Is there an AI apprenticeship specifically for HR professionals?

Yes. The AI for People Leaders Level 4 apprenticeship is designed specifically for HR managers and people professionals, covering AI-powered recruitment, engagement analytics, workforce planning, and talent strategy.

Do HR teams need coding skills for this?

No. The programme teaches HR professionals to use AI tools like Microsoft Copilot for workforce planning and talent management without any coding.

What accreditations does this programme carry?

Apprentices earn BCS AI certification, Microsoft AI-900, and CIPD-aligned people management qualifications.

levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy for large employers. SMEs pay just 5% through government co-investment. The apprentice never pays.

Is AI for People Leaders a good replacement for the Team Leader apprenticeship?

Yes. The Team Leader Level 3 apprenticeship is being defunded from September 2026. AI for People Leaders is a Level 4 programme that includes a CMI Level 3 leadership qualification plus practical AI skills - making it a direct upgrade. It also receives £18,000 in levy funding compared to the Team Leader's £5,000.

Is this programme levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy?

Yes. AI for People Leaders sits on the ST1512 standard and is levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy at up to £18,000 per learner. Non-levy-paying employers pay just 5%.

Who is AI for People Leaders designed for?

This programme is designed for first-line leaders, team leaders, HR managers, L&D professionals, and talent management specialists who want to combine leadership development with practical AI skills. No technical background is required.

What qualifications are included?

Apprentices earn a CMI Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management alongside NCFE and Microsoft AI qualifications - up to 4 portable qualifications in total.

AI for People Leaders

Q: How is the programme delivered?

All sessions are delivered online via Zoom and Microsoft Teams with interactive workshops, breakout rooms, and 1:1 skills coaching. Delivered nationwide across England with no travel required. Closed cohorts for organisations with 10-15+ learners can include optional face-to-face workshops in a hybrid model.

Master AI adoption while developing high-performing teams. The only ST1512 programme combining AI expertise with CMI leadership qualifications. Delivered nationwide across England via live online sessions.

Delivered nationwide across England - live online sessions via Zoom & Teams, with face-to-face available for closed cohorts

15-18

Months (Plus EPA)

£18K

100% Levy Funded

Portable Qualifications

Integrated Modules

🎯 You'll Earn

CMI Level 3 Management & Leadership + NCFE Data + AI Prompt Mastery + Microsoft AB-730

Why This Matters

72% of UK businesses say AI skills are their #1 hiring priority. Leaders who understand AI adoption 3x faster implement change.

AI Native Leadership Ready Future-Proof

What is the AI for People Leaders apprenticeship? The AI for People Leaders Level 4 apprenticeship teaches HR, L&D, and people managers to use AI for workforce planning, recruitment, engagement analytics, and talent strategy. Includes CMI Level 4 + AI Essentials qualifications. levy-funded at £18,000 via the Levy. Delivered by TESS Group.

4.9/5 from 689 Reviews Ofsted Good Provider One of Only 37 Approved AI Providers 95% Employer Satisfaction

🚀

Faster Tool Adoption

💼

72%

Businesses Prioritising AI Skills

🎓

Portable Qualifications

💰

£0

Out-of-Pocket Cost

Why AI + Leadership Is the Biggest Opportunity in L&D

AI is transforming every workplace. But tools alone don't drive change - leaders do. This programme builds both.

The Gap No One Else Is Filling

AI Without Leadership Fails

70% of AI initiatives stall - not because the technology doesn't work, but because teams aren't coached through adoption. Leaders are the missing piece.

First-Line Leaders Are the Key

Your team leaders are closest to the work. When they understand AI, they spot opportunities, coach their teams, and turn resistance into momentum.

AI + Leadership = Compounding Returns

Leaders who understand both AI and people development don't just adopt tools - they build AI-confident teams that continuously improve. The impact multiplies.

