AI isn’t coming. It’s here.

• Users saved an average of 26 minutes per day, equating to nearly two weeks of time saved per person, per year

• 82% of users said they would not want to go back to working without AI tools like Copilot

• Teams reported feeling more in control of workloads, with fewer manual admin bottlenecks

But Most People Still Don’t Know Where to Start

According to Microsoft UK’s own leadership, many UK businesses are still “stuck in neutral” when it comes to AI. They’re experimenting, but not implementing. There’s uncertainty about governance, data protection, and which tools actually deliver results.

Barclays research shows that 9 in 10 UK businesses are looking to AI to solve key business issues amidst economic and energy challenges, but their biggest barrier isn’t budget - it’s skills. Staff simply don’t know how to use the tools effectively.

What AI Can Do for You (Yes, You)

Let’s be clear: AI isn’t about replacing jobs. It’s about amplifying what people can already do, especially in knowledge-based roles.

• HR teams use AI to draft policies, answer FAQs and streamline onboarding

• Sales professionals generate first-draft proposals and prospecting emails in minutes

• Marketing teams rapidly create content outlines and campaign summaries

• Operations leads automate routine queries and generate progress reports

• Administrators and managers reduce time spent summarising meetings, searching inboxes and formatting documents

And this is just Copilot. Microsoft's built-in AI is advancing every day - for example Custom Agents built with Microsoft Copilot Studio can handle department-specific tasks and even integrate with your CRM, ticketing systems or Power Automate workflows.

Why Training Matters

In government trials and SME pilots alike, one theme stood out: training is the difference between dabbling and delivering.

Without training, many users never move beyond the basics - or worse, misapply AI and create risk. With just a day or two of guided, role-specific training, delegates report:

• Confidence using AI tools securely and ethically

• Real-world productivity gains (not just demos)

• Stronger cross-department collaboration

Skilltec offers five tailored courses that meet professionals on their AI journey.  Here are the three essentials to get started:

AI Copilot Overview for Professionals

Gain a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Copilot across Microsoft 365, Edge, Windows 11, and Dynamics 365. Focus on AI deployment, configuration, licensing, data governance, and extending Copilot with plugins - ideal for those supporting or rolling out Copilot in their organisation.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Interactive Experience for Executives

Tailored for business leaders and Executives. Explore how Copilot AI can enhance strategic decision-making and productivity. Focus on crafting effective prompts, integrating Copilot into daily workflows, and using AI to streamline meetings, emails, and planning.

Create AI Agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio

This hands-on workshop teaches you how to build intelligent, task-specific AI agents using Microsoft Copilot Studio. Learn to manage topics, use entities and variables, integrate Microsoft Power Automate, and deploy agents within Dataverse for Teams - ideal for those looking to create custom conversational experiences without coding.

Final Thought

Every Professional Needs to Understand AI.  Whether you’re a CEO, an HR Manager or a Project Lead, a Finance Officer or a Marketing Exec - your work can be amplified, simplified, and improved with the right tools and the right training.

The only mistake now? Doing nothing.

Contact Us for more information on AI Training.