Grant Thornton UK and Teesside University launch complete AI learning offering for businesses
Grant Thornton UK and Teesside University have today launched two new Levy-funded apprenticeships completing a full AI capability training offering. The launch follows the existing AI & Digital Skills for Business Impact programme and responds to growing demand from organisations seeking structured, practical ways to build AI capability in-house.
Businesses are increasingly clear on the potential of AI and automation, but many are still working out how to build the internal capability to act on it. The challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI – it is finding, developing and deploying the right people to do it effectively at every level.
Taken together, the three cover distinct workstreams across the business:
- AI & Digital Skills for Business Impact – a Level 4 apprenticeship for non-technical roles across operations, finance, customer support, project teams and change functions. Participants develop skills to identify business needs and drive process improvements in their area. Already live.
- AI & Automation Practitioner – a new Level 4 apprenticeship for technical teams, automation specialists and innovation leads. Participants learn to design, build and deploy AI and automation solutions using low- and no-code tools, systems integration, prompt engineering and data analytics – within robust governance and risk frameworks.
- AI Leadership Units – new 30-hour units for senior leaders including C-suite, Directors and Associate Directors. Focused on AI strategy, governance and investment decision-making, these units are designed for leaders who need working knowledge of AI to lead transformation effectively – not to build solutions themselves.
All three offerings have been developed with Teesside University, an Ofsted Outstanding apprenticeship provider. The AI & Automation Practitioner and AI & Digital Skills apprenticeships run over 12 months, with one day per week allocated to programme activity, followed by a six-month assessment period. The AI Leadership Units run as standalone 30-hour modules. All are fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.
The technical apprenticeship curriculum has been designed around real business environments. Participants develop skills in workflow automation, low- and no-code tools, systems integration, prompt engineering, data intelligence and change management, with responsible AI practices embedded throughout.
Ruth Walsh, Talent Solutions Partner at Grant Thornton UK, said:
"Organisations are moving beyond asking whether to adopt AI to how to make it work – safely and responsibly. One pattern we're seeing is at board and leadership level: many organisations don't yet have the AI ethics and governance frameworks to match their ambition. This offering builds that capability, alongside the practical skills to implement and invest well.
"Participants will learn how to identify high-value AI opportunities, connect fragmented systems and design workflows that improve performance and customer outcomes – with stakeholder engagement built in as transformation is as much about people as it is about technology."
The launch builds on Grant Thornton UK’s recently announced GT Augment framework and the firm’s own leadership in AI adoption, including becoming one of the first major accountancy firms to embed generative AI across its entire workforce. That experience shapes a practical, people-led approach to helping organisations turn AI ambition into action.
Grant Thornton UK's Talent Solutions team works with clients across sectors to develop Apprenticeship Levy-funded programmes that build capability in areas including digital transformation, operational improvement and emerging technologies.
Further information is available here.