What AI-Literate Leaders Deliver

Faster Tool Adoption

3x faster

Team Confidence in AI

78%

Reduction in Change Resistance

65%

Time Saved on Routine Tasks

20+ hrs/wk

Based on outcomes from AI-enabled leadership programmes across UK employers

Built for People Leaders

Whether you're managing your first team or leading across divisions, this programme fits your role.

👔

Team Leaders

Lead frontline teams through AI adoption with confidence and psychological safety.

⏰

Shift Managers

Implement AI tools across rotating shifts while building team engagement.

📊

Section Leaders

Drive data-informed decisions and coach teams on using AI insights.

📋

Project Coordinators

Lead cross-functional AI pilots and manage change at team level.

🌱

Aspiring First-Line Managers

Get the exact leadership toolkit before you step up into your first management role.

💬

Team Coaches

Coach others through AI adoption using frameworks like GROW and OSKAR.

Your 4 Portable Qualifications

Recognised qualifications you own forever, across any organisation.

🏛️

CMI Level 3

Chartered Management Institute

Principles of Management & Leadership. Covers leadership styles, workplace communication, developing individuals, managing teams through change, and resolving conflict. Mapped to CMI 301, 303, 304, 307, 309 & 310.

Level 3

📊

NCFE Level 3

Certificate in Data

Data fundamentals, interpretation, and use. Learn to spot trends, communicate findings, and make data-informed decisions without being a data scientist.

Level 3

🤖

NCFE Level 3 CQ

AI Prompt Mastery (TESS Bespoke)

Master ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI tools. Learn prompt engineering, quality control, ethical use, and how to teach your team to use AI effectively.

Level 3

💻

Microsoft AB-730

AI Business Professional

Microsoft's globally recognised credential. Understand AI strategy, implementation, and business impact. Copilot in practice across Microsoft tools.

Professional

Your 4-Phase Journey

Leadership and AI woven throughout - not siloed. 14 modules across 15–18 months.

The difference: Every phase interweaves AI modules with CMI Level 3 leadership development. When you learn AI tools, you also learn to communicate and lead effectively. When you pilot automation, you're developing your team through the change. Leadership from month one - not bolted on at the end.

Foundations & Team Leadership

Months 1–3

AI Ethics & Values

Bias, fairness, responsible AI, and why it matters to your team's trust.

Governance, Law & GDPR

Legal frameworks, data protection, compliance, and your leadership responsibility.

LEADERSHIP

Leadership Styles & Communication

Understand leadership styles (action-centred, situational, transformational). Master workplace communication - presenting, influencing, adapting your style to different audiences. CMI 301 & 304.

Tools, Data & Coaching

Months 4–7

Spotting Waste & Inefficiency

Lean thinking, process mapping, and where AI can add value - fast.

No-Code Automation Tools

Zapier, Power Automate, Make. Hands-on practice. Teach your team.

Building for People

Human-centred AI design. Change management thinking. Empathy in AI adoption.

LEADERSHIP

Developing Individuals & Managing Your Team

Coach team members through AI adoption. Identify development needs, give effective feedback, and build a team culture where people grow alongside new tools. CMI 303 & 307.

Advanced AI & Leading Through Change

Months 8–11

Data-Driven Decision Making

Analytics, metrics, dashboards, storytelling with data. NCFE Data Cert.

Change Management & AI Impact

How AI reshapes roles, skills, structures. Leading people through transition.

M10

AI Risk & Security

Prompt injection, model risks, data leaks, governance, your role in risk management.

LEADERSHIP

M11

Supporting Teams Through Change & Resolving Conflict

Lead your team through AI-driven workplace change. Handle resistance, manage conflict constructively, and build resilience. CMI 310 & 309.

Mastery & Application

Months 12–14

M12

Agile Testing & Piloting

Run AI pilots in your team. MVP thinking, iterate, gather feedback, scale.

M13

Winning AI Support & Buy-In

Stakeholder management, business cases, selling AI internally to skeptics.

M14

Microsoft Copilot in Practice

Hands-on with