This paper introduces the development of a digital skills portal aimed at supporting senior leaders of local businesses in the Greater Manchester region of the UK, to harness the potential of digital technologies for driving innovation and efficiency. Additionally, the platform aims to empower individuals new to technology by providing them with essential digital skills to enhance their employability. The digital skills portal will feature a comprehensive toolkit tailored for senior managers, offering practical guidance on leveraging digital technologies for business transformation. Simultaneously, it will provide digital skills learning modules designed to uplift individuals new to technology, utilizing a scaffolding approach to learning. Innovative learning technologies will be employed to create a collaborative learning community, fostering engagement and knowledge sharing among participants. To develop a conceptual framework for both constructing and evaluating the learning platform, this paper adopts a case study methodology, utilizing interviews and focus groups with business owners and employees. Thematic analysis of the collected data reveals the level of tech adoption in SMEs and identifies challenges in technology adoption, including lack of vision and strategy, staff attitudes, costs, and time constraints. The study highlights the need for improving digital skills utilization in businesses through digital uplift and upskilling. Employing an exploratory research methodology, the paper explores innovative approaches to address the skills gap hindering technology adoption and productivity gains in small businesses. Specifically, it investigates whether AI-enabled skills development platforms offer viable solutions. Insights gained from this study identify new avenues for skills uplift and technology adoption in SMEs, contributing to economic growth and competitiveness in the Greater Manchester region of the UK.