ST1512 · Level 4 · 12 + 3 EPA 100% Levy Funded £18,000 funded No coding
The flagship AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship.

AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship, for every department.

Turn your team into in-house AI practitioners. They'll learn to use Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini safely, then design, build and maintain the AI agents that take real work off the team. 12 months plus a 3-month EPA. No coding. 100% levy-funded at £18,000.

Ofsted Good Provider 4.9/5 · 690 reviews 72% Distinction Rate
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Hands-on with the platforms shaping business today

Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot
AI across M365, Word, Excel, Teams
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
OpenAI flagship, drafting, analysis
Claude
Claude
Anthropic, deep reasoning
Gemini
Gemini
Google multimodal AI, Workspace
Power Automate
Power Automate
Microsoft no-code workflows
Zapier
Zapier
Connect 6,000+ apps, no-code
Make
Make
Visual scenario builder
Perplexity
Perplexity
AI research with cited sources
Copilot Studio
Copilot Studio
Build custom AI agents
NotebookLM
NotebookLM
Google knowledge-base AI
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot
AI across M365, Word, Excel, Teams
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
OpenAI flagship, drafting, analysis
Claude
Claude
Anthropic, deep reasoning
Gemini
Gemini
Google multimodal AI, Workspace
Power Automate
Power Automate
Microsoft no-code workflows
Zapier
Zapier
Connect 6,000+ apps, no-code
Make
Make
Visual scenario builder
Perplexity
Perplexity
AI research with cited sources
Copilot Studio
Copilot Studio
Build custom AI agents
NotebookLM
NotebookLM
Google knowledge-base AI
AppSheet
AppSheet
Google no-code app builder
n8n
n8n
Self-hostable workflow automation
Notion AI
Notion AI
AI inside your knowledge base
Power BI
Power BI
Live dashboards from team data
UiPath
UiPath
Enterprise RPA & bots
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot
AI pair-programmer
ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs
Voice AI & audio generation
Midjourney
Midjourney
Image generation for marketing
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly
Generative design built-in
AppSheet
AppSheet
Google no-code app builder
n8n
n8n
Self-hostable workflow automation
Notion AI
Notion AI
AI inside your knowledge base
Power BI
Power BI
Live dashboards from team data
UiPath
UiPath
Enterprise RPA & bots
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot
AI pair-programmer
ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs
Voice AI & audio generation
Midjourney
Midjourney
Image generation for marketing
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly
Generative design built-in

And more: Lovable · Cursor · Otter.ai · Synthesia · Jasper · we update the toolkit as the AI landscape shifts.

What is the AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship? The AI & Automation Practitioner (ST1512) is a Level 4 apprenticeship delivered over 12 months of live online learning plus a 3-month BCS End-Point Assessment window that teaches non-technical professionals to use AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Power Automate, and to design, build, test and maintain AI agents in no-code platforms, without writing code. It is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy (up to £18,000) and includes up to 5 qualifications. Delivered by TESS Group, an Ofsted Good provider rated 4.9/5 from 690+ Google reviews.
How you can run it

Three ways to run AI & Automation L4.

Join an open cohort, bring a small team on a hybrid cohort, or run it fully private for a larger group — same ST1512 standard and £18,000 funding band, whichever route you choose. No premium for tailoring.

Open cohort
Best for 1–2 people
  • ✓  Live on Zoom alongside leaders from other organisations
  • ✓  Monthly intakes — start within ~4 weeks
  • ✓  Network and learn from peers across industries
Book the next intake →
★ Most popular · best of both
Hybrid cohort
Best for small teams (~3–7)
  • ✓  Your group joins an open cohort — so they still network and learn alongside other businesses
  • ✓  Plus private quarterly sessions, focused only on your team, to bed the learning into your business
  • ✓  The best of both: outside perspective and internal focus
Talk about a Hybrid cohort →
Closed cohort
Best for larger teams (8+)
  • ✓  Fully private and tailored — your format (half-days or full days)
  • ✓  Your tools, your use cases, your sponsor in the room
  • ✓  In-person delivery option for single-site teams
Plan a closed cohort →
At a glance

The flagship AI apprenticeship, by the numbers.

3–5
Accredited qualifications
BCS · Microsoft · NCFE · Google
12+3
Months delivery + EPA
Or 8-Month Fast-Track + EPA
0
Lines of code required
No-code platforms throughout
£18k
Levy funded, 100%
95% co-funded for non-levy SMEs
72%
Distinction rate
UK national average 33%
4.9/5
690+ Google reviews
Ofsted Good · 1 of 37 approved
Qualifications stack

Up to five accredited qualifications. All bundled, all funded.

