AI training
What Should You Look For in AI Training for Non-Technical Staff?
By Kaye Nicholson · Published · Last updated
The short answer
Good AI training for non-technical staff should use plain English, real workplace examples and clear rules around data, checking outputs and responsibility. Staff should leave knowing what AI can help with, what information should not be entered, how to write useful instructions and when a person must remain in control. A long list of tools is not the same as useful training.
What good training includes
The best sessions feel like a conversation about work rather than a lecture about technology. Whatever the format, look for these ingredients:
- Plain English, with no jargon left unexplained
- Examples from the jobs your people actually do, rather than generic demonstrations
- Hands-on practice, so staff try things rather than watch
- Clear rules on what information should never be entered into an AI tool
- A habit of checking outputs, because AI can be confidently wrong
- Clarity on who is responsible for the final result, which is always a person
- Something to take away: prompts, guides and next steps
What to be wary of
Be cautious of training that is mostly a tour of tools, promises that AI will transform everything, or sessions pitched at a technical audience when your team is not one. If staff leave feeling more anxious or more confused than when they arrived, the training has not done its job.
What this looks like in practice
Bedmax, a Northumberland manufacturer, asked GrowthZone AI to help its team understand AI and use it more confidently.
- 1The session was delivered in person to seven employees over two hours, with a mix of existing knowledge in the room.
- 2It combined responsible AI guidance, covering security, confidentiality and human responsibility, with practical learning.
- 3Participants learned how clearer instructions and context lead to more useful outputs.
- 4Employees began identifying processes across the business where AI could help in future.
The full story, including participant feedback, is in the Bedmax case study.
When GrowthZone AI can help
Training is one of several options, and the right format depends on your team and what it needs to do.
AI Training for Teams
Practical, business-first training for SMEs, built around your team's real tasks. It suits businesses that want staff confident and consistent, rather than just aware of AI.
AI Workshops
Interactive group sessions to build shared understanding, either in person or online. A good fit when you want a whole team learning together.
Leadership & Governance
A session for leaders who need to set sensible rules and guide AI adoption across the organisation, including policy and responsible use.
Your route from here
Start with the format that fits your team, and add the rest only if it is needed.
- PrimaryAI Training for TeamsTailored, practical training built around your business and your people.
- SecondaryAI WorkshopsInteractive group sessions to build shared skills and confidence.
- SupportingLeadership & GovernanceHelp for leaders setting the rules and direction for AI use.
If you are not sure what your team needs, the scorecard is a low-pressure way to start.
Want a clearer picture of where your team stands before you choose training?
Take the AI Readiness ScorecardRelated proof
- Client case studyBedmax: building AI confidence in a Northumberland manufacturing teamA two-hour, in-person workshop for seven Bedmax employees, combining responsible AI guidance with practical, hands-on learning.
- External programmeBusiness Academy speaker, Business Growth ServiceKaye Nicholson is a speaker for the UK Government's Business Academy, part of the Business Growth Service. (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
Should AI training be in person?
It does not have to be, but in person works well for teams who feel unsure, because people ask questions more freely and try things alongside each other. Online sessions can work well for confident or dispersed teams. Choose the format your people will actually engage with.
Is a local consultant better than an online course?
A course is useful for individual learning at your own pace. A local consultant can tailor the session to your business, your tools and your people, and be on hand for questions. Neither is automatically better, and the right one depends on whether you need general knowledge or practical change in how your team works.
Should staff be trained on specific tools or principles?
Principles first. Tools change quickly, but knowing how to give clear instructions, check results and protect information carries across all of them. Specific tools are worth covering where your team will use them every day.
How much technical knowledge is required?
None. Good training starts from where people are and uses everyday language. If a session assumes technical knowledge your team does not have, it is not the right session.
What should responsible AI training include?
Clear rules on what information should not be entered, a habit of checking outputs before relying on them, an understanding that AI can be wrong or biased, and clarity that a person remains responsible for the result. It should also cover when to ask for help.
Help your team feel confident with AI
Tell us about your team and what they do day to day. We will suggest a practical, plain-English way to build their confidence.