Ethan Clarke-Wooster
Business Development Executive, Coaley Peak®
Opens the evening with where AI actually saves time and money in a small business, and where it doesn't, then hosts the fireside chat.
Free evening · Wed 28 October · Canada Water
AI in Business: What Actually Works
A free evening for local business owners in three parts: where AI saves time and money, how to get found when customers search with AI, and how to use it safely. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Venue partner
As seen on
the Southwark Council email newsletter
the Southwark Council email newsletter
Where
Foundervine Spaces
3 Deal Porters Way, Canada Water, London SE16 7BBIn the Three Deal Porters building
- Tube and Overground: Canada Water station, a few steps away. Jubilee line and London Overground.
- Bus: Canada Water bus station, next to the station. Routes 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10 and P12.
When
Wednesday 28 October 2026
6pm to 8:30pm. Doors 6pm, talk from 6:30pm.
Cost
Free
Book ahead, places are limited
The programme
Three parts, one evening
After the three parts it’s your questions, then drinks and networking until 8:30pm.
Part 1 · With Ethan Clarke-WoosterWhere AI actually saves time and money
The everyday jobs where AI earns its keep in a small business, and the ones where it lets you down.Read moreShow less
Ethan opens the evening with what AI is genuinely good for in a small business today, and where it will cost you time and money instead of saving them.
- What works
- Repetitive jobs AI handles well, like processing supplier invoices or pulling tender documents together.
- What doesn't
- The tasks where it lets you down, so you don't pay to find out the hard way.
- Where to start
- How to pick the one task in your own business that is worth trying first.
Part 2Being found when customers search with AI
Brand, SEO, GEO and AIO: how customers find businesses through ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI answers, and how to make sure they find yours.Read moreShow less
Customers are starting to ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Google's AI Overviews for a recommendation instead of scrolling through links. Ask for a good lettings agent in Bermondsey or an accountant near Canada Water, and one or two businesses get named. This part is about how you become one of them.
- BrandWhat AI says about you
- Assistants describe your business from what they can find: your name, reviews, listings and mentions elsewhere. When those agree, you are far easier to recommend.
- SEOSearch engine optimisation
- Still the foundation. AI answers lean on pages that search engines can find and trust, so the basics matter more, not less.
- GEOGenerative engine optimisation
- Making your website easy for AI assistants to read, understand and quote, so yours is the source they cite.
- AIOAI optimisation
- Checking what ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI actually say about your business, and fixing what's wrong at the source.
You'll see how to check what AI tools say about your business today, and which changes are worth making first.
Part 3 · Fireside chat with Dr Jonathan Ashong-LampteyThe people side: using AI safely
A fireside chat on client data, decisions you can explain and defend, and bringing a sceptical team with you.Read moreShow less
Jonathan, speaking for Coaley Peak, joins Ethan for a conversation about the human side of putting AI to work.
- Client data
- What should and shouldn't go into an AI tool, and how to keep your clients' information where it belongs.
- Decisions
- Using AI in ways you can explain and defend, to a client or to your own team.
- Your team
- Bringing a sceptical team with you, rather than leaving them behind.
Who it’s for
For owners and managers of local businesses
Whether you’re already using AI or just beginning to explore it, this is an evening of practical answers from people who put AI to work in real businesses. You don’t need any technical background.
Join fellow business owners from across Southwark and beyond for fireside chats, audience Q&A and networking, and leave knowing what is worth trying in your own business on Monday morning.
- Free to attend
- Plain English, no jargon
- No sales pitch
- Real questions from the room
- Meet other local businesses
How the evening runs
Wed 28 Oct, 6pm to 8:30pm
Doors 6pm, talk from 6:30pm.
- 6:00pmDoors openArrive, settle in and meet other local business owners.
- 6:30pmPart 1: Where AI saves time and moneyThe everyday jobs where AI earns its keep in a small business, and where it doesn't.
- ThenPart 2: Being found in AI searchBrand, SEO, GEO and AIO, in plain English.
- ThenPart 3: The people sideA fireside chat on using AI safely with client data and bringing your team with you.
- ThenYour questionsAudience Q&A, built from the questions you send when you book.
- ThenNetworkingDrinks and conversation with the speakers and the room.
- 8:30pmClose
Make it about your business
Bring us one real task
When you book, the form asks what you’d like to know about using AI in your business. Use it to tell us one job you’d like sorted, ideally something repetitive, like processing supplier invoices or pulling tender documents together. Or ask how your business shows up when someone searches for it with AI. The Q&A is built from what you send.
Speakers
Who you’ll hear from
Dr Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey
Speaking for Coaley Peak®
Joins Ethan for the fireside chat on the people side: using AI safely with client data, making decisions you can explain and defend, and bringing a sceptical team with you.
Background: Element of Inclusion
More speakers to be announced.
The venue
Foundervine Spaces
Three Deal Porters, 3 Deal Porters WayCanada Water, London SE16 7BB
A few steps from Canada Water station. Hosted in partnership with Foundervine, our venue partner for the evening.
- Tube and Overground: Canada Water station, a few steps away. Jubilee line and London Overground.
- Bus: Canada Water bus station, next to the station. Routes 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10 and P12.
Wednesday 28 October 2026
6pm to 8:30pm
Doors 6pm, talk from 6:30pm. Free, but please book ahead.
Good to know
Common questions
- Is it really free?
- Yes. There is no charge to attend. We ask everyone to book a place so we know how many people to expect.
- Do I need to know anything about AI?
- No. Whether you're already using AI or haven't tried it yet, the evening is in plain English with no jargon.
- Will you try to sell me something?
- No. The evening is about practical answers you can use straight away. If you want to talk about your own business afterwards, Ethan is happy to.
- I've booked but can't make it. What should I do?
- Please let Ethan know so we can offer your place to someone else.
Join us on 28 October
Save your free place
Wednesday 28 October 2026, 6pm to 8:30pm
Foundervine Spaces, 3 Deal Porters Way, Canada Water
In partnership with Foundervine, our venue partner. As seen on the Southwark Council email newsletter.