Industry-recognised credentials from Microsoft, BCS and NCFE. Three are standard for every delegate. Two are optional — take one, the other, or both. All five sit inside the £18,000 levy band.

Standard

Copilot AB-730

Microsoft Applied Skills credential. The platform most UK enterprises already pay for.

More detail
What's covered
  • Building AI prompts that produce reliable, on-brand outputs
  • Working with Copilot inside Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams & PowerPoint
  • Designing AI workflows across the Microsoft 365 stack
  • Responsible AI: governance, data protection, prompt security
Key features
  • Microsoft's globally-recognised Applied Skills credential
  • Verified through a scenario-based lab assessment
  • Displays as a verified badge on LinkedIn & CV
  • Lifetime certification, no renewal fee
Business benefit

Connects your apprentice directly to the platform you already license. Their fluency translates to immediate ROI across every Microsoft 365 seat in the business.

Standard

Foundation Cert in AI

Chartered Institute for IT. Awarded by the same body running the End-Point Assessment.

More detail
What's covered
  • Foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Real-world AI applications across business functions
  • The future of AI: agentic systems, multi-modal AI, RAG
  • Ethical AI, bias, transparency and governance
Key features
  • From BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT — the UK's professional body for IT
  • The same organisation that runs the ST1512 End-Point Assessment
  • Sat as a multiple-choice exam — pass rate >90% at TESS
  • Chartered, lifetime, portable credential
Business benefit

Signals AI literacy at a chartered industry standard. Defensible to auditors, regulators and customers asking "are your people qualified to do this?"

Standard

AI Prompt Engineering

Turns a generic AI subscription into a daily productivity multiplier across the team.

More detail
What's covered
  • The RICF prompt framework (Role, Instruction, Context, Format)
  • Prompt patterns across ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude and Gemini
  • Multi-step prompting for reports, analysis and content
  • Prompt safety: avoiding data leakage and hallucination
Key features
  • NCFE Level 3 Customised Qualification — exclusive to TESS
  • Awarded by NCFE, one of the UK's leading awarding bodies
  • Portfolio-based assessment, not exam-based
  • The most-requested skill in 2026 UK workforce surveys
Business benefit

The lever that turns "we have Copilot licences" into "everyone in our team actually saves 6+ hours a week." Most productivity gains from AI come from this skill, not the platform.

Optional

Data Analysis

Working with data: cleaning, analysing, visualising and drawing defensible conclusions.

More detail
What's covered
  • Cleaning, sorting and validating real workplace data
  • Spreadsheet analysis: pivot tables, lookups, conditional logic
  • Building dashboards in Power BI / Google Sheets / Looker
  • Communicating findings to non-technical stakeholders
Key features
  • NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data
  • Portfolio-evidence assessment from real workplace projects
  • Pairs naturally with AI: AI without data literacy is theatre
Business benefit

Stops AI being a black box. Your apprentice will be able to show why an AI output is trustworthy (or not), not just hand-wave at the model.

Optional

Cyber Security

Workplace cyber security fundamentals. Critical once AI touches customer data.

More detail
What's covered
  • Threat landscape: phishing, social engineering, data leakage via AI
  • UK GDPR, DPA 2018 and AI-specific lawful-basis questions
  • Acceptable-use policies for AI tools in the workplace
  • Cyber Essentials & ISO 27001 fundamentals
Key features
  • NCFE Level 3 Cyber Security Practices
  • Particularly relevant once AI is touching customer or HR data
  • A credibility signal for any organisation with a CISO
Business benefit

Lets your apprentice deploy AI tools without quietly opening attack surface. The signal your DPO and security team are looking for before signing off any AI workflow.

All 5 sit inside the £18,000 levy band. No extras. No top-up.

Included free · with every learner

Meet Coachy, your 24/7 AI tutor.

Built on Claude. Scoped to the ST1512 standard and EPA-safe by design. Your team can ask Coachy about AI tools, automation concepts, EPA prep, or their workplace project, any time of day. Mobile and desktop.

Scoped to the ST1512 apprenticeship standard
EPA-safe — explains reasoning, never writes evidence
24/7 access across mobile, web and Teams
Powered by Claude (Anthropic) — frontier AI
Magic-link sign-in via OneFile email
Try Coachy live → No sign-up required
C
Coachy
AI tutor · ST1512 scoped · EPA-safe
ONLINE
How do I prepare for the BCS EPA showcase?
Coachy · Claude-powered Great question. For the ST1512 showcase your assessor wants to see how you've applied AI in a real workplace context. Start by structuring your project around the three KSB clusters: build and configure, integrate and test, and manage and improve. Which one feels weakest right now?
Probably the manage and improve part.
Coachy · Claude-powered
The 12-month curriculum + 3-month EPA

From AI-curious team
to AI-confident operators.

