The short answer
Start with consulting when you need to decide where AI fits or what to change. Start with training when you already have a suitable task and people need the skills to do it. Some businesses need both, but either service can stand on its own.
Consulting helps you choose a direction
Consulting is useful when there are several possible opportunities, the current process is unclear or you need to assess whether an idea is feasible. The work starts with how the business operates, the information involved and the result you want.
A useful outcome is a clear set of priorities, reasons for the recommendation, agreed responsibilities and practical next steps. That recommendation may be training, a process change, configuration, automation or a custom build.
Training helps people do the work
Training is useful when the task is understood but people need help using AI confidently. Examples include giving clear instructions, turning notes into a draft and checking whether the output is supported by its source.
A practical workshop gives the team examples to work through and feedback on their attempts. A seminar can introduce the subject to a wider group; individual guidance can focus on a particular person’s role. You can book training without commissioning an implementation.
Match the starting point to the problem
| Your situation | A useful starting point |
|---|---|
| We have lots of ideas but no priorities. | Consulting to compare the opportunities and agree a direction. |
| We know the task, but people struggle to get useful results. | Training using that task and examples the team can check. |
| We want everyone to understand what AI might help with. | An introductory seminar, followed by a focused discussion of relevant work. |
| The team has different roles and experience. | A training plan that groups suitable tasks and makes room for individual guidance. |
| We need information moved between systems. | A feasibility discussion about configuration or automation; training alone may not address the gap. |
| We have a plan and need someone to build it. | Review the requirements and scope the implementation. |
One task can reveal different needs
Consider a fictional team preparing a weekly project update. If nobody agrees which information belongs in the update or who approves it, clarify the process and priorities first.
If those things are settled but colleagues need practice drafting and checking the update, training may be enough. If preparing it still requires somebody to copy information between several systems, explore a connection or automation as well.
The task gives the discussion a concrete starting point. It does not mean every business needs all three kinds of work.
Bring a task, a question or a learning need
For consulting, bring an outline of the processes or decisions you want to work through. For training, bring the roles attending, their current experience and a suitable example of the work they want to improve.
An AI Opportunity Call helps establish the appropriate next step. It is an introductory conversation, separate from detailed strategy work or a training session.
Put this into practice
AI Consulting & Strategy
AI consulting and strategy for UK small and medium-sized businesses. Identify useful opportunities, assess feasibility and leave with clear priorities and next steps.
AI Training & ChatGPT Workshops
Practical AI training and ChatGPT workshops for UK businesses. Tailored team sessions, seminars and individual coaching using tasks your people actually do.