AI & Prompt Engineering for SMEs
The foundational one-day workshop. Demystify AI, master prompt engineering, and start using AI tools responsibly to drive productivity.
- Format
- 1 day (8 hours, including breaks)
- Level
- Beginner
- Prerequisite
- None. This is the foundational course for all other AI modules.
Overview
This intensive one-day workshop is the essential starting point for any SME looking to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence. The day is designed to demystify AI, moving beyond the hype to provide a solid, practical understanding of what AI is, how it works, and how it can be immediately and safely applied to business challenges. Participants get hands-on experience with leading AI tools and master the critical skill of prompt engineering — the art and science of communicating effectively with AI to get the desired results. By the end of the day, every attendee will have the confidence and skills to begin using AI responsibly to enhance productivity and drive innovation.
Course schedule & modules
- Module 1 — Welcome & The AI Revolution: why AI now, and the tipping point for SMEs
- Module 2 — Demystifying AI: ML, LLMs, Generative AI, and the SME opportunity
- Module 3 — The Art of the Prompt (Part 1): the RTCFE framework and your first 'perfect' prompt
- Module 4 — The Art of the Prompt (Part 2): zero-shot vs few-shot, chain of thought, personas, iterative refinement
- Module 5 — Tool landscape: comparing ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and other public AI tools
- Module 6 — Responsible use: privacy, IP, data sovereignty (GDPR), and evaluating AI outputs for bias
- Module 7 — Build your personal Prompt Library tailored to your role and business
What you'll leave with
- Define AI, Machine Learning, and Generative AI and explain their SME relevance
- Identify the strategic risks of AI adoption, including privacy and data sovereignty
- Construct well-defined prompts using established frameworks (RTCFE)
- Apply few-shot, chain-of-thought, and iterative prompting to real tasks
- Assess the quality and bias of AI-generated content
- Walk away with a Prompt Library of effective prompts for your job role
Audience
- SME business leaders, knowledge workers, and team members new to AI.
- Primary resource: Prompt Engineering for SMEs: An AI Handbook for Business Leaders