Your team don't just learn about AI. By Month 4 they've built a working agent. By Month 8 they've piloted it safely. By Month 11 they've built a real, live AI solution running in your business, with a clear plan that's already approved by leadership.

Click any module to read the detail · use Expand all to see the full programme
1
Phase 1 · Months 0-1

Set up: get every learner on the same start line.

2 modulesThe base layer
M00 · Month 0 · Induction

Onboarding & AI Diagnostic

Before the teaching starts, we find out exactly where each learner sits with AI, so nobody's bored and nobody's left behind. Induction, Coachy and OneFile all set up and ready.

What's set up before day one
AI diagnosticCoachy AI tutorOneFileInduction
Every cohort starts with a baseline. A short pre-programme AI diagnostic places each learner on the AI literacy ladder, so your skills coach knows who's racing ahead and who needs a hand before Module 1 even begins. The induction covers how the apprenticeship works, what the next 15 months look like, and what good looks like. Your team meets Coachy, the 24/7 AI tutor built on Claude, and gets set up in OneFile, the e-portfolio where their evidence lives. No teaching content yet. Just everyone lined up on the same start line.
By the end of Month 0Every learner benchmarked, inducted, and set up in Coachy and OneFile. Ready to hit Module 1 at the right level.
M01 · Month 1

AI Foundations

Stop the shadow-AI risk. Get your team using ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude safely and to genuine effect, with a written position your data protection officer can sign by week 4.

Tools & frameworks
CopilotClaudeGeminiRICF prompting
Most teams are either over-promising what AI can do or quietly avoiding it. Month 1 fixes both. Your team gets honest about what large language models actually are, learns the RICF prompt structure (Role, Instruction, Context, Format), and tries a real work task on Copilot, Claude and Gemini side by side. They also investigate shadow AI inside their own team. Who's pasting customer data into ChatGPT? They find out.
By the end of Month 1An honest audit of AI use in their team — both approved tools and the ones people use quietly without telling anyone. A working acceptable-use position your data protection officer can read.
2
Phase 2 · Months 2-5

Discover & Build: create AI agents that work with the tools you already use.

4 modulesThe build phase
M02 · Month 2

Process Discovery

Find the hidden hours in your team's week that are quietly waiting to be automated, and rank them by which would actually survive it.

Process mapping methods
SIPOCSwimlane mappingValue stream mapping
Most AI projects fail because they automate the wrong thing. Your team learns SIPOC, swimlane mapping and value stream mapping on a real workplace process, then runs the automation filter against it: is it repetitive, is it rules-based, what's the worst thing that happens if the automation gets it wrong. They also check data readiness and stakeholder impact before any tool selection.
By the end of Month 2A ranked map of automation opportunities in their function, with the top three sketched against business value and feasibility.
M03 · Month 3

Workflow Automation

Ship a a live, no-code automation by end of Month 3 that takes a real repetitive job off your team's plate. Forever.

Automation tools that work with your existing systems
Power AutomateMake.comZapierLovable
The first build. Your team picks the right tool for the job. Microsoft Power Automate for Microsoft-first businesses, Lovable for AI-native app building, plus the wider no-code landscape including Make.com and Zapier. Tool choice always fits your IT-sanctioned stack, not ours, so nothing they build sits outside your security posture. They build a working automation end-to-end: trigger, logic, action, error handling. Not a demo. They run it against real workplace data, test the unusual scenarios that come up day-to-day, and document it well enough that someone else could maintain it.
By the end of Month 3A working automation live in your business, saving real time on a real process. Documented for handover.
M04 · Month 4

Agentic AI

Build an an AI agent that actually does the work, not just answers questions about it. Yours, on your data, by end of Month 4.

Agent platforms & patterns
Copilot StudioGoogle Gemini GemsAppSheetReAct reasoningRAG knowledge bases
The module the market is desperate for. Your team learns what separates an agent from a chatbot: autonomy, tool use, the ReAct reasoning loop (Reason, Act, Observe). They learn the difference between single-agent, multi-agent workflows and human-in-the-loop patterns, work through context engineering and RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), then build a working agent in Microsoft Copilot Studio, Google Gemini Gems or AppSheet for a real workplace use case.
By the end of Month 4A working AI agent doing real work in your business. Designed, built and demonstrably useful.
M05 · Month 5

AI Integration & Assurance

Make the Month 4 agent safe enough to roll out properly. Guardrails, safety controls and a clear audit trail your IT director will happily approve.

