Automate Everyday Tasks with Python & AI

Automate repetitive office work with Python — spreadsheets, files, email prep, and scheduled tasks with AI-assisted scripting. Level: intermediate · Ideal for: Python Foundations graduates or confident Excel users 4-week in-person programme at Hanwell Community Centre, Westcott Crescent, London W7 1PD · 8 sessions · Europe/London timezone What you will achieve Automate CSV/Excel exports and produce summary reports. Batch-rename, move, and organise files with audited scripts. Schedule scripts safely on Windows or Linux. Combine Python with AI to draft transformations you verify and run locally. Deliver a capstone workflow that saves measurable time each week. What we cover Automation patterns Reading and writing CSV and Excel (openpyxl / pandas intro) Path handling with pathlib Logging and dry-run modes Reliability Idempotent scripts and rollback plans Task Scheduler / cron introductions Email-ready reports (HTML/text generation) AI for automation Describing transformations in plain English Generating script drafts you test on copies Documenting scripts for handover Course structure Phase 1 — Python refresh and tooling (Week 1 · 2 live sessions) Align on Python basics and set up a safe automation workspace. venv, requirements.txt, and project folders argparse for CLI flags (--dry-run) Logging to file vs console Deliverable: Starter automation repo layout. Phase 2 — Spreadsheet and CSV pipelines (Week 2 · 2 live sessions) Ingest exports, clean data, and output management summaries. pandas read_csv / to_excel basics Column normalisation and deduplication Pivot-style summaries for stakeholders Deliverable: Weekly sales/export report script. Phase 3 — File and folder automation (Week 3 · 2 live sessions) Organise downloads, invoices, or scans automatically. glob patterns and shutil operations Naming rules and conflict handling Archiving with date stamps Deliverable: Inbox-to-archive file organiser. Phase 4 — Capstone workflow (Week 4 · 2 live sessions) Design, test, and document an end-to-end automation for your workplace. Scoping ROI and failure modes Scheduling and monitoring Handover README and runbook Deliverable: Production-ready capstone script + schedule. Prerequisites Python Foundations course or equivalent (variables, loops, functions, files). Comfortable with Excel or CSV exports from your line-of-business system. Delivery Scripts run on your own PC or server — we do not host your data. Access to sample data provided; you may use anonymised real exports in the capstone. Full course details: https://nlcrc.co.uk/courses-python-automation-ai Location: Hanwell Community Centre, Westcott Crescent, London W7 1PD Bookings and enquiries: nlcrc.co.uk · 020 3393 0948