150-year-old Neville Trust group partners with Luton AI to prepare for the next technological revolution

Neville Trust group, one of the region's longest-established family businesses, is working with Luton AI at the University of Bedfordshire on a new AI Scoping and Adoption Programme designed to help the organisation remain at the forefront of innovation in an era of rapid technological change.

With more than 150 years of history, the Neville Trust group has built its reputation across generations by adapting, evolving and continuing to serve its communities. This new programme reflects the group's commitment to ensuring that legacy continues, helping the organisation respond confidently and responsibly to the opportunities created by artificial intelligence.

Neville Trust Ltd is a fifth-generation family-run business and the parent company of Neville Special Projects, Neville Joinery and Neville Funeral Service. The company also operates as a property landlord and developer. Its work spans construction, joinery, funeral services and wider organisational support, giving the group a broad operational base and deep roots within the communities it serves.

The programme will involve Neville Trust and its subsidiary companies, with Neville Special Projects acting as the lead organisation during the initial phase. Over the next nine to 12 months, Luton AI will work closely with staff to understand current AI use, identify opportunities and risks, develop governance and training, and explore secure AI capabilities tailored to the organisation's needs.

The collaboration comes at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping how organisations work, make decisions, access information and support their people. For a long-established business such as Neville Trust, the project is not about adopting technology for its own sake. It is about ensuring the organisation is well positioned for the future while protecting the values, trust and community relationships that have defined the business for generations.

Dr Ed Braund, Director of Luton AI at the University of Bedfordshire, said:

‘Neville Trust group has been part of the region's business landscape for more than 150 years, and this programme is about helping the organisation look confidently to the next chapter. AI is already changing how organisations operate, but the real value comes from applying it carefully, responsibly and in ways that support people. By working closely with Neville Trust group staff, we can identify where AI can safely add value, improve access to information, strengthen reporting and support better decision-making.’

Ian Trumper, Director of Neville Trust Ltd, said:

‘Neville Trust group has continued to evolve for more than 150 years by staying close to the needs of our customers, staff and communities. As AI becomes an increasingly important part of the business landscape, we want to take a thoughtful and responsible approach that helps us remain a frontrunner while protecting the values that have shaped the group over generations. Working with Luton AI will help us understand where AI can support our teams, improve processes and strengthen how we use information across the group.’

The programme will provide Neville Trust with a comprehensive current state assessment of AI use, alongside a recommended AI strategy, governance and policy documentation, staff training, and proof-of-concept activity to assess the potential for secure AI tools across the organisation. It will also establish a foundation for future phases, including further AI use cases, integration into operational systems, and the development of bespoke AI agents across individual business units.

The collaboration reflects Luton AI's wider mission to support organisations regionally, nationally and internationally in adopting AI in ways that are practical, ethical and focused on delivering measurable impact.