The Data Lab

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For business

Upskill for an AI-ready future workshop

Cover image by Fanny Maurel & Digit / Ambient Scribes / Licenced by CC-BY 4.0

Prepare your team for an AI-driven future

This interactive 90-minute workshop helps Scottish SMEs prepare their teams for an AI-driven future using The Data Lab Data & AI Skills Framework (2025). Participants will explore how to assess the current skills landscape, identify gaps, and develop upskilling and reskilling pathways that keep pace with fast-moving AI technology. The workshop will also examine job categories and skill areas least at risk of automation or displacement by AI.  

This workshop will help participants:   

  • Understand the key elements of the Data & AI Skills Framework and their relevance to SMEs.   
  • Reflect on their organisation’s current AI-related skills landscape and begin to identify potential gaps.   
  • Recognise job categories and skill areas that are more or less at risk of automation and of wider automation adoption.   

Identify next steps and resources to explore upskilling and reskilling opportunities after the workshop.  

Register interest

Who is it for?

This course is for small- to medium-sized businesses or social enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland, it 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.  
  • Supports business leaders, managers and key staff at Stage 2–3 of the AI Adoption Framework (digitally aware to AI-curious) who want to understand essential AI skills and competency areas and build an AI-ready workforce upskilling plan.   

How will I benefit?

This course provides leaders and managers with:  

  • An introduction to the Data & AI Skills Framework (2025) and its personas. 
  • Support to reflect and to recognise current capabilities, gaps, and automation risks.   
  • Practical resources and next-step ideas for upskilling and reskilling within the National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs and The AI Adoption Framework.  

How do I join the workshop? 

This is a 90-minute workshop to help Scottish SMEs prepare their teams for an AI-driven future using The Data Lab Data & AI Skills Framework (2025).   

The same session will be offered three times – twice in-person, in different regions, and once as a live online session. This is to so SMEs across Scotland in rural areas can participate. Each session is limited to around 15 participants per course.

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

Timings below are indicative and will be confirmed once you have a place.  

  • 21 January 12:00-13:00: Online
  • 4 February 10:30–12:00: In-person (Glasgow TBC)
  • 12 February 10:30-12:00: In-person (Dundee TBC) 

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 a 90-minute workshop. One version is offered online, and a separate version is offered in-person. Participants must commit to attending the full session. 

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 31st March 2026.