Payback argument directly from ChatGPT
1-Day to 1-Week Payback: Justification
Benefit Area | Time Saved | Value Created |
Email Drafting & Polishing | Save 30–60 mins/day | Equivalent to £15–£60/day (based on salary/hour) |
Document Creation (reports, summaries) | Save 1–2 hrs/week or more | Saves billable time or reduces admin backlog |
Data Analysis / Excel Formula Help | Save 1–2 hrs/week | Reduces dependency on others or long troubleshooting |
Brainstorming / Planning Support | Save 1+ hr on presentations, projects | Faster turnaround = earlier delivery or approval |
Customer/HR responses or templates | Save 15–45 mins per case | Speeds up customer service or employee support |
📊 Example: Mid-Level Employee
Typical salary range:
- £30,000–£45,000 per year
- Based on ~220 working days/year:
- £30,000 ÷ 220 ≈ £136/day
- £45,000 ÷ 220 ≈ £205/day
➡️ So the typical cost to the employer per day (salary only) is around £120–£180+, depending on role seniority and benefits.
⏱️ Time Saved with ChatGPT:
If a trainee saves just 1–2 hours/day:
- At £20–£30/hour value (conservative estimate), that’s £20–£60/day saved.
- Over 1–2 days, the £120 course cost is repaid in time value alone.
If they create just one key document faster, automate a repetitive task, or respond to emails more efficiently, that could already equal or exceed the course cost.
✅ Conclusion:
Yes — for public sector and mid-level employees, a 1-day payback is realistic based on:
- Day rate cost to employer
- Time savings
- Immediate usability of ChatGPT post-course