Skills Bootcamp – Applied AI for Business and Creativity

The course begins by demystifying AI: learners explore core concepts, key terminology, and the distinctions between Narrow AI, General AI, and Generative AI. They examine real-world use cases across sectors like finance, healthcare, marketing, and creative industries.

Learners are introduced to data fundamentals, including data types, features, datasets, and the importance of clean, well-structured data. This underpins their exploration of key machine learning algorithms such as linear regression, decision trees, and clustering.

Learners gain hands-on experience using accessible AI tools, including pre-trained models from platforms such as Hugging Face and OpenAI APIs. A key component is learning the principles of prompt engineering, enabling effective interactions with AI systems like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and GitHub Copilot.

Practical activities anchor the technical learning. Learners complete small creative projects, generating text, images, or code, and collaborate on a project to build a simple chatbot or text analysis tool. Ethical AI is explored in-depth, including discussions around bias, misinformation, data privacy, and responsible AI use.

The course also prepares learners for AI-enhanced career pathways. Sessions on AI roles, personal branding, and portfolio development help position learners for job entry or progression. Soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork are embedded throughout.

The programme culminates in a Digital Showcase event where learners present their AI-enhanced projects to peers, employers, and invited guests.

Delivered face-to-face over 11 weeks, it includes 60 guided learning hours (GLH) including 10 GLH of soft-skills development, and 2 hours of 1:1 mentoring support.

For more information please contact one of our Adult Advisers:

Email: adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk

Call: 01392 400170

Applicants for this course need to be either:

• Unemployed – committed to actively seeking employment opportunities independently during the course and provide evidence of a job interview and job offer within your subject area.
• Self-employed – If you are self-employed you are committed to building your business and provide evidence of a business plan that reflects the knowledge and skills, you have acquired and evidence of engagement with new clients.
• Employed – using the skills learnt in the Bootcamp to take on a new role or duties in your current role. Your employer will be asked to pay a contribution dependent on the size of the organisation.  If you are part time employed funding will depend on your circumstances.

To apply you will need to meet the following criteria:

• You are 19 years or over.
• You have the right to work in the UK.
• You have lived in the UK or EU/EAA for the last 3 years or have a residency status that makes you exempt from this rule.
• English skills including written/spoken required with Level 1 being the minimum.
• You have not completed another Skills Bootcamp in this current financial year.
• You are committed to participating in delivery sessions for 12 weeks.
• This course is open to aged 19+ residents of Devon only who have a right to work in the UK.

All applicants will be assessed at interview.

This Skills Bootcamp is delivered at Victoria House, 33/36 Queen Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3SR