Fossu
Fossu · Delivery

AI upskilling for SMEs, South Yorkshire.

Cohort programmes delivered as Ignite AI with Barnsley Council and Quickline across Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, taking business owners from AI-curious to AI-capable.

Participants during an Ignite AI cohort session
Delivered withBarnsley Council (Enterprising Barnsley) · Quickline
WhereBarnsley · Doncaster · Rotherham
FormatTen-week cohorts with drop-ins and a public showcase
StatusFive cohorts delivered, more scheduled

Small businesses don't need an AI lecture. They need their hours back.

Each cohort takes around 20 local business owners through a ten-week programme built on their real work: the quoting, admin, marketing and customer follow-up that eats their week. Participants leave with working tools they built themselves, and the confidence to keep building.

Weekly sessions

Facilitated in person, built around each business's own processes rather than generic demos.

Drop-ins and mentoring

Between sessions, participants bring what broke and leave with it working.

A public showcase

Every cohort ends on a stage, demonstrating what they built to the local business community. Doncaster's filled a suite at Doncaster Rovers' stadium.

Measured properly, because funders should expect proof.

5–10 hrsSaved per week, reported by participants who quantified their time savings
+4 pointsAverage gain in AI confidence out of 10, matched before-and-after surveys
10/10Every exit-survey respondent across the Barnsley and Doncaster cohorts said they'd recommend the programme

Every cohort runs with enrolment data, baseline and exit surveys, and a branded end-of-programme report for partners and funders. Figures above are drawn from the 2026 Barnsley and Doncaster cohort evaluations.

"Rotherham's cohort is fully funded by Quickline, at no cost to the businesses taking part."

Cohort five · funded by Quickline

Bring a cohort to your place.

Commissioned by councils, backed by grants, or funded by partners like Quickline who want to invest in their region. One conversation scopes it.

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