Integration & assurance standards
APIs & webhooksISO 42001GuardrailsPhased rollout
Building something is one thing. Making it safe and reliable enough to use across the team is another. Your team learns integration patterns (APIs, webhooks, middleware), the difference between staging and production, and how to run a phased rollout. They build a safety case for the Month 4 agent with guardrails, monitoring, kill switches and clear escalation paths. ISO 42001 is on the table, not the bookshelf.
By the end of Month 5An integration plan and a documented safety case ready for the team that has to approve it.
3
Phase 3 · Months 6-8

Deliver: make it safe, useful, defensible.

3 modulesThe deliver phase
M06 · Month 6

Data, Decisions & Data Law

Use customer data in your AI safely and confidently. data protection impact assessments, lawful basis, retention rules: the data law your data protection officer (DPO) has been waiting for someone on the team to actually understand.

Data law & governance
UK GDPRDPA 2018data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) for AI
UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, AI-specific lawful basis. Your team learns what good data governance looks like in practice: classification, retention, access controls, data quality. They audit a real dataset their AI uses, run a DPIA on the system they've built, and learn to pick the metrics that actually matter rather than the ones that just look good.
By the end of Month 6A data governance audit of the dataset their AI uses, and a one-page compliance position your data protection officer can sign.
M07 · Month 7

Designing Responsible AI

Build AI that works for every customer and every employee, not just the average one. Bias audited, accessibly designed, defensibly signed off.

Responsible-AI methods
Bias auditingEquality ActUser-centred design
The systematic risks: automation bias, deskilling, digital exclusion, and the Equality Act exposure most employers don't realise they're carrying. Your team learns where bias actually comes from, how to detect it, and how to design it out from the start. User-centred design and clear user-facing resources are part of the build, not a tidy-up at the end.
By the end of Month 7A responsible-AI assessment on a live system. Risks named, mitigations agreed, sponsor signed.
M08 · Month 8

Pilot, Test & Assure

The moment of truth. Test it for real, on real data, with the trickier situations that come up day-to-day. Show leadership real results before you scale it up — backed by evidence, not just hope.

Pilot & testing methods
Control groupsBias testingRegression testing
Most AI pilots are anecdote. Your team learns to design a structured pilot with success criteria, control groups, and predetermined decision points. They test the Month 3 automation and Month 4 agent against the unusual scenarios and trickier situations that come up day-to-day, including bias and fairness testing, so the scaling decision is based on evidence rather than the loudest voice in the room.
By the end of Month 8A pilot report and bias audit on a live system. Evidence-led, defensible to the board.
4
Phase 4 · Months 9-10

Lead & Scale: bring everyone with you.

2 modulesThe leadership phase
M09 · Month 9

Leading AI Adoption

The hardest part of AI isn't the build. It's getting people to actually use it. The adoption module the build-only programmes skip.

Change & adoption frameworks
Maturity modelStakeholder engagementCentre of excellence
The hardest part of AI isn't building it — it's helping people actually use it. Your team learns to spot resistance early and understand what's really driving it (often worries about jobs). They pick the right approach for your organisation (a central AI team, embedded specialists, or department-by-department), run an honest review of where you are, and tailor different messages for leadership, middle managers and frontline staff. They also revisit the shadow AI audit from Month 1: what's changed in eight months?
By the end of Month 9A clear plan for rolling AI out across the wider team — with the key conversations rehearsed and ready.
M10 · Month 10

AI Strategy, Scaling & Value

Walk into the meeting with a real, credible AI business case. Costed, risk-assessed, ready to defend. Written from nine months of hands-on experience, not from guesswork.

Strategy & commercial frameworks
TCO & ROIPortfolio managementScaling playbooks
The finance conversation. Your team learns to build a credible business case: real costs, realistic timelines, and the benefits that don't always show up in a spreadsheet. They write it after nine months of practice, not nine months of guesswork. They also learn how to recommend what to fund, what to stop, and what to scale — and how to give senior leaders honest advice without overpromising.
By the end of Month 10A leadership-ready business case for scaling AI across their team. Costed, risk-assessed, signed off.
5
Phase 5 · Month 11

Master: graduate as a working AI practitioner inside your team.

1 moduleThe proof
M11 · Month 11 · Capstone

Applied AI Mastery

The mastery moment. one ambitious AI build, running live in your business, plus a Copilot, Gemini and Claude hands-on day that leaves your team fluent on every leading AI assistant, not just the one you happen to license.

