Training for SME's in Nottingham to integrate Generative AI.
NTU Knowledge Exchange (NTUKE) funded by Midlands Engine partnered with me to equip SME’s in the midlands to make maximum use of Generative AI.
- Project Overview
I supported NTU’s Knowledge Exchange team to strengthen local SMEs’ scaling capabilities, improve their operational efficiency, and boost their resilience through Generative AI. To do this, I designed and delivered accessible, jargon-free training sessions tailored to each business’s context and needs, encouraging practical discussion and hands-on learning.
Today, participating SMEs benefit from clear, actionable guidance and resources that empower them to adopt generative AI effectively and ethically. NTU’s KED team has an engaging, scalable training approach that builds lasting relationships with local businesses and supports the university’s civic impact agenda.
- About the client
NTU's ambition is to be recognised as a force for good, passionate about transforming lives through civic engagement.
An ambition they strive towards through a comprehensive portfolio of professional and short courses. This project arose from their desire to support local SME’s with Generative AI.
- The Solution
Technical Training for Non-Technical Leaders
The solution was to build a series of sessions that first gave participants a foundational understanding without leaving them asleep at the keyboard drowning in jargon. We then built on this to look at utilising GenAI in product and service analytics, customer insight, marketing and automation.
Throughout all of the sessions, participants were encouraged to share their experiences and businesses so that where possible the delivery could be tailored to be as specific and concrete as possible.
- The Impact
Supporting participants after the training.
We’ve all been there – you come out of a video call and you know you’ve forgotten something…
All of the workshops in the series had an accompanying resource pack that contained all of the original information + links to example prompts for the areas of activity covered.
Participants praised the lack of technical jargon, engaging presentation and accessibility for a non-technical audience. After the three sessions participants with no prior experience or knowledge were using ChatGPT and others across operations, market research, data analytics and more.
Workshop Outline
In this session participants gain a fundamental understanding of AI. This is then applied to marketing and customer insight. Delivery uses participant business to contextualise examples.
Workshop #1
AI for customer insights, analysis and marketing.
Exploring the power of data and using AI as a collaborator to make sense of data faster and to act on it in novel ways.
Workshop #2
AI for product and service innovation and data analytics.
Asking the question “Just because you can automate – should you?”. Considering risks associated with GenAI automation and how to mitigate them.
Workshop #3
Automating elements of your business with AI.