Places now available on brand new AI Apprenticeship

Launched by the University of Salford in a collaboration between the Business School and computer science experts, the new AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship is designed to teach the skills and also the judgement organisations need to make the most of the opportunities offered by the new technology. A dedicated webinar has been set up so employers can find out more, which will take place on November 23.

 

The programme will give apprentices both the commercial lens and the technical expertise to help transform the businesses they work for. It is particularly well suited to organisations in public sector, regulated, or high-stakes environments where the cost of getting AI wrong is high, but equally to any employer that wants implementation that sticks rather than initiatives that stall.

 

The apprenticeship programme is designed to train practitioners who can identify where AI can deliver organisational value, consider the governance and ethical context, and implement AI solutions responsibly using low-code/no-code tools. No prior AI knowledge is required, and the programme is suitable for both early-career learners and those in established operational or project management roles seeking to lead AI adoption within their business area.

 

Government figures have suggested AI has the potential to add up to £400 billion to the UK economy by 2030, and research shows AI is making workers more valuable and productive, with AI skilled workers seeing an average 56% wage premium. But despite the potential, many businesses are struggling to harness the benefits effectively. The tools are everywhere. The capability to use them well is not, with common barriers being limited skills, ethical concerns and cost.

 

Professor Nic Beech, Vice Chancellor of the University of Salford helped launch the new programme. He said: “There can’t be an organisation that isn’t thinking about how AI will change their business. This programme is about developing people with the right skills to lead that change and participate in transforming the way organisations operate.

 

“Imagination and spark is vital too. There is a huge opportunity to use AI in a more thoughtful and ethical way for work in the coming years.

 

“This apprenticeship can be used by business to retrain current staff or people right at the start of their careers. The real value is in training people to make a real difference in your organisation and the whole world.”

 

Learners will be able to assess whether an AI solution is the right solution, implement it with appropriate governance, and measure whether it is actually delivering value. That combination of technical capability, business understanding, and critical evaluation is what the standard demands and what the market currently lacks.

 

The apprenticeship has been developed in consultation with major North West employers, including the BBC. For more information see the website: AI and Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship | University of Salford