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Home › AI Apprenticeships › Leicester

AI Apprenticeships in Leicester

Leicester is the East Midlands' retail capital and a global leader in logistics and food manufacturing. From Next and Dunelm's city-centre headquarters to Walkers and Samworth Brothers, to Leicester City Council, TESS Group delivers levy-funded AI apprenticeships directly to Leicester teams.

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1,200+ Digital businesses in Leicester
£3.5bn Annual retail and distribution turnover
25,000+ Food and drink manufacturing jobs

Why Leicester Employers Are Investing in AI Skills

Leicester is the UK's retail capital and a powerhouse for manufacturing and logistics. Next PLC and Dunelm Group both have their global headquarters in the city, alongside Walkers, PepsiCo's Pringles factory, Samworth Brothers, and hundreds of logistics and distribution firms anchored around Fosse Park and the M1 corridor. The city is also home to Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals Leicester, and a strong public sector presence through Leicester City Council and regional government bodies.

But growth has intensified talent competition. Retail and e-commerce leaders need teams skilled in AI-powered merchandising, demand forecasting, and supply chain automation. Food and drink manufacturers require capabilities in quality analytics, process optimisation, and predictive maintenance. Healthcare organisations need AI literacy across clinical operations, workforce planning, and patient data management. Yet skilled AI practitioners remain scarce across the East Midlands, forcing many employers to either recruit from London or upskill their existing teams.

AI apprenticeships let Leicester employers develop that talent using funding they're already paying. Levy-paying employers (annual pay bill over £3 million) can use their existing levy pot. Smaller employers access 95% government co-funding, paying just 5% of training costs.

AI Apprenticeships for Every Leicester Sector

Leicester's economy is built on retail and e-commerce, food and drink manufacturing, logistics, public sector, and healthcare. Here's how AI apprenticeships apply across the city's key industries.

Retail & E-commerce

Next, Dunelm & Retail Leaders

Next PLC and Dunelm Group both headquartered in Leicester. AI apprenticeships help merchandising, supply chain, marketing, and operations teams use predictive analytics, automate inventory, personalise customer journeys, and optimise pricing and promotions.

Food & Drink Manufacturing

Walkers, PepsiCo & Samworth Brothers

Walkers' Leicester factory and Samworth Brothers' extensive food manufacturing presence. AI apprenticeships help production teams, quality managers, and supply chain leaders adopt predictive maintenance, process automation, and supply chain optimisation across food manufacturing.

Logistics & Distribution

Fosse Park & M1 Corridor Operations

Hundreds of logistics and distribution firms across Fosse Park, Leicester Business Park, and the wider East Midlands. AI apprenticeships equip operations managers with supply chain analytics, route optimisation, demand forecasting, and warehouse automation capabilities.

Healthcare

Leicester Royal Infirmary & NHS Trusts

University Hospitals Leicester and the wider NHS system. AI apprenticeships help clinical operations, administrative teams, and IT staff deploy AI across patient scheduling, diagnostics support, resource planning, and healthcare data analysis.

Public Sector

Leicester City Council & Government

Leicester City Council and regional government bodies. AI apprenticeships help administrators, policy teams, and service leaders deploy AI responsibly in citizen services, asset management, and public administration.

Tech & Creative

Digital Agencies & Tech Startups

Growing digital and creative sector across Leicester city centre. AI apprenticeships help digital agency teams, software developers, and creative professionals adopt AI-powered design, automation, and analytics tools.

Programmes Available to Leicester Employers

All six TESS AI apprenticeship programmes are available to employers in Leicester and across the East Midlands. Each one is delivered live and remotely, so your team trains from Fosse Park, the city centre, Leicester Business Park, or wherever they work.

Level 3

Data-Driven Team Leader

For first-line managers who need to use data and AI tools to make better decisions, improve team performance, and lead change.

Leicester fit: retail team leads, food production supervisors, logistics managers, NHS ward leaders
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Level 4

AI & Automation Practitioner

The core hands-on programme. Build, test, and deploy AI and automation solutions using Microsoft Copilot, Power Automate, or Google Workspace AI. No coding required.

