Lincoln and Cannock. Doughnotts also offers a nationwide online doughnut delivery service.

Founded in 2015 by co-directors Wade Smith and Megan Scaddan, the firm has gone from strength to strength, becoming renowned for making speciality treats, often with a surprising twist. Other popular doughnuts from the firm include Weekend Billionaire, Intergalactic, Nutella Custard, and vegan selections such as Eton Mess, Apple Pie, and Cherry Bakewell.

The innovative bakery is constantly evolving. Earlier this year, the firm launched a collaboration with street food vendor Working Man’s Kitchen to create the Nottsville Hot - a spicy fried chicken burger in a sweet-glazed doughnut bun that was sold at Nottingham Forest’s home games. The two firms have also combined to create a doughnut pizza.

Freddo Doughnuts will have limited availability, so make sure you are early calling in for your old-school Freddo Friday 10p treat. To discover more about Doughnotts, visit.here.

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Scottish Workers Adopting GenAI, But Want Training And Guidance

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