Businesses with limited resources across the South Midlands are being invited to boost their skills and productivity through a new series of short, practical courses delivered by academics at the University of Northampton.
The first course in the new programme will focus on Artificial Intelligence in the workplace, showing business leaders how Microsoft Copilot can be used safely and effectively to streamline day-to-day tasks, support decision-making and improve productivity.
Designed specifically with small and medium sized businesses in mind, the courses offer easy, affordable access to university expertise without the commitment of a full degree programme.
The first half-day course on Tuesday 19 May will include live demonstrations and hands-on activities, helping participants understand how Copilot can be used across Microsoft 365 for tasks such as drafting emails, summarising documents, analysing information and supporting planning across HR, marketing, IT and sales.
Dr Ade Otukoya, Head of School of Professional Business Education at the University of Northampton, said the course was created in response to clear demand from smaller businesses for practical, trusted guidance.
Dr Otukoya said: “A lot of businesses don’t want—or need—to sign up for a three-year degree just to understand a specific issue like AI, they just want to get an understanding of what it actually means for them and how they can use it straight away.”
The new short courses originate as modules in University’s degree programmes but have been repackaged it into accessible sessions lasting half a day or a day.
Dr Otukoya added: “We’ve got the skills, the experience and the research expertise—so why wouldn’t we share that? Some businesses just want quick results. They want something distilled, focused and immediately useful.”
The standard fee for the AI course is £150, but an early bird rate of just £75 is available for delegates who register their interest by Friday, 8 May 2026.
The AI session is the first in a planned programme of short courses covering areas such as strategy, leadership, finance, change management and analytics, all designed for people running or leading organisations without specialist in-house teams.
Courses may also be delivered on site for organisations with groups of staff who are unable to travel.
For more information or to register interest in the early bird offer, email UON’s Business School Administrator Queensley Ochada.