AI apprenticeships for SMEs
You do not pay the apprenticeship levy, so you might assume AI apprenticeships are not for you. The opposite is true: the government funds most, and often all, of the cost. Here is exactly how AI apprenticeships work for smaller employers, and what they cost you.
Can a small business get an AI apprenticeship?
For a smaller business, this is a genuine edge. AI lets a lean team do the work of a much larger one, and an apprenticeship turns one of your existing people into the person who builds it, without the cost of hiring a scarce AI specialist.
What an AI apprenticeship costs an SME
So for many SMEs the real cost of a full AI & Automation apprenticeship is little or nothing. Check your exact numbers with the Levy Maximiser, or read the full funding detail.
How it works for a smaller employer
- No levy account hassle. You do not need a pay bill over £3m or a complex setup. We guide you through the simple steps to access government funding.
- Pick an existing employee. AI apprenticeships work brilliantly for upskilling current staff in any department, not just new hires or IT.
- We handle the heavy lifting. Enrolment, the apprenticeship service, and the paperwork, we set it up so you can focus on the business.
- They train while they work. Your apprentice builds real AI skills against your real work over the programme, with coaching throughout.
- You get working capability. By the end you have a person who can build AI into your processes, and the output to show for it.
Why SMEs should not wait
AI adoption is climbing fast among UK SMEs, but capability is not keeping up: 97% of organisations report an AI skills gap and two in three employees have had no formal AI training. For a smaller business, that gap is also an opportunity, the SMEs that build real AI skills now will outpace competitors still stuck at "we have the tools but nobody really uses them". See the full picture in the AI Adoption Index.
Frequently asked questions
Can SMEs that do not pay the levy get AI apprenticeships?
Yes. Non-levy employers access government funding for AI apprenticeships. For staff aged 25 and over you contribute about 5% (around £900 on an £18,000 Level 4); from August 2026, apprentices under 25 are 100% government funded, so you pay nothing for the training.
How much does an AI apprenticeship cost a small business?
Often little or nothing. Under-25 apprentices are fully funded from August 2026, and for staff 25 and over you pay roughly 5%, about £900 on a £18,000 Level 4. There is also a £2,000 payment from October 2026 for taking on a new 16 to 24 apprentice.
Do we need to be a certain size?
No. AI apprenticeships are designed for employers of all sizes, including very small businesses. You do not need a large pay bill or a levy account, we guide you through the simple route to government funding.
Can we put an existing employee through it?
Yes, and most SMEs do. AI apprenticeships are ideal for upskilling current staff in any department, turning someone who already knows your business into the person who can build AI into it.
How do we get started?
Book a short call. We will confirm your funding, help you choose the right person and programme, and handle the enrolment and paperwork so it is straightforward for you.
Build serious AI skills, at SME prices
Find out exactly what a fully or mostly funded AI apprenticeship would cost your business, and which of your people it suits.
Funding figures are for general guidance and depend on your circumstances and current Skills England rules. We confirm your exact position on a call.
Last updated: 19 June 2026