Canterbury · AI lessons and business help
AI lessons and AI help for businesses in Canterbury
I give one-to-one AI lessons in Canterbury homes, on your own phone, tablet or computer, and I help the city's small businesses use AI on their real work. Canterbury mixes a big visitor trade, three universities and plenty of independent firms, and each brings its own kind of admin.
Canterbury and the villages close by, such as Sturry, Blean and Bridge: no travel charge for lessons or business visits.
AI jobs that suit Canterbury businesses
Tourism supports 8,166 jobs in the city of Canterbury, 12% of all jobs in the district (Canterbury City Council).
Visitors
Shops, cafés and tours
The city had 5.56 million visitor trips in 2024. AI can draft answers to visitors' everyday questions, translate a notice or menu, and help you reply to reviews in your own voice.
AI for hospitalityLettings
Letting agents and landlords
If you let to students or university staff, AI can draft replies to the questions tenants ask every September, and first drafts of property descriptions for a person to check.
AI for letting agentsOffices
Professional and office-based firms
Microsoft 365 business plans now include Copilot Chat at no extra cost (checked October 2026). Learning what you already pay for is usually the cheapest place to begin.
AI training for staffTerm time
Trade that follows the university year
Canterbury has one of the highest student-to-resident ratios in the UK. If takings rise and fall with term dates, AI can help you compare past years and plan rotas and stock, while you check the sums.
Free help in the city, and when to use it first
Canterbury Library at the Beaney holds a free Digital Hub on the third Thursday of each month, 10:30am to 12:30pm. If you aren't online yet, or need an email account or a new phone set up, start there. Kent Adult Education also runs a free Computing Basics course in Canterbury for people building skills for work.
Come to me when you want to learn AI itself, one-to-one, on your own device.
For businesses, Canterbury Connected, the city's Business Improvement District, was renewed in 2024 with 90% of votes in favour, and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce holds events across the county. If your group wants a speaker, see AI talks for your team.
What it costs in Canterbury
A lesson is one fixed price for the whole visit, covering the AI tools you'll use and how to spot AI-powered scams.
| Service | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Home lesson | £149 | Two hours one-to-one on your own device, a printed guide written for you, and two weeks of phone help afterwards |
| Friends & neighbours | £199 | Up to four people in one home for two hours |
| AI Kick-Start | £395 | Half a day at your premises, three quick wins set up, a written plan within three working days |
| Team AI workshop | £795 | A full day for up to ten staff, with a one-page safe-use policy |
No travel charge anywhere in Canterbury. Lessons are paid on the day by card, or afterwards by bank transfer.
When I come to your home
I won't ask for your passwords or bank details: you type those yourself. Invite family or a friend to sit in. Nothing is sold on the day, and I'll leave the moment you'd like me to. There's no charge for moving the date.
Questions from Canterbury
Is the Digital Hub at the Beaney enough, or do I need lessons?
For getting online or a quick fix, the free hub is the right place. To learn AI properly on your own device, a two-hour lesson gives you the time, a written guide and help afterwards.
Can AI help a Canterbury business with visitors who don't speak English?
Yes, for notices, menus and replies. Ask a fluent speaker to check anything important, and don't rely on a machine translation for allergen or safety information.
Can you visit my shop or office outside opening hours?
Yes. Evenings and weekends are available by arrangement, which suits businesses that can't stop during the day.
Is there free AI training for Canterbury businesses?
Sometimes. A KCC-funded AI Skills Accelerator has been offered to small firms in Kent, and the county's Growth Hub has put on free workshops. They're a sound start; I come in when you want AI set up on your own systems.
Who you'll work with
James Hayes Consulting is led by Ross Hayes, who builds software for his own businesses and uses AI tools in them every day. We set AI up on your real work, explain it in plain English, and tell you straight if something isn’t worth paying for.
Every project starts with a free 15-minute call, and prices are agreed in writing before you commit.
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