ANS launches AI apprenticeship courses for managers

ANS has been approved to deliver the Level 5 AI Leadership Apprenticeship Unit through its ANS Academy and is launching a Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship.

The new programmes expand the Manchester-based digital transformation provider's training offer as demand grows for staff who can manage AI adoption within businesses. The Level 5 unit is aimed at leaders, managers and professionals responsible for setting AI strategy, while the Level 4 standard is designed for those leading automation and AI-driven change in teams or departments.

Department for Education approval makes ANS one of the first providers to offer the new Level 5 unit. The course will cover innovation management, governance and responsible AI implementation.

Apprenticeship units differ from traditional apprenticeship programmes in being shorter and more focused on specific skills. The format is intended to help learners gain specialist knowledge in a matter of weeks while fitting around existing roles.

The Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship has a broader operational focus. Its curriculum includes prompting, AI agents, quality management, governance, ethics and organisational change, and it is open to people in both technical and non-technical roles.

The expansion comes as employers face pressure to move AI projects from trials into routine business use while managing governance and oversight. Training providers and technology companies have increasingly focused on the skills gap that can slow adoption, particularly among managers expected to make decisions on risk, process changes and responsible use.

ANS said the programmes form part of its wider strategy to help organisations embed AI in workflows and change how teams operate. It links that approach to what it calls "Frontier Firm" ways of working, where AI is integrated into day-to-day processes rather than treated as a stand-alone experiment.

The academy has become a prominent part of that strategy. Earlier this year, ANS said it became the first apprenticeship provider to achieve a "strong standard" across all categories under Ofsted's new inspection framework.

Toria Walters outlined the reasoning behind the new courses.

"As AI moves from experimentation into everyday business operations, organisations need people with the skills to adopt it strategically and responsibly at scale. Expanding our Academy offering with these programmes is an important part of how we support that transition.

"They have been designed to make AI skills development far more accessible and practical for organisations at every stage of their AI journey. Together, they provide a flexible pathway for organisations looking to build confidence and capability around AI quickly and responsibly," said Toria Walters, chief people officer at ANS.

The training is intended for both ANS's own workforce and other organisations looking to build internal AI expertise. That reflects a wider market shift as companies seek formal training routes for staff beyond specialist data science or engineering teams.

ANS has also strengthened its ties with Microsoft as it builds its AI advisory and implementation work. Earlier this year, the company said it became one of the UK's first Microsoft Frontier Partners after being named Microsoft UK Partner of the Year.

Richard Thompson said the courses are intended to address organisational barriers that go beyond access to software.

"At ANS, we talk about becoming a Frontier Firm - organisations that embed AI across workflows to augment people, improve productivity and unlock new ways of working.

"But achieving that transformation requires more than access to technology alone. The right skills, governance and leadership capabilities are needed to embed AI effectively, and these programmes will be an important part of helping businesses build that foundation with confidence," said Thompson.

The move also aligns with broader government attention on apprenticeships and workforce development as AI becomes a larger part of economic policy and business planning. For employers, shorter, targeted courses may be easier to adopt than longer programmes when they need to train managers and operational staff without taking them away from day-to-day roles for extended periods.

Both programmes are now open for registrations of interest, with enrolment for organisational cohorts planned at a later date.