Leicester fit: Next and Dunelm operations teams, logistics analysts, healthcare IT staff
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Level 4

AI for Leaders & Managers

Strategic AI capability for senior managers. Covers AI strategy, responsible deployment, change management, and building an AI-ready culture.

Leicester fit: Next and Dunelm directors, retail leadership, food manufacturing executives
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Level 4

AI for People Leaders

For HR, L&D, and people managers. Embed AI into recruitment, performance management, workforce planning, and employee engagement.

Leicester fit: Next and Dunelm HR teams, food manufacturing HR, public sector people teams
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Level 4

AI for Operations Leaders

Operational excellence through AI. Supply chain optimisation, process automation, quality improvement, and operational analytics.

Leicester fit: Walkers and food manufacturing operations, retail supply chain, logistics leaders
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Level 6

AI & ML Fellowship

Advanced programme for technical specialists. Machine learning engineering, neural networks, NLP, and responsible AI at scale.

Leicester fit: tech startups, digital agencies, advanced retail analytics teams
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4.9/5 Employer rating
Ofsted Good Latest inspection
15-18 months Typical programme length
Up to 5 Qualifications per programme

How We Deliver to Leicester

💻

Remote, Live Sessions

Interactive training via Zoom or Teams. Your team joins from their desks in Leicester city centre, Fosse Park, or the business park. No travel, no disruption to work.

🏢

At Your Premises

For employers who prefer face-to-face, we deliver at your Leicester offices. Same programme, same quality, in-person facilitation on-site.

🤝

Dedicated Coach

Every learner gets a dedicated skills coach who understands their role, their industry, and their goals. Regular 1-to-1 progress reviews throughout the apprenticeship.

Frequently Asked Questions from Leicester Employers

Can Leicester employers use the Apprenticeship Levy for AI training?

Yes. Any employer paying the Apprenticeship Levy (annual pay bill over £3 million) can use their existing levy funds for AI apprenticeships. This includes major Leicester employers like Next PLC, Dunelm Group, Walkers, and Samworth Brothers. TESS Group delivers remotely across Leicester and the East Midlands, so your team trains from your own offices. Non-levy employers access 95% government co-funding, paying just 5% of training costs.

Do I need a training provider based in Leicester?

No. Apprenticeship training can be delivered remotely by any ESFA-approved provider in England. TESS Group is Ofsted Good-rated and delivers live, interactive training to Leicester employers via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. There is no requirement for your provider to have a physical office in Leicester. What matters is the quality of training, the qualifications included, and the support your learners receive.

Which AI apprenticeship is best for Leicester's retail and e-commerce leaders?

For retail and e-commerce employers like Next, Dunelm, and their suppliers, the AI & Automation Level 4 (ST1512) is ideal. It covers merchandising analytics, inventory optimisation, customer personalisation, and supply chain automation. For leadership teams driving digital transformation, the AI for Leaders & Managers Level 4 builds strategic AI capability across retail operations and enterprise systems.

Can staff across multiple Leicester and East Midlands sites join the same cohort?

Absolutely. Because training is delivered live online, team members at Fosse Park, the city centre, Leicester Business Park, Beaumont Leys, and anywhere else in the East Midlands can join the same cohort. This also works for employers with teams spread across other UK regions.

What qualifications do Leicester apprentices receive?

Every TESS programme includes up to five qualifications: the apprenticeship standard itself, Microsoft Certifications (AI-900 or MS-900), NCFE Digital Qualifications, vendor-specific credentials (Google AI Essentials, Power Platform), and a portfolio of workplace evidence. Most competitors offer 0-1 additional certifications beyond the standard.

How quickly can we get started?

New cohorts start every 4-6 weeks. From initial enquiry to your first learner starting, the typical timeline is 2-4 weeks, depending on your internal sign-off process and DAS (Digital Apprenticeship Service) setup. We handle the ESFA paperwork and make the onboarding process as straightforward as possible.

How Do You Want to Start?

Whether you want to pilot with one or two people or roll out across a team, we'll build the right approach for your Leicester operation.

🧪

Start with a Pilot

Enrol 1-2 team members to test the programme before scaling. See the impact first-hand with minimal commitment.

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🚀

Roll Out Across Your Team

Enrol a cohort from across your Leicester operation. We'll tailor the programme to your sector and business goals.

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