Close the digital skills gap holding back millions of workers with AI apprenticeships

The new apprenticeship scheme will help businesses and their employees get the most out of amazing new and emerging AI technologies.

Skills England has worked with employers to design and develop apprenticeships for AI and automation practitioners.

Apprentices will learn how to identify where AI and automation can save time, reduce costs, and improve performance. They focus on solving real-world problems that slow down an organization, such as duplicate data entry or unnecessarily repeated manual processes. Many companies use multiple digital tools that don’t communicate with each other. AI and automation experts can help integrate these systems.

In addition to this, apprentices will learn how to use AI in a safe and responsible manner. This includes protecting sensitive data, avoiding bias, and complying with regulatory requirements.

The introduction of AI could boost the UK economy by up to £400bn by 2030 through innovation and improved workplace productivity. However, while predictions show that jobs directly related to AI activities could rise from 158,000 in 2024 to 3.9 million by 2035, research by academic Dr Nisreen Amin, supported by Skills England, found significant challenges in upskilling employers.

This new Level 4 apprenticeship is now available to all employers, regardless of what sector they work in. The first batch of apprentices will start on the 18-month program this month.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our economy, and I am confident that young people across the country are ready to seize the opportunities it brings. That means investing in the skills and training that will define the jobs of the future. Through apprenticeship reform, we are creating a real pathway to high-growth industries with advanced skills powered by AI, and ensuring young people’s opportunities are no longer determined by their background or where they grew up. The fourth industrial revolution is already underway. Our job is to ensure that the UK is ready for it.

Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI, said:

AI offers many possibilities to grow economies, create new opportunities for people, and help businesses increase productivity. This can only be achieved if businesses, large and small, have the necessary skills to embrace and get the most out of AI. Through our AI Skills Boost initiative, which aims to upskill 10 million workers in key AI skills by 2030, and new AI apprenticeship schemes like this, we are ensuring our people have the skills they need to effectively embrace AI and make the UK an AI leader.

The new apprenticeships are part of a wider and much improved AI skills training offer, which includes new apprenticeships announced today. Apprenticeship units are short programs lasting between 1 and 16 weeks for adults in the workplace. It provides you with the knowledge and skills you need in your subject area, making it ideal for quickly addressing specific skills gaps.

Skills England has also worked with leading technology companies to ensure courses selected for the AI ​​Skills Boost program launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in January deliver the right level of quality and competency.

All adults in the UK will be eligible to take these courses for free, to support the government’s commitment to provide 10 million workers with the necessary AI skills by 2030. Additionally, everyone who completes a course that has been successfully matched against Skills England’s Work Skills Benchmark will receive a digital badge to show what they have learned.

Phil Smith, chair of Skills England and co-chair of the government’s Digital Skills Council, said:

AI is advancing at an incredible pace, and everyone can benefit if we train our people to maximize productivity gains in a responsible manner. Skills England has been working quickly with employers to ensure this new apprenticeship scheme and wider AI skills offer delivers what businesses need right now. I want to encourage businesses across the country to take on apprentices or enroll on courses.

The group of employers who advised on the skills required for new apprentices reflected a wide range of sectors and included many small and medium-sized enterprises.

Crispin Reid, CEO and founder of apprenticeship training provider Coders Guild, said:

With 12 apprentices joining us this month and more on the way, interest and need is at an all-time high. What excites me most is the possibilities this creates. People bring real expertise, including an understanding of the business, industry, and customers, and add serious technical capabilities. Combining AI and automation skills with industry experience is a powerful combination, and especially for small businesses, this is a truly exciting prospect.

Essex Recovery Foundation trains its staff through an apprenticeship scheme. Laurence Hickmott, CEO of the company, said:

Our charity work amplifies the voices of people affected by addiction to shape better recovery services across Essex. So much of what we do relies on listening, connecting, and influencing, and we can see how AI can enhance that work. We’re a small team with a big mission, so we need to support our people with the skills to make the biggest difference. We felt that the AI ​​and Automation Apprenticeship was a perfect fit for us.

Toby Jones, who works at Visit Somerset and was one of the first to start an apprenticeship, said:

I’m a big believer in the idea of ​​”trying to learn,” and new AI apprenticeships are right around the corner. I work in the field of marketing and I recognize that AI needs to be an important part of the profession. Therefore, becoming a trained professional can be very helpful. It’s really good to be ahead of the curve.

For more information on how to recruit an apprentice, see Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation Practitioner (Level 4) Training Provider.