ANS is expanding its AI training offer with two new apprenticeship programmes aimed at building leadership and operational capability across organisations. The digital transformation provider said it has been approved by the Department for Education as one of the first providers to deliver the new Level 5 AI Leadership Apprenticeship Unit through ANS Academy.
Alongside that programme, ANS Academy is launching the Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship standard. The Level 5 unit is designed for leaders, managers, and professionals responsible for shaping AI adoption strategies, while the Level 4 standard is aimed at people leading automation and AI-driven change within teams or departments, whether in technical or non-technical roles.
Between them, the two programmes cover areas including innovation management, governance, responsible AI implementation, prompting, AI agents, ethics, quality management, and organisational change. ANS said the shorter apprenticeship unit format is intended to make specialist skills easier to access, with targeted learning that can be completed in weeks rather than through a longer-term apprenticeship structure.
The launch adds to a growing focus on structured AI capability inside organisations, particularly as adoption shifts from experimentation to day-to-day use. ANS said the programmes are fully funded and designed to fit around existing roles, which it sees as a more practical route for employers building AI confidence and governance into live operations.
Toria Walters, Chief People Officer at ANS, said: “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.”
Richard Thompson, CEO at ANS, said: “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 required to embed AI effectively, and these programmes are going to be an important part of helping businesses build that foundation with confidence.”
Registrations of interest are open through ANS Academy, with cohort enrolment planned for Q3/Q4 2026.
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