Get ahead with AI now to leapfrog the competition, because you know how to use machine learning to reduce customer churn, AI for product management, and GenAI to boost productivity. However, if you’re like 9 in 10 organisations who currently have a digital skills gap, you’re probably looking at hiring in talent. But that’s not always the smartest idea.
Right now, over half (56%) of organisations are paying a wage premium to recruit data and AI skills. And even though 58% of organisations are struggling to find candidates with the right skills, they would rather hire a candidate with some AI knowledge over one with none.
But what if you upskilled your existing employees?
Well, research shows upskilling could save you 70–92% on hiring costs, equivalent to an average of £36,084 per employee. Plus, you’ll reduce the likelihood of employee churn – in the last 12 months, 32% of employees said they changed jobs because their employer wasn’t offering enough upskilling and training opportunities.
Upskill Your Team With Data and AI Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are the perfect way to invest in employee training, which benefits your business. These programmes are designed to progress development at all stages of a career, focus on specific outcomes, and tailor lessons to your specific industry – and they can be funded via the Apprenticeship Levy.
When 90% of apprentices stay at their company after completing their programme, it’s the smarter way to upskill your talent cost-effectively, with skills that remain relevant to their role.
At Cambridge Spark, we set the gold standard in apprenticeships that build data and AI skills. Our training is delivered via live lectures, workshops, self-paced e-learning, and off-the-job training, with learners supported by our expert lecturers, technical mentors and professionally trained coaches. It means that from day 1 of their programme, learners are able to put their new skills into practice. Additionally, we grant access to our online learning platform, EDUKATE.AI, and invite candidates to join a community of 4,000+ learners and alumni.
Step Onto The Data & AI Practitioner Pathway
Our apprenticeship programmes are designed to cover everything, from basic data literacy skills through to deep technical expertise. If you’re serious about boosting your organisation’s data capabilities and driving digital transformation, our Data and AI Practitioner Pathway provides a well-defined route for internal talent development. So let’s take a look at what the Pathway covers:
Data Citizen (L3): Your employees will master the essential mindset, tools, and skills to move beyond basic spreadsheets and get hands-on with data in their daily work.
Data Analyst (L4): help your employees to leverage the analytics power of Python, SQL and introductory machine learning for actionable insights that grow your business.
Data Engineer (L5): advance your employees’ skills, so they understand the data engineering lifecycle and data modelling techniques, to create and maintain data analytics pipelines.
AI Engineer (L6): let your employees master the skills to operationalise machine learning, as well as build and deploy real-world AI products.
AI & Data Science (L7): equip your employees with machine learning and data science tools, techniques, and skills to deliver transformational projects that drive competitive advantage.
Secure Tangible Business Outcomes
To date, Cambridge Spark data and AI apprenticeships have generated £350m+ in ROI for our clients. The following are three examples of what that looks like in practice:
“It's arming our staff with skills for the future.”
Lawrence O'Sullivan, Workforce Development Lead, GOSH
Great Ormond Street Hospital is driving digital transformation through data and AI apprenticeship programmes that help develop talent, foster a data-driven culture, and improve patient care through more effective use of data.
“At any one time, there are 120 apprentices. And about 100 of those apprentices are upskilling or retraining - so we are offering degree-level programmes to all employees, not just those fresh out of university”
Abbie Simmonds, Head of Learning, Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic is future-proofing its workforce by embedding professional development into its core strategy, which secures data and AI skills in abundance across the organisation, while upholding the spirit of the Virgin brand: innovation, passion, positivity.
“We were taught by people who've run or worked in FTSE 100 companies, others who were biomedical scientists with a background in data science...people who have done this and understand the value of it and want to impress upon how valuable it is.”
Luke Kay, Data Analyst, Exertis
From capital improvements of £100s of millions within the supply chain, to saving several full-time equivalents across different teams, apprentices have been driving value at Exertis. And the creation of a hub-and-spoke model has amplified the company's data-driven decision-making capabilities.
What will Data and AI Apprenticeships do for Your Business?
To learn more about building technical data careers in your business, discover more about the Data and AI Practitioner Pathway by watching our webinar, ‘From Analyst to Engineer’, on-demand now
Alternatively, if you have specific questions about apprenticeships or would like to discuss the Data and AI Practitioner Pathway for your organisation, please get in touch – our team is always here and happy to help.