The University of Northampton is launching a new series of half-day training courses to help small businesses in the South Midlands adopt artificial intelligence. The first session, taking place on Tuesday 19 May 2026, will focus on using Microsoft Copilot to assist with everyday tasks such as drafting emails, summarising documents, and supporting business planning.
The initiative aims to address a gap in technology adoption, as research from the UK Government shows that small and medium-sized enterprises are 45 percent less likely to use artificial intelligence than larger companies. As of mid-2025, only one in six businesses across the country had implemented the technology.
According to Dr Ade Otukoya, Head of the School of Professional Business Education, the new modules are adapted from the university’s existing degree programmes. They have been repackaged to provide business owners with practical, time-efficient guidance without requiring a full qualification.
The standard fee for the course is £150, though an early bird rate of £75 is available for those who register by Friday 8 May 2026. The university plans to expand the programme to include further sessions on topics such as strategy, leadership, finance, and analytics to support the national goal of upskilling workers in artificial intelligence by 2030.
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