Best AI Stack for UK Charities & SMEs (2025): OpenAI, Gemini, Claude + More
For most UK charities and SMEs, the fastest wins come from a simple, robust stack—not a single tool. Below is the practical setup we install during AI readiness projects, with clear guidance on when to pick OpenAI (GPT-5), Google Gemini, or Anthropic Claude, and how to connect research, automation, and reporting without blowing the budget.
1) Core Language Model Layer
Pick one primary model for most tasks, keep a backup for edge-cases:
- OpenAI (GPT-5) — versatile, strong reasoning & tool-use. openai.com
- Google Gemini — great with Google Workspace data & long-context. ai.google.dev
- Anthropic Claude — excellent writing style & safety. anthropic.com
Rule of thumb: if you live in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, keep the matching model handy for smoother permissions and integrations.
2) Productivity & Knowledge
- Microsoft Copilot for Word/Excel/PowerPoint & Teams summaries. microsoft.com/copilot
- GitHub Copilot for light scripting and small automations. github.com/features/copilot
- Notion AI or Confluence AI for living documentation.
- Perplexity & Exa for research and finding quality sources (PDFs, news). perplexity.ai · exa.ai
3) Automations & Data
- Zapier or Make to connect apps and trigger LLM calls. zapier.com · make.com
- Airtable / Google Sheets for lightweight DBs and queues.
- Looker Studio / Power BI for dashboards & reporting.
Start simple: one source of truth (Sheet or Airtable), one LLM, and two automations. Expand only when the workflow is stable.
4) Data Protection & Governance (UK-friendly)
- Use service accounts and least-privilege sharing in Google/Microsoft.
- Document flows in a simple ROPA-style table (inputs → processing → outputs).
- Add human-in-the-loop stages for anything sent externally.
- Keep an evaluation set (10–20 examples) to test quality after changes.
Recommended “Starter Bundle” (Week 1)
| Component | Tooling | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| LLM core | OpenAI or Gemini | One API and policy everyone uses |
| Automation | Zapier/Make + Google Sheets | 2–3 time-savers (e.g., inbox triage, meeting notes → tasks) |
| Research | Perplexity + Exa | Faster discovery with source links & PDFs |
| Reporting | Looker Studio / Power BI | Weekly KPI email with charts |
Typical install: 1–2 days including permissions, prompts, and a short playbook.
When to Use Which Model?
- OpenAI: complex reasoning, tool use, varied content styles.
- Gemini: deep Workspace context, long docs, Google ecosystem.
- Claude: policy/comms drafts where tone and safety matter most.
Want help designing your AI stack?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call
We’ll review your goals, current tools, and map a 2-week pilot with clear success metrics.
Links: OpenAI · Google Gemini · Anthropic Claude · Perplexity · Exa · Zapier · Make