Cover image by Jamillah Knowles & Digit / Pink Office / Licenced by CC-BY 4.0

Helping your business to build the foundations of data and AI leadership

This course, delivered over two days, covers key aspects of leveraging data and AI for organisational benefit, focusing on readiness assessments, identifying AI opportunities, aligning strategies with goals, and promoting responsible data leadership. Participants will also learn to develop and implement data and AI strategies, including planning and assessing current capabilities, and designing and implementing a data and AI strategy roadmap.  

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for professionals and AI, data, and digital transformation leaders, managers, and decision makers (business leaders and functional leads).   

• Open to private, third sector, and charitable organisations that meet the criteria of an SME as defined by the Scottish Government: micro (fewer than 10 employees), small (fewer than 50 employees) and medium-sized (not more than 250 employees) businesses.  
• Where applicable, priority will be given to facilitating rural SMEs, SMEs owned, operated, or serving marginalised communities, and organisations in foundational economies/traditional sectors.  
• Suitable for SMEs at business and organisational leaders across Scotland who are at Stage 2 of the AI Adoption Framework. Organisations at this stage are “digitally aware but AI uncertain”. You may be using some digital tools but lack structured data or AI literacy. Your business or team is potentially interested in innovation but need help identifying AI and data science opportunities and understanding the business potential.  

How will I benefit?

This course aims to help business and organisational leaders to:  

• Find a credible voice when talking about deriving value from data and AI  
• Understand the importance of an effective data and AI strategy  
• Develop an inspirational vision that they can communicate and share with their colleagues and stakeholders  
• Develop a believable path to success so that others will want to join them on their transformational journey  

How do I join the course? 

This is an eight- to ten-hour course which is offered in online or in-person format by The Data Lab’s professional development team. The online course is slightly shorter than in-person. To ensure reach across Scotland, including rural and island areas, we will deliver one in-person (in central Edinburgh) and one online version of the course. Each session is limited to 20-25 participants per course.  

A light touch application process will determine eligibility and suitability, and a waiting list will be applied.  

Online

The online version of the course is available over four days – in two-hour sessions. There is an optional introductory session of one hour prior to the course start. The total learning time is eight to nine hours commitment. Timings below are indicative and will be confirmed once you have a place.  

• Wednesday 26 November 10:00-11:00: Optional introductory session  
• 3 and 4 December 10:00–12:00: Module 1   
• 10 and 11 December 10:00-12:00: Module 2   

In person (central Edinburgh)

The in-person version of the course will be delivered in central Edinburgh over two full days. Timings below are indicative and will be confirmed once you have a place. The total time commitment is about 12 hours (six hours each day) which includes a lunch break of one hour each day. Lunch will be provided. 

• Wednesday 28 January 2026, 10:00-4:00: Introduction and module 1  
• Thursday 29 January 2026 10:00-4:00: Module 2 and wrap up  

   Register interest using the form the below

How much does it cost?

The Scottish Government fully funds the support provided through this programme, so SMEs and social enterprises can access it for free. 

How long does this take? 

This is an eight-to-ten-hour course offered over two days. One version is offered online, and a separate version is offered in-person. Participants must commit to attending the full course. 

National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs

This support programme is delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, The Data Lab, Scottish AI Alliance, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise. Other opportunities available to eligible businesses and social enterprises, including grant funding and targeted training and support, can be found on Find Business Support.  

To find out more about the programme and access other support visit Find Business Support:

Find Business Support | National AI Adoption Programme

The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and will run until 31^st March 2026.