Turn AI ambition into confident leadership through practical strategy, governance, and delivery skills for real organisational impact.

Delivered in partnership with Teesside University, this AI Leadership short course series is designed for senior leaders responsible for strategy, governance, and transformation. Across focused modules, participants build practical capability to identify value, shape evidence-based AI strategies, make informed procurement decisions, and lead responsible deployment. The programme equips leaders to manage risks, ensure compliance, and drive sustainable organisational change, translating AI potential into measurable outcomes. 

Who is this programme for?

This programme is designed for experienced professionals in leadership roles who are progressing from setting direction to delivering measurable, organisation-wide AI impact.

  • Leaders responsible for strategy, investment decisions, and overseeing AI-related risk and governance
  • Individuals with the authority to drive technology-enabled change and influence senior stakeholders
  • Organisations seeking to move from AI exploration to structured, evidence-based implementation
  • Leaders aiming to strengthen capability in responsible adoption, procurement, and transformation delivery

What will they learn?

 Participants develop practical skills to identify and prioritise high-value AI opportunities aligned to business goals, build robust governance and procurement approaches to manage risk and ensure compliance, and lead effective delivery of AI-enabled transformation. The course also strengthens leaders’ ability to translate strategy into actionable roadmaps, engage stakeholders confidently, and oversee sustainable adoption that delivers measurable organisational outcomes. 

Short courses

1. AI strategy and opportunity

  • Focuses on helping senior leaders identify where AI can create value and develop a clear, evidence‑based strategy aligned to organisational goals, risk appetite and readiness.
  • It builds practical capability to evaluate AI opportunities, assess risks, and shape priority use cases and pilots to support informed investment and responsible adoption.

2. AI Adoption, Procurement & Governance

  • Focuses on helping leaders adopt AI effectively by evaluating solutions, making informed procurement decisions, and managing associated risks.
  • It builds practical capability to design governance and assurance frameworks, ensuring AI is implemented responsibly with appropriate ethical, legal and oversight controls.

3. AI Delivery & Transformation

  • Focuses on leading the delivery of AI-enabled organisational transformation, ensuring solutions are integrated effectively and aligned with long-term business objectives.
  • It builds practical capability to manage workforce impacts, monitor and mitigate risks, and ensure compliance, governance, and sustainable performance of deployed AI systems. 

Key facts

Level  
5
Qualification
Level 5 AI Leadership Apprenticeship Unit
Duration
30 hours per short course
Provider
Teesside University and Grant Thornton
Entry requirements
The apprentice must be employed in a relevant job role with agreement from their employer.
Schedule
30 hours over two weeks.
Delivery
Live online delivery
Assessment
Participants are assessed through a skills test at completion of course.
Fees and funding
£750 fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.

 Key benefits 

Accelerate Value-Driven Adoption

Accelerate your organisation’s shift from AI experimentation to structured, value-driven implementation with clear strategic direction.

Strengthen Governance and Control

Reduce risk and strengthen oversight through robust governance, procurement, and compliance practices embedded from the outset.

Deliver Measurable Transformation Impact

Deliver measurable business outcomes by equipping leaders to drive sustainable, organisation-wide AI transformation with confidence.