AI for small businesses: start with understanding

You don't have to like AI.

You don't even have to want to use it.

But before you dismiss it, you owe it to yourself and your business to at least learn what it is and how you could use it.

Because right now, conversations around AI are polarised: people are either terrified of it, or they're talking about it like it's a magic solution. For SMEs, neither of those extremes are particularly helpful.

What we're seeing

Over the last few months, I’ve been in rooms full of business owners who visibly tense up the moment AI is mentioned. There’s often a mix of scepticism, worry, and fatigue. Some people are curious, others just want it to go away.

I get it.

When you’re running a small business, you’re already juggling a thousand moving parts, so the idea of having to “learn AI” can feel like one more thing you don’t have time for.

But a lot of that fear comes from not understanding what AI actually is or how it could help!

And that’s not the fault of business owners, it’s the way AI is being talked about.

On platforms like LinkedIn, there are endless posts shouting “AI is here...embrace it!” but very few that explain, in plain English, how small businesses can actually use it in a realistic, manageable way.

That’s where we want to make a difference.

Why self-paced learning matters

Small business owners don’t need another overcomplicated webinar or jargon-heavy masterclass. They need something practical. Something they can dip in and out of when they have time.

That’s why we’re creating AI for small business: An introduction - a short, self-paced, completely free course designed to explain the basics of AI in a way that’s clear, relatable and genuinely useful.

You can go through it at your own speed, revisit sections, and explore the tools that are relevant to your business.

It’s about understanding and practical guidance, not overwhelm.

Keeping learning free (and accessible)

We want to keep courses like this free for as long as we can. To do that, we’re opening sponsorship slots – giving other small and medium-sized businesses the chance to support accessible learning while reaching an audience of other business owners.

Yes, it's a marketing opportunity – but it’s also a way to contribute to the future of small business education.

Because knowledge shouldn’t only belong to those who can afford it!

You don’t have to love AI but you should understand it

I’ve seen a lot of hostility toward AI lately and maybe that’s understandable? Professional platforms like LinkedIn are littered with generic AI sounding posts and content. We ourselves are proud to say 'Written by us - not by AI' after all of our posts. It isn't because we don't use or like AI, it's because we understand the negativity that surrounds it and also, how it's misused and the over-reliance that exists.

There’s fear around job losses, change and a lot of uncertainty. But before we reject it entirely, we should take the time to learn what it can do – and what it can't.

The same could be said for many things troubling the UK right now. Opinions are loud, but understanding is often missing.

Learning before judging doesn’t mean you have to agree. It means you give yourself the chance to make informed decisions.

AI that evolves – and so will our course

AI is changing fast. That’s why our course won’t be static.

We’ll keep adding new examples, updated guidance and real-world case studies as the technology evolves.

There’s even a built-in feedback form, because this isn’t a “launch and leave” course – it’s a living, evolving resource designed to grow alongside small businesses.

Your feedback will help shape it, ensuring that it stays practical, relevant and realistic.

To sign up to the course, simple click the link below! If you are interested in sponsoring a course, get in touch!

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