Built on your existing systems · Copilot, Gemini & Claude masterclass included
Microsoft CopilotGoogle GeminiClaudeCopilot StudioPower AutomateAppSheet

The capstone build. Everything they've learned, applied to one complex AI and automation challenge inside your business. Requirements through to handover, with sophisticated, defended choices about tools, integrations and architecture made after ten months of practice rather than ten months of guesswork.

Scaling responsibly. Sustaining for the long term. The work that distinguishes a one-off demo from a system still running twelve months later: scaling AI responsibly (governance at scale, data management at scale) and sustaining it (monitoring, maintenance, continuous improvement). Governance-aware delivery end to end, not bolted on at the finish.

Portfolio consolidation. EPA preparation. Multi-tool AI fluency. The month also acts as portfolio consolidation and BCS End-Point Assessment preparation, so your apprentice walks into the showcase with a defended body of work rather than a pile of notes.

Built on the tools you already useThe capstone runs on the platforms your team actually uses every day. If you're a Microsoft business: Copilot, Copilot Studio and Power Automate. If you're a Google business: Gemini, AppSheet and Apps Script. Same standard, your tools, your data. A dedicated hands-on day across Copilot, Gemini and Claude also sits inside the month, so they finish confident using all three leading AI assistants.
By the end of Month 11A real, working AI solution running in your business on the tools you already use, signed off by your manager. Plus a practitioner who's hands-on fluent across Copilot, Gemini and Claude.
Your learner journey

12 months delivery + 3 months EPA.

Six stops on the map. Five phases of live delivery, then a 3-month End-Point Assessment with BCS. 15 months total. Each stop builds on the last.

Month 0

Get on the start line

Induction · AI diagnostic

Pre-programme AI diagnostic, induction, Coachy & OneFile set up. Every learner benchmarked before Module 1.

Months 1–2

Find your bearings

Foundations & AI Readiness

Onboarding · skills assessment · AI ethics · digital confidence baseline. Setting the scene for everything that follows.

Months 3–5

Master the tools

AI Prompting & Automation

NCFE AI Prompt Mastery, no-code workflow automation, real workflows running in your daily tools.

Months 6–8

Make it safe, make it real

Responsible AI · pilot & test

GDPR · responsible AI · DPIAs · pilot & test on real workplace data. BCS Project ~M8

Months 9–10

Take the team with you

Adoption & AI champion

Adoption strategy · stakeholder conversations · build the business case · Microsoft AB-730 / Google AI Essentials earned.

Months 11–12

Ship something real

Capstone & Gateway

Their AI capstone build, running live in your business. Gateway end M12

Months 13–15

Earn the badge

BCS End-Point Assessment

Work-Based Project · Professional Discussion · graded Pass / Distinction by BCS.

How you're assessed

Independently assessed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

BCS is the leading End-Point Assessment Organisation for digital apprenticeships in the UK. The ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner standard is assessed in two parts.

Around Month 8

Project

A workplace project your apprentice scopes, builds and writes up, drawing on the discovery, build, integration and assurance work from Months 2 to 8. Done roughly two thirds of the way through the teaching, so they finish with confidence and time to spare for the showcase.

End of programme

Showcase

A professional discussion with a BCS assessor. Your apprentice chooses the format that suits them best: discussion with a presentation, or discussion with a portfolio. Graded Pass or Distinction.

TESS apprentices achieve a 72% distinction rate versus a UK national average of approximately 33%. Your TESS skills coach manages the EPA admin behind the scenes, so your team can stay focused on the work.

Built for every team

Built for Every Department, Not Just IT.

This is the AI apprenticeship designed for the people who actually run your business — HR, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Admin. No coding. No technical prerequisites. Just real-world impact.

Operations

Automate the repetitive, surface the bottlenecks, predict supply issues before they hit. Build real-time dashboards without a data team.

Operations analystsProcess leadsProject coordinatorsService managersBusiness improvementCOOsOperations PAs
Read the Operations guide →

People & HR

AI-accelerated recruitment screening. Onboarding automated. Policy generation in minutes. Engagement signals surfaced. Bias detected before it shows up.

HR coordinatorsHR business partnersPeople & cultureL&D leadsTalent acquisitionHR systems analystsPeople ops PAs
Read the People & HR guide →

Finance

Invoice processing automated. Reconciliation in one click. Cash-flow forecasts that update themselves. Anomaly detection that catches what reviews miss.

Accounts assistantsFinance analystsBookkeepersFP&AControllersTreasuryProcurementFinance PAs
Read the Finance guide →

Marketing

Content at scale, on-brand. Campaign workflows that build themselves. Personalised customer comms. Analytics that actually surface what drove the sale.

