AI can feel overwhelming, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. This workshop offers a clear and practical look at what it is really like to build and implement AI in an SME setting, directly from someone who has done it.

John Parkinson, CEO of the third-generation family business HRGO, will share how his team developed BettyAI, a tool using LLMs and logistic regression for candidate and job matching, as part of a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Kent. He will walk us through real-world lessons, challenges and wins, and explore how this technology is now being applied beyond recruitment into travel and eCommerce.

Whether you are just starting out with AI or are exploring your next step, this session will offer fresh insight from someone who understands the realities and rewards of innovation in an SME.

What to expect

– A real-life case study of building an AI-powered recruitment tool

– Honest reflections on lessons learned from a two-year academic partnership

– Practical advice on how SMEs can use AI tools like LLMs today

– Buffet lunch and networking opportunities

Who should attend?

Business owners, managers, directors and anyone curious about using AI in a practical, ethical and non-technical way to improve business processes, recruitment or decision-making.