AI Leader Apprenticeship (Level 5)
Equip your leaders with the skills to execute and manage your AI transformation

Learn how to deliver real business impact with AI in your organisation
35% revenue increase by optimising sales process and data
647 hours saved per year implementing new technologies
£120,000 saved by creating efficiencies
90% shorter project times achieved through automations
A programme built for business impact
The AI Leader Apprenticeship is a Levy-funded programme designed to upskill aspiring managers and leaders with the skills and capability to execute on your AI strategy.
Duration: 12 months, plus 3 months assessment
Price: £9,000, funded by the Apprenticeship Levy
Translate Vision into Action
Empowers managers to execute on your organisations AI strategy
Deliver Return on Investment from AI
Trains managers to identify and implement use cases that generate a return
Drive Responsible AI
Dedicated training in governance, risk and responsible use of AI.
Build AI Literacy
Builds applied AI literacy and decision-making skills aligned to operations and leadership.
What makes the programme special
We deliver a flexible, comprehensive learning experience that goes beyond traditional training, providing practical, immediately applicable skills that equip your team managers and leaders with the critical skills needed to navigate, champion, and lead AI transformation, ensuring your business stays ahead.
Personalised Learner Support
We provide each learner with a dedicated mentor and Learner Success Coach to support them on their technical and personal development. This personalised support structure helps learners to succeed and overcome obstacles they encounter.
Expert Curriculum
Our comprehensive curriculum develops skills for early success, blending foundational knowledge with practical, real-world application. This approach ensures learners grasp concepts and deliver measurable ROI within their organisations from module one.
MBA Style Delivery
The L5 AI Leader offers MBA-style learning, combining independent study, case studies, group projects and networking opportunities with specialised AI Masterclasses and interactive workshops. This ensures learners gain deep insights into AI's practical and strategic aspects, developing applicable leadership skills to effectively guide their organisations in the AI era.
AI Masterclasses
The L5 AI Leader is complemented by several AI Masterclasses, delving into subjects such as RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and Agentic AI. These sessions are specifically designed to provide learners with deeper insights into the practical and strategic aspects of AI.
Instant Feedback for Accelerated Learning
Cambridge Spark programmes benefit from the support of our AI powered learning & assessment platform, EDUKATE.AI, which provides instant feedback on quizzes and assignments, accelerating learning, while its built-in Knowledge Base fosters rich peer learning through a dedicated question forum.
AI Leaders Summit
Benefit from an exclusive in person Summit at a Cambridge college, featuring talks from leading academics, dynamic panel discussions, and unique cross-cohort networking opportunities. This provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge thought leadership and a prestigious learning environment.
Community
Gain access to a thriving community of thousands of data and AI professionals. Learners will have the invaluable opportunity to tap into this rich network of peers and alumni, enabling them to benefit directly from the diverse expertise and real-world experience of others in the field.
Peer to Peer Learning
Participate in peer-to-peer learning, engaging in mini group projects and collaborative tasks.
The Curriculum
Our industry-leading curriculum is continuously updated to reflect the latest advancements in AI. Developed by our expert faculty of industry practitioners and academics, the programme ensures you're always at the cutting edge of AI technology, from concept to deployment.
Core Modules
- AI Foundations
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Understand the fundamentals of AI technologies.
- Leading in the age of AI
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Develop leadership strategies for AI integration.
- AI-enhanced decision-making
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Improve decision-making processes with AI insights.
- People management and capability in AI environments
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Lead and develop teams in AI contexts.
- Operational excellence with AI
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Optimise operations using AI.
- AI and Customer experience (CX)
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Leverage AI to enhance customer interactions.
- Driving innovation and change
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Champion innovation and manage change with AI.
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance in AI-enabled operations
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Ensure responsible AI deployment.
- Strategic AI leadership and future readiness
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Develop long-term AI strategies and prepare for future trends.
Eligibility
The AI Leader Apprenticeship is ideal for organisations seeking to develop internal AI capability and AI transformation expertise.
Suitability of role
- Mid-level managers with operational responsibilities in any industry.
- Interested in AI transformation and eager to develop leadership skills.
- Involved in change management from an AI perspective.
- Working in or towards a management role that requires awareness of key AI concepts.
- This Apprenticeship utilises the L5 Operations Manager standard
Eligibility for funding
- No significant prior learning or experience in AI Leadership.
- Employed in England and resident in the UK or EEA for the last 3 years.
- Option to opt in / out of Functional Skills, depending on prior attainment of Level 2 / GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent) at grade C or above.
- Can commit to the minimum weekly hours off the job learning - required for the duration of the programme.
A real-world learning experience
EDUKATE.AI is our AI powered learning experience platform, which delivers a seamless experience in one place and accelerates learning and impact through real practice on real projects with immediate, personalised feedback.

Enquire now
Fill out the following form and we’ll contact you within one business day to discuss and answer any questions you have about the programme. We look forward to speaking with you.
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FAQs
What delivery options do you offer?
We tailor our delivery to your workforce needs. This ranges from independent, immersive e-learning supported by EDUKATE.AI through to tailored bootcamps, to our structured apprenticeship programmes.
Are you able to tailor the programme to the organisation and sector?
Yes. We work with our clients to contextualise our programmes to their organisation and sectors they operate in. We do this through bespoke assignments and guest lectures from industry experts. We also work with a range of partners to create bespoke programmes for sectors, such as health and journalism.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a long-term training commitment which seek to support people entering the workforce and upskill existing UK-based employees within an organisation, enabling employers to foster a workforce consisting of highly-skilled and highly-engaged talent.
What is the Apprenticeship Levy?
The UK government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy scheme in April 2017 as a way to drive investment in strengthening the country’s skills base.
All organisations with annual staff costs of over £3m have to pay 0.5% of their salary bill into a ring-fenced apprenticeship levy pot. The money is collected monthly via PAYE and can only be used for training on approved apprenticeship schemes (such as the Level 5 AI Leader Apprenticeship that we offer). Organisations must forfeit any levy funding left unspent for 24 months or more.
What if my organisation doesn't pay into the UK Apprenticeship Levy?
An organisation that doesn't pay into the levy can still qualify for government-funded apprenticeships for their staff. In fact, the UK government will sponsor 95% of the apprenticeship programme, leaving the organisation to invest the remaining 5%, provided that learners otherwise meet eligibility criteria.
What does "off-the-job training" mean?
Off-the-job training is defined as learning undertaken outside of the day-to-day work duties and during the apprentice’s normal working hours.
Our off-the-job training is delivered on a flexible basis and can be carried out at the apprentice’s place of work or home.
The 6 hours per week, minimum, off-the-job training provides learners with the time to focus and develop the required skills, knowledge and behaviours to complete the programme.
How much do managers need to be involved?
Managers will need to ensure apprentices achieve their planned off-the-job training hours and work on their project portfolio.
We also encourage managers to have regular one-to-one meetings with apprentices to catch up on how they are progressing and to join the apprentice and their coach for 30 minutes every 3-4 months for a general catch up about the programme.