Marketing executivesBrand managersContent creatorsSocial media managersCRM leadsSEO specialistsEmail marketingMarketing PAs
Read the Marketing guide →

Sales & Customer Service

Lead scoring on autopilot. AI-drafted customer responses that sound like you. CRM workflows that don't need a Salesforce admin. Highest-value opportunities surfaced.

Sales executivesAccount managersCustomer successCX leadsSupport agentsSales operationsBDRsSales PAs
Read the Sales & Customer Service guide →

Administration & PA

Repetitive admin gone in a week. Intelligent document processing. Scheduling that handles itself. The PA who becomes the team's AI champion.

Personal AssistantsExecutive AssistantsOffice managersAdmin coordinatorsReceptionistsOffice juniorsDocument controllersFacilities coordinators
Read the Administration & PA guide →

Compliance & Risk

Policy drafting and review in hours not weeks. Regulatory horizon-scanning that doesn't miss. Audit-ready evidence trails. DPIAs done right, the first time.

Compliance analystsRisk coordinatorsCompliance leadsDPOsAudit officersQuality assuranceGovernance PAs
Read the Compliance & Risk guide →

L&D and Training

Course builds that take days instead of months. Personalised learning paths per learner. AI-generated assessments that pass quality bar. Coachy-style tutors for any team.

Training coordinatorsLearning designersL&D leadsInternal trainersLMS administratorsOnboarding leadsL&D PAs
Read the L&D and Training guide →

Why AI & Automation matters now.

The organisations moving fastest on AI aren't waiting for IT. They're upskilling every department. Here's why your team should start today.

Reclaim 10+ hours per week

AI-powered workflow automation eliminates repetitive tasks across every role, from data entry to report generation. Your people work on what matters.

Every department, not just IT

HR, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Admin. This programme is built for the people who actually run your business. No technical background needed.

Measurable ROI from day one

Apprentices apply learning directly to real workplace projects. Employers see productivity gains, cost savings, and process improvements within weeks, not months.

Platform AI mastery

Go beyond basic awareness. Your team masters AI across their daily tools — Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini — then earns an official ecosystem certification.

3–5 qualifications included

Ecosystem certification (Microsoft AB-730 or Google AI Essentials) + NCFE AI Prompt Mastery as standard. NCFE Cyber Security and NCFE Data are optional extras — pick one, the other, or both. All bundled at no extra cost.

100% funded. Zero cost.

Fully covered through the Apprenticeship Levy or 95% government co-investment. Your team gets a premium programme with 3–5 qualifications at no out-of-pocket cost.

Absolutely no tech background needed.

This programme is specifically designed for non-technical professionals. We use no-code and low-code tools, plain-English AI prompting, and real workplace scenarios from your own role. If you can use email and a spreadsheet, you can do this.

Zero coding · Real results
🚚

Logistics, warehousing & transport

Depot leads · fleet supervisors · distribution managers

Route supervisors using AI-assisted scheduling, intralogistics shift leads adapting to automation, distribution leaders responsible for on-time performance, all building the skills to lead AI-augmented operations.

Route supervisorWarehouse shift leadDepot managerDistribution leadHub controllerFulfilment lead
🏥

NHS & Healthcare

Ward managers · service leads · clinic supervisors

Healthcare leaders adopting AI for patient pathway management, automating clinical admin, and using data-led service delivery. Build the confidence to use AI safely in patient-facing environments.

Ward managerCommunity service leadClinic supervisorPractice managerPathway leadReception team lead
🏭

Manufacturing & Industry

Shift leads · plant supervisors · quality leads

From precision engineering to large-scale production, manufacturing teams use AI for quality control, predictive maintenance and intelligent scheduling. Equip people to lead AI-driven plants.

Production shift leadPlant supervisorQuality managerMaintenance leadLine supervisorSHEQ lead
🏛️

Local Government & Councils

Service managers · public-sector team leads

Council and public-sector leaders implementing AI-supported service delivery, managing GDPR compliance, and leading teams through digital transformation across housing, revenues, customer services and highways.

Service team managerCustomer service leadRevenues leadHousing officer leadHighways supervisor
💻

Tech & Professional Services

Operations leads · BPO managers · agency leads

Business-process and technology service leaders using AI to streamline distributed teams, automate client work and ship faster. Real AI fluency, not just awareness, applied to client-facing operations.

Operations leadBPO supervisorService desk leadAccount manager leadProject team leaderL&D supervisor
🛒

Food, Catering & Retail

Production leads · site managers · store supervisors

From multi-site retail to bakery production, leaders in fast-paced consumer environments use AI for schedules, quality and demand forecasting. Lead with confidence in a fast-changing operating model.

