Introduction to AI & Automation for Small Business Owners

A practical two-day introduction to AI and automation for founders and small business owners who want to save time and wor more efficiently If you have tried ChatGPT but are not really sure what else AI could do for your business, this course will help you make sense of it without the jargon. Over two days, you’ll use your own business to explore practical AI tools, improve the way you prompt, identify repetitive work and understand where simple automation could make life easier. We’ll also look at how to use AI ethically and responsibly, including accuracy, confidentiality and keeping human judgement where it matters. No technical experience needed. 2 days | Introductory offer: £350 per person Introduction to AI & Automation for Small Business OwnersTwo practical days to help you understand AI, save time and know where to start. Running a small business often means doing a little bit of everything yourself. Emails. Marketing. Admin. Planning. Customer enquiries. Documents. Follow-ups. Research. And now it can feel as though you are also expected to somehow become an AI expert. You don’t need to. This course has been created for founders and small business owners who want to understand how AI could realistically support their business without becoming overwhelmed by technical language or complicated systems. You might already use ChatGPT occasionally and feel like you are only scratching the surface. Or perhaps you have avoided AI because you are not sure what information is safe to put into it, whether you can trust the answers or where it would actually save you any time. Over two practical days, we’ll work through those questions using your own business. What we’ll explore You’ll learn how to: • understand what AI can — and cannot — realistically do • identify tasks where AI could save you time • communicate with AI more effectively • create prompts that are useful for your own business • use AI to support everyday admin, planning and communication • recognise repetitive work that may be suitable for automation • understand simple automation without needing to code • check AI-generated information rather than accepting it automatically • protect confidential and personal information • use AI ethically while keeping human judgement involved Day One: Understand It and Start Using It We’ll begin by taking away some of the mystery around AI. You’ll explore what tools such as ChatGPT actually do, where they can be useful and where their limitations sit. We’ll then make it practical. Rather than practising with generic examples, you’ll look at your own workload and identify areas where AI could genuinely help. We’ll work on prompting, improving outputs and using AI for activities such as planning, emails, ideas, customer communication, research, administration and first drafts. The aim is not to make you a prompt engineer. It is to help you get better, more useful results without wasting your time. Day Two: Work Smarter On Day Two, we’ll look at the work you repeatedly do in your business. What are you constantly copying, rewriting, chasing, organising, checking or sending? We’ll explore how AI and simple automation can potentially reduce some of that repetitive work. You’ll be introduced to basic workflow thinking, so you can begin identifying processes that could be made more efficient without needing to build complicated systems yourself. We will also spend time looking at responsible AI use. That includes accuracy, confidentiality, personal information, bias and understanding when a decision still needs a person behind it. Because using more AI is not automatically the goal. Using it appropriately is. You’ll work on your own businessThis is not two days of watching AI demonstrations. You’ll use your own business as the case study throughout the course. You’ll identify the work that is taking up your time, experiment with practical prompts, consider where automation may help and decide where AI would not be appropriate. By the end of the two days, you’ll create your own: 90-Day AI Action Plan Rather than leaving thinking: “I really should start using more AI.” you should leave knowing: what you want to use it for, where it could save you time and where you still need a human involved. This course is for you if... You run a small business and keep hearing about AI but are not sure what is genuinely useful. You have tried ChatGPT but mostly use it for the occasional question or piece of content. You spend too much time on repetitive admin. You want to work more efficiently but do not want to learn coding or complicated technology. You are concerned about confidentiality, accuracy or whether you are using AI appropriately. Or you simply want somebody to explain AI in a way that actually relates to running a business. No previous AI or technical experience is required. What you’ll leave with You will create practical resources during the two days, including your own: AI Opportunity List Reusable prompts Time Drain Review Simple workflow ideas Responsible AI guidelines 90-Day AI Action Plan So the learning does not end when the course finishes. Course details Duration: 2 full days Introductory offer: £350 per person Level: Beginner Designed for: Founders, small business owners and sole traders Technical experience required: None Bring your laptop if you have one — and bring examples of the jobs in your business that seem to take far longer than they should. You don’t need to become an AI expert. You need to understand where AI can genuinely make running your business easier. Come with your business. Leave with a practical plan.