gecco joins the OpenAI SMB Channel Partner Programme

London, UK – 21 April 2026 – gecco, a UK AI consultancy helping small and medium businesses work smarter with AI, has been selected as an OpenAI SMB Channel Partner. 

The collaboration gives gecco access to OpenAI training, technical resources, and a dedicated SMB partner manager. Through quarterly review calls, gecco will feed client insights directly back to OpenAI to help shape how the platform develops for smaller organisations.

This is not a licensing arrangement. gecco already deploys AI tools across multiple platforms including ChatGPT Business, Claude, and Gemini. The OpenAI SMB Channel Partner Programme strengthens gecco’s ability to support its clients by providing structured training, product guidance, and a direct feedback channel to OpenAI’s product team.

Why this matters for gecco’s clients

gecco works with UK businesses of 5 to 200 staff across many sectors. Its clients range from professional membership bodies and healthcare organisations to creative studios, education providers, and engineering firms.

Through the programme, gecco gains deeper product knowledge, early access to platform updates, and a structured route to relay client feedback. When clients encounter limitations or request features, gecco can raise these directly with OpenAI through its partner manager on quarterly calls.

This feedback loop is the core value of the collaboration. gecco is keen to work closely with OpenAI to ensure the platform keeps pace with what UK SMEs actually need. gecco’s clients shape the product roadmap. OpenAI gets direct insight from the organisations using its tools every day.

A track record of AI delivery for SMEs

gecco was selected for the programme based on its delivery record. In its first year, gecco has worked with organisations of all sizes and sectors (via it's partnership with smartimpact), from trade associations and Royal Colleges to unions, qualification bodies, and engineering firms.

Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth): 52 AI tools deployed for 44 staff. 98% onboarding completion. The Course Accreditation Assessor saves 45–90 minutes per application against a 52-item checklist. Combined productivity: an estimated 5,800+ hours per year.

Fire Industry Association (FIA): 41 AI tools deployed for 30 staff. Certificate processing dropped from 5 hours per batch to minutes. The marketing team now treats AI as part of their daily workflow. Combined productivity: an estimated 4,900 hours per year.

Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE): 46 AI tools deployed for 28 staff. 92% onboarding completion. The building inspector data tool processed 860+ records for a regulatory deadline. Combined productivity: an estimated 3,800+ hours per year.

Chartered Governance Institute (CGI): A 10-step AI production pipeline processing 1.4 million words into a 200-hour learning programme. Two staff members now operate the system independently.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI): 26 AI tools for 26 staff. A three-week executive committee process compressed to one day, repeated 14 times a year.

Across all clients, gecco has delivered over 1,000 hours of training, built more than 100 specialist AI assistants, and maintained a 100% client retention rate.

gecco’s approach to AI adoption

gecco delivers AI adoption through its SCALE framework: Scope, Competence, Apply, Link, Evolve. Every engagement starts with structured training and departmental discovery before any tools are built.

gecco offers three service lines: Assistants, custom AI workspaces trained on client documents and processes; Automations, no-code workflows connecting existing systems; and Agents, autonomous AI that manages entire processes with human oversight.

The OpenAI collaboration supports this model. Better training from OpenAI strengthens gecco’s onboarding sessions. Direct product access helps gecco build better tools. The quarterly feedback loop means gecco and OpenAI work together to improve the platform based on what real businesses need.

Quote from gecco

Adam Richardson, Founder and CEO of gecco, said:

"This collaboration is about becoming a better partner to our clients. We now have direct access to OpenAI’s training, technical resources, and a dedicated partner manager. Our clients’ feedback goes directly to OpenAI through quarterly review calls. That is the real value here."

He added: "AI adoption is 80% people and culture, 20% technology. We have built over 100 AI assistants across a wide range of sectors. We are keen to work in collaboration with"