Site managerStore supervisorBranch managerKitchen team leadHospitality supervisorVisual merch lead
⚖️

Finance, Legal & Science

Practice managers · compliance leads · lab supervisors

Regulated-sector teams who need to understand what AI can and can't do in compliance-heavy environments, from legal practice to forensic science. Build a culture of responsible AI adoption that holds up to audit.

Practice managerCompliance leadLab supervisorParalegal team leadRisk & AML supervisorQC team leader
🤝

Charity, Education & Not-for-Profit

Programme managers · service leads · curriculum leads

Third-sector and education leaders using AI to extend impact without increasing headcount. Manage volunteers, learners and staff through change, with practical skills and nationally-recognised qualifications.

Programme managerService leadVolunteer coordinatorFundraising leadCurriculum leadStudent services lead

Working across the UK with: national parcel networks · NHS Trusts · manufacturing & intralogistics groups · local authorities & councils · equipment-hire chains · food & bakery producers · multi-site retail · regulated finance, legal & biotech firms · charity & education trusts. Sector references available on request.

— Employer ROI —

What your business actually gets.

Levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. Out-of-pocket cost: zero. What you get back: measurable.

10 hrs
Reclaimed per week, per learner, by month 6
£0
Out-of-pocket cost for Levy-paying employers
3–5
Industry qualifications per apprentice, at no extra cost
6 wks
Of admin time saved per year, per learner
What your team delivers post-programme
AI Tool Adoption88%
Workflow Automation Rate75%
Time Savings Realised92%
Why TESS Group

Why Choose TESS Group.

We set the gold standard for AI apprenticeship training.

Ofsted Good Provider

Independently verified quality. Our training meets the highest standards of delivery, learner support, and outcomes.

4.9/5 on Google & Trustpilot

Exceptional learner satisfaction. Our reviews speak for themselves, consistently rated among the best in the UK.

Up to 5 Qualifications, all Level 3+

No other provider includes this calibre of accredited qualifications. Every one at Level 3 or above. A qualification stack no competitor can match.

Built for non-technical professionals

Designed for HR, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and every department. No coding. No tech background required. Just real-world impact.

Microsoft AI Industry Leader

Including a globally recognised ecosystem certification (Microsoft AB-730 or Google AI Essentials), connecting your people directly to the platform they use every day.

Coachy AI Tutor (included free)

Powered by Claude. Available 24/7 inside OneFile, scoped specifically to ST1512. Your team has an AI study partner whenever they need one, not just on session days.

Comparing providers

AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 4 (ST1512) — at a glance.

The same ST1512 standard. Very different delivery. Here is what to look for when comparing AI & Automation Apprenticeship Level 4 providers in the UK.

What to compare
Feature
The premium standard
TESS Group
The market
Typical provider
Apprenticeship standard
ST1512 AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4
ST1512, or an older non-AI standard rebadged
Qualifications included
Up to 5: BCS Foundation in AI, Microsoft AB-730, NCFE AI Prompt Mastery, NCFE Data, NCFE Cyber Security Practices
Often zero or one optional add-on
Coding required
None. No-code and low-code tools throughout
Often Python or SQL prerequisites assumed
AI tutor
Coachy, included free, powered by Claude (Anthropic), available 24/7
No AI tutor, or generic chatbot not scoped to ST1512
End-Point Assessment organisation
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT — integrated EPA preparation
Variable EPAO, EPA prep often bolted on at month 12
Distinction rate
72% across the board
UK national average 33%
Delivery model
Live online, monthly cohort starts. 12 months delivery + 3-month EPA (or 8-Month Fast-Track + EPA)
Self-paced video or quarterly intake only
Funding
£18,000 fully levy-funded, 95% co-invested for SMEs
£18,000 levy-funded but excludes EPA prep and tool licences
A quick look

Take a look inside the programme.

A short snapshot of the AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship in action — what it actually looks like, no sales pitch.

5-minute snapshot · plays on click

What employers say

From L&D directors at the companies you know.

National Retailer · Retail & ecommerce
This programme doesn't just teach AI. It transforms how entire teams think about their work. The qualifications are a bonus, the real value is watching people who've never automated anything start building workflows that save hours every week.
Sarah Mitchell
L&D Director · National Retailer
DPD · Logistics & delivery
As a business, DPD have had good results with TESS Group and have applied their programmes across multiple apprenticeships. I'd 100% recommend them to anyone who wants to do an apprenticeship.
Course graduate
DPD
Services for Education · Charity & education
I found the course useful and informative and have already used AI in helping us as a finance team look at ways we can streamline processes. The prompt framework was really useful in helping refine the questions to ask.
Finance team
Services for Education
Google reviews · independent verification

What our learners actually say.

4.9 / 5 from 690+ Google reviews · independently verified

For HR, L&D & procurement

Take the brochure to your team.

The whole programme on paper: the phased curriculum, the five embedded qualifications, the BCS End-Point Assessment, cohort dates and the £18,000 levy funding. Built to forward internally to budget holders and procurement.

★ Book a discovery call

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Pick a 30-minute slot below. We'll walk you through cohort dates, funding routes and how the AI & Automation Practitioner L4 fits your team. No prep needed.

★★★★★ 4.9 · 690 reviews · Ofsted Good · Skills England Approved
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions.

Everything employers and apprentices ask before signing up. Don't see your question? Drop us a line.

Do I need coding skills for the AI & Automation apprenticeship?
No. The Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner programme is designed for non-technical professionals. You learn to use AI tools like Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini without writing any code. Available in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace editions.
How is the AI & Automation apprenticeship funded?
It is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy for employers with payrolls over £3 million (the £3m payroll threshold). For smaller employers, the government covers 95% of costs through co-investment. The apprentice never pays.
How long does the AI & Automation Level 4 apprenticeship take?
The programme is 12 months of live online delivery + a 3-month End-Point Assessment window with BCS, with monthly rolling start dates available throughout the year. An accelerated 8-Month Fast-Track variant is also available as a closed cohort, also followed by the 3-month EPA window.
What qualifications do I earn?
You earn up to 5 qualifications including BCS Foundation Certificate in AI, Microsoft AB-730 (or Google AI Essentials), NCFE AI Prompt Mastery, NCFE Data, and NCFE Cyber Security Practices — more than any other UK provider. All sit at Level 3 or above and are bundled inside the £18,000 levy band.
Is the AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship fully funded?
Yes. The Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship (ST1512) is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy at up to £18,000 per learner. Non-levy-paying employers pay just 5%, with the government covering the remaining 95%.
Who is the End-Point Assessment organisation?
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is the EPAO for ST1512. BCS is also one of our awarding bodies, which means integrated EPA preparation throughout the programme rather than bolted on at month 12. TESS Group apprentices achieve a 72% distinction rate.
What's the difference between standard and the 8-Month Fast-Track route?
The standard route is 12 months of delivery + a 3-month EPA window, with monthly rolling cohort starts. The 8-Month Fast-Track is a private closed cohort for your team, with 11 modules condensed into 8 months, BCS project assessed at the two-thirds point, then the 3-month EPA window afterwards. Both deliver the same standard, same £18,000 funding, and the same BCS End-Point Assessment.
Which departments benefit most?
Every department: HR, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, and Administration. Anyone whose role involves repetitive tasks, data, or stakeholder communication will benefit. The programme is built for non-technical professionals across the business.
How is the apprenticeship delivered?
Delivered live online (Zoom or Microsoft Teams) across England, with around 20% off-the-job training time per apprentice. Face-to-face delivery is available for closed cohorts. Includes the Coachy AI tutor, powered by Claude, available 24/7 inside OneFile.
What is the distinction rate at TESS Group?
TESS Group apprentices achieve a 72% distinction rate on the AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship, versus a UK national average of approximately 33%.

Trusted by 200+ UK employers · From the FTSE 100 to the NHS

Papa John's EDF NHS England Transport for London Financial Times Sunbelt Rentals Trinity College London Dorset Council University of Kent Eurofins Oliver Agency Buy it Direct Les Ambassadeurs Club Papa John's EDF NHS England Transport for London Financial Times Sunbelt Rentals Trinity College London Dorset Council University of Kent Eurofins Oliver Agency Buy it Direct Les Ambassadeurs Club
Trusted Partners

Trusted Partners & Awarding Bodies.

We work with the awarding bodies and platform vendors that matter — Skills England, BCS, NCFE, CMI, ILM, Microsoft and Google.

Skills EnglandApprenticeship regulator
BCSChartered Institute for IT · EPAO
NCFEAwarding body
CMIChartered Management Institute
matrix StandardInformation & advice quality mark
MicrosoftAI Industry Leader · AB-730
GoogleAI Essentials partner
OfstedGood Provider
Cyber EssentialsCertified
OneFilePortfolio platform
↻ Programme content reviewed and updated May 2026 · ST1512 V2.0

Ready to put AI agents in your workflows?

Join the UK organisations using the AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship (ST1512) to turn every department into an AI-confident team. Fully funded. No coding required. Up to five qualifications. Ofsted Good.

Prefer the phone? 0333 0523 003 · Or email [email protected]