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Kent County Council training scheme helps businesses boost AI confidence

Participants reported improvements in productivity, time savings, marketing, decision-making and their understanding of responsible AI use.

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Kent County Council training scheme helps businesses boost AI confidence
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Kent County Council’s artificial intelligence (AI) training scheme has more than doubled participants average confidence in using the technology.

More than 40 learners completed the first round of the Kent AI Skills Accelerator.

The scheme was funded through the council’s Helping Hands programme and delivered by Social Enterprise Kent in partnership with R People.

Participants reported improvements in productivity, time savings, marketing, decision-making and their understanding of responsible AI use.

They also received a toolkit of resources and prompts to support the use of AI in their businesses.

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The funded training was available to micro and small businesses in Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, Canterbury, Thanet and Swale.

David Wimble, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Special Projects at Kent County Council, said: “It is brilliant to see such fantastic results from the work we are doing.

“Following this success, further fully funded places are now available for eligible Kent small and medium sized businesses and micro businesses.

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“The feedback we have had from learners has been really encouraging and I look forward to hearing how future cohorts use the skills learnt through these fantastic courses.”

Kirsty Hawkins, group director of skills and employability at Social Enterprise Kent, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Kent County Council to deliver the Kent AI Skills Accelerator. 

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“AI is developing incredibly quickly, and for many small businesses it can be difficult to know where to start or how to use it safely and effectively.

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“KASA is about making those skills accessible and practical, giving Kent businesses the confidence to use AI to improve the way they work while also understanding the importance of responsible and ethical use.”

Hawkins added: “We’ve already seen how learners are taking their new skills back into the workplace, and we’re excited to build on that success and support even more businesses across Kent through the next phase of the programme.”

Rebecca Bradley of R People Ltd said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) to deliver KASA. 

“Their reach across Kent’s business Kent’s business community has been a real strength of the project and has helped us work with such a varied group of businesses and learners.

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“The stars of the project are the learners who have embraced the programme and shown a real commitment to understanding not just what AI can do, but how to use it well and responsibly.”

Bradley added: “Our favourite part has been seeing learners grow in confidence and put what they have learned into practice. 

“To us, that is the best measure of the project’s success, and it has been made possible through the support of Kent County Council’s Helping Hands fund.”

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