April 2026 sees the roll out of a new artificial intelligence apprenticeship which, says the government, will go some way to closing the UK’s wide digital skills gap.
Open to all employers, the level 4 AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship standard is among several new training initiatives designed to upskill millions of people in the safe and effective use of AI.
According to the UK government some 7.3 million workers in Britain don’t currently have essential digital skills, despite most industry sectors looking to embed AI into their systems, operations and processes. Research has shown that AI has the potential to boost the UK economy by up to £400 billion by 2030, with the number of jobs which use AI set to increase to 3.9 million by 2035. To put that figure into perspective – and illustrate the rapid pace of change – in 2024 just 158,000 jobs directly involved AI activities.
Launching the new digital skills programmes, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our economy, and I am determined that young people across the country are equipped to seize the opportunities it brings. That means investing in the skills and training that will define the jobs of the future. Through our apprenticeship reforms, we are creating genuine pathways into the high skilled, high growth industries that AI is creating – so that a young person’s chances are not determined by their background or where they grew up. The fourth industrial revolution is already underway – our job is to make sure Britain is ready for it.”
The new AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship
The main aim of this apprenticeship is to help employers enhance their productivity by streamlining processes, and support continuous improvement through the responsible use of automation, integration, and AI tools.
Apprentices will learn how to use AI to address inefficiencies in existing systems, solving real-world challenges that slow down operations, such as manual and duplicated data entry. Working with internal teams and, potentially external suppliers, they will be tasked with identifying opportunities to improve workflow through digital solutions – playing a key role in unlocking time and cost savings and enhancing accuracy and efficiency. They will achieve this by, for example, learning how to apply AI to add value, such as through utilising chatbots, summarisation and automation platforms.
Taking 18 months to gateway, this apprenticeship attracts maximum funding of £18,000. More than 70 training providers are already offering the course, including several colleges and universities as well as specialist digital training organisations. Underlining the value of digital skills to every sector, employers from industries as diverse as construction, printing and catering, not just IT, were involved in creating the standard.
Early uptake of the programme is encouraging. Crispin Read, chief executive and founder of The Coders Guild, a training provider delivering the apprenticeship, said: “We’ve got 12 apprentices starting this month, with a lot more in the pipeline, and the interest and need is the highest we’ve ever experienced. What excites me most is the potential this creates. People bringing real domain knowledge – understanding of a business, an industry, a customer – and adding serious technical capability. AI and automation skills combined with industry experience is a powerful combination, and for SMEs in particular, that’s a genuinely exciting prospect.”
Once qualified, AI and automation practitioners can progress into roles such as data engineer and AI data specialist.
The new apprenticeship is part of a broader government AI skill training offer, which includes the introduction of much shorter workplace based apprenticeship units. Taking between one and 16 weeks to complete, these programmes are designed to deliver the knowledge and skills adult employees need in a targeted area.
Additionally, at the beginning of this year, Skills England, along with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, launched the AI Skills Boost programme, a free course designed to upskill 10 million adult workers in AI.
How Onefile can help employers boost workplace digital skills
As the leading learner management platform, Onefile as you’d expect, was an early adopter of AI, with artificial intelligence seamlessly integrated into our raft of digital tools. For example, Onefile Engage draws upon AI-powered insights to analyse apprenticeship data and predict learning outcomes.
And, as a major player in the Edtech space, we welcome new digital programmes such as the new apprenticeship, which allow employers, training providers and learners to harness and deploy AI’s capabilities.
AI is here to stay and those employers who don’t upskill their workforce to take advantage of it will be left behind. To fully support apprentices on the new AI course – and those learners on other shorter digital programmes – you’ll need a great learner management system. Contact Onefile today for a discovery call.