Dr Selvakumar Ramachandran, Departmental Tutor of the Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Analysis and Design, is taking his academic and research expertise from Oxford straight into the heart of the regional economy. As the founder of Sunderland based Kerckhoffs Ltd, Dr Ramachandran is leading a ground-breaking new initiative called the Northeast AI Buddy Framework. Backed by £141,395 in funding from Innovate UK (Under the stream TechLocal: Connecting Local Talent to Local Tech Jobs), the project aims to transform small businesses and democratise technology across the region.
While Northeast England has been designated a national AI Growth Zone attracting billions in investment, a stark digital disconnect remains. Research indicates that 85% of regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have yet to adopt artificial intelligence, primarily due to information gaps and a lack of applied expertise rather than cost. Traditional training models frequently fall short, leaving 74% of employers rating their staff’s technical skills as strictly beginner level.
Dr Ramachandran’s project addresses this “readiness gap” directly by moving away from generic classroom theory. Instead, the framework introduces an innovative model known as Digital Reverse Mentoring.
‘This project pilots a practical ‘AI Buddy’ model that embeds trained local talent inside SMEs to implement real AI workflows, creating jobs while accelerating digital adoption,’ explains the pilot summary.
The strength of the six-month feasibility study lies in its unique “Triple Helix” collaborative structure, which blends commercial software integration, pedagogical research, and deep community trust.
Led by Dr Ramachandran, Kerckhoffs Ltd.’s role in this project is project management, alongside developing an AI buddy matching algorithm and creating an AI-driven dashboard together. To bring this vision to life, he is collaborating with Richard Wilson from Bydaybreak Solutions, and a Sunderland-based charity, the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen (SCSK), led by Andrea Bell.
The project is highly targeted toward measurable regional growth, with plans to launch on 1 July 2026. It aims to deliver 20 permanent, AI-enabled roles within participant organisations, with a strict commitment to achieving 50% gender parity. Specialist workstreams are designed specifically to support neurodiversity and pave the way for more women to enter the tech sector.
Financially, the model represents exceptional value for money. Every single pound of public grant funding invested is projected to generate £1.96 in regional Gross Value Added (GVA). Looking beyond the initial pilot phase, the consortium plans to transition into a self-sustaining “Upskilling-as-a-Service” subscription model, building a blueprint that can scale to other UK growth zones within 12 months. Through this practical union of Oxford DRIVEN innovation and grassroots community action, Dr Ramachandran is helping ensure the Northeast England leads the nation as true technology makers.
