Meet our Award winners: Craig Hartzel of Hartz AI (Micro Business of the Year)

At this year’s Work Avenue Business Awards, we celebrated the incredible hard work, dedication and successes of the community’s businesses, charities and entrepreneurs.

Since then, we have been bringing you interviews with each of the winners – talking about their achievements, business insights and the support they have received from Work Avenue.

We continue the series with Craig Hartzel of Hartz AI, named Micro Business of the Year.

Can you tell us a little bit about Hartz AI and what you do? 

Hartz AI helps businesses grow and adapt to the future using AI – focusing on practical, hands-on solutions that drive immediate impact and long-term growth.

We offer three main services:

AI training: We teach teams how to use tools like ChatGPT and Co-pilot to improve marketing, customer service, and operations.

Custom AI solutions: We help businesses integrate AI into their existing workflows to boost efficiency.

AI-powered experts: We create custom AI bots that work alongside your team to enhance decision-making and streamline tasks.

We’re also launching two new products shortly:

Clarify: An AI platform that provides up-to-date compliance information for industries like property and construction.

AI Staff: A service that offers 24/7 access to AI experts for various business functions, along with training and support to maximise their potential.

When and how did you start the business?

I actually fell into this business last year when Work Avenue asked me to talk at one of their events about AI… and that’s how Hartz AI was born.

It all started when I used AI to turn around a struggling business. By replacing costly services with these tools, I cut expenses significantly. A £75 task from a graphic designer became a job done for pennies using AI.

This success led me to advocate for AI use in business. Work Avenue’s Jo Sadie invited me to speak on an AI panel and, following this, I ran a workshop for about 40 people.

This all sparked the official launch of Hartz AI.

Since then, we’ve grown rapidly. In less than a year, we’ve trained over 200 people and worked with multiple organisations. We’ve evolved from a chance discovery into a full-fledged business, helping others harness the power of AI to improve their operations and cut costs.

How have Work Avenue supported you? 

I’ve received tons of support from Work Avenue. Jo Sadie has been my business advice guru, and over time, she’s become a friend and mentor. Her guidance has been invaluable to me.

I’ve also benefited from the sounding boards hosted by Kim Davidson, which have given me a chance to bounce ideas around and refine my strategy. On top of that, I’ve facilitated several AI workshops and training sessions on behalf of Work Avenue.

Finally, a special shoutout to Yael Brodie, who helped turn a random inquiry into a fun and successful project, which you can check out here: https://youtu.be/u0M0vHzbTQk?si=d5gdAlk569DRb3vR.

How has that support helped your business?

The support from Work Avenue has been invaluable in shaping my business and helping it grow. Jo’s mentorship has guided me through key decisions, allowing me to refine my strategy and focus on the areas where AI can truly benefit businesses.

It’s not just the individuals, though – the entire team at Work Avenue has helped me in some way, from advice to connections, making sure I always had the resources I needed at each stage of growth. Facilitating workshops has not only expanded my skill set but also increased my visibility within the community.

Work Avenue is the most amazing organisation, where everyone is so supportive – from their team of advisers to the rest of the staff to the other members and clients. I would highly recommend them to anyone starting a business and looking for advice, support and/or a place to work.

How did you feel when winning the Work Avenue Business Award?

I felt so honoured and very proud, especially because my wife Tricia, daughter Sophia, and mum were there to see it. It was a special moment for me, and I was really happy that my daughter got to see her daddy win an award. Having my family there made it even more meaningful.

What would be your one tip for any other business owners reading this?

Never underestimate the power of speaking to people.

I’ve met so many wonderful people at Work Avenue. Some have become friends, and now our children even go on playdates together. Others have recommended me to their network, which has generated business for me.

So that’s my main advice – create your own luck, and a simple way to do that is just to smile, say hello, and see where it takes you.

Opportunities often come from the most unexpected places, but you have to be open to making those connections.