★ Ofsted Good · Microsoft AI Industry Leader

The UK's specialist AI apprenticeship provider

TESS Group designs, delivers, and assesses AI and automation apprenticeships from Level 3 to Level 6. Employers choose us because we are AI-first, levy-fluent, and rated Good by Ofsted. Learners choose us because we deliver the qualifications employers actually value.

★ 4.9/5 from 689 reviews 🏆 59% distinction rate 💼 94% 2-year retention 📍 Delivering nationwide
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Answer

TESS Group is a leading UK AI apprenticeship provider. We are rated Ofsted Good, recognised as a Microsoft AI Industry Leader, hold a 4.9/5 learner rating from 689 reviews, and achieve a 59 percent distinction rate at End Point Assessment. We deliver AI and automation apprenticeships from Level 3 through Level 6 and are listed on the DfE Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. Our specialism is AI: the whole curriculum, coach panel, and assessment pathway are built around it.

Credentials that matter to employers

When you commit levy to a training provider you want evidence they can deliver. Here is the credential stack TESS brings to every cohort.

🎯

Ofsted Good

Formally inspected and rated Good by the official English education inspectorate.

💻

Microsoft AI Industry Leader

Recognised Microsoft AI partner. Learners gain Microsoft AI certifications alongside their apprenticeship.

📋

DfE RoATP

On the Department for Education Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. Levy-drawable.

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CMI, ILM, BCS, CIPD

Approved centre for all four chartered bodies. Professional membership included in most programmes.

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4.9/5 from 689 reviews

Verified learner and employer feedback, publicly available on Trustpilot and Google.

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59% distinction rate

Well above the national average at End Point Assessment, across all AI apprenticeship levels.

689Verified reviews
4.9Average rating
59%Distinction rate
94%2-yr retention

Why choose a specialist AI provider

Most levy-approved providers list AI apprenticeships. Very few are built around AI from the ground up. Here is what that difference looks like in practice.

Capability
TESS Group
Generalist provider
Curriculum design
Built around AI, automation, and data workflows
Generic management or IT curriculum, AI bolted on
Microsoft AI certifications
Embedded in programme, no extra cost
Typically paid add-on or not offered
Coach panel
Practitioners from AI, automation, and data roles
Generalist coaches, often with no AI delivery experience
EPA preparation
AI-specific EPA workshops, mock assessments, 1-1 prep
Generic EPA templates applied across programmes
Employer reporting
Monthly dashboards on progress, KSBs, and skills applied
Quarterly summaries, often learner-count only
AI apprenticeship levels
L3, L4, L5, L6 - full progression pathway
Usually 1 to 2 levels, no progression design

AI apprenticeships TESS delivers

Every programme below is fully fundable through the DfE Growth and Skills Levy. Every programme includes Microsoft AI certifications, chartered body membership, and End Point Assessment support.

Level 3 · 12 months

Data-Driven Team Leader

AI-powered leadership foundations. Microsoft AI-900, data confidence, and automation awareness for first-line managers.

Programme details →
Level 4 · ST1512 · 15 months

AI & Automation Practitioner

The DfE AI apprenticeship standard. Build, deploy, and govern AI and automation solutions. Microsoft AI-102 included.

Programme details →
Level 4 · 15 months

AI People Leaders

People and HR leaders who need AI literacy, governance, and change capability to lead AI-adopting teams.

Programme details →
Level 4 · 15 months

AI Operations Leaders

Ops and service leaders deploying AI to lift productivity, quality, and throughput across operational teams.

Programme details →
Level 5 · 12 months

AI Leadership Unit

Senior leader unit for executives shaping AI strategy, governance, and adoption across the enterprise.

Programme details →
Level 6 · ST1398 · 24 months

AI & Machine Learning Fellowship

Graduate-level AI fellowship. Build, evaluate, and deploy machine learning systems in production environments.

Programme details →

How do you want to start?

Whether you are an employer planning a cohort or a professional exploring the right AI apprenticeship for your career, we will route you to the right conversation.

I am an employer

Plan a cohort

Model your levy position, design a cohort structure, see an indicative start date. 20-minute call, no commitment.

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I am a learner

Find my pathway

Compare AI apprenticeships by level, role, and outcome. See which fits your current role and career trajectory.

Learner pathways →

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from employers and heads of L&D evaluating AI apprenticeship providers.

What makes an AI apprenticeship provider different to a generalist?
Specialist AI providers design their full curriculum, coach panel, and assessment routes around artificial intelligence and automation. TESS Group runs Microsoft AI certification pathways, real-world automation projects, and AI-specific EPA preparation across Levels 3 to 6. A generalist provider typically rebadges a general management or IT apprenticeship with AI content added on.
Is TESS Group rated by Ofsted?
Yes. TESS Group is rated Good by Ofsted, the official inspectorate for education and training providers in England. The rating applies to leadership, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and apprenticeship provision.
How is TESS recognised by Microsoft?
TESS Group is a Microsoft AI Industry Leader and delivers Microsoft AI certification pathways, including AI-900, AI-102, and Copilot-focused tracks, as part of the apprenticeship. Learners gain industry credentials alongside their qualification without additional fees.
Is TESS on the RoATP?
Yes. TESS Group is on the Department for Education Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. Only providers on the RoATP can draw down levy funding on behalf of employers, so this is a baseline requirement.
What results do TESS apprentices actually achieve?
TESS apprentices achieve a 59 percent distinction rate at End Point Assessment, well above the national average. Learner satisfaction is 4.9 out of 5 from 689 reviews. Employer retention of TESS-trained staff sits at 94 percent two years post-completion.
Can you deliver nationwide?
Yes. TESS Group delivers AI apprenticeships nationwide across England. Learners are on programme in every English region. Delivery formats include remote live sessions, on-site workshops, and blended models - chosen with the employer to fit shift patterns and site coverage.
How quickly can a cohort start?
From an approved levy position, most cohorts can start within 4 to 6 weeks of signed agreement. Smaller bespoke cohorts can be stood up faster. Enrolment, safeguarding checks, and the initial skills scan complete before the first teaching session.
Do you work with SMEs that do not pay the levy?
Yes. SMEs pay a 5 percent co-investment and the DfE funds the remaining 95 percent. For SMEs with fewer than 50 employees training a 16 to 21-year-old, the government covers 100 percent. We guide SMEs through the Digital Account setup on enrolment.

See why employers pick a specialist AI provider

A 20-minute discovery call shows you what an AI apprenticeship cohort would look like inside your organisation, your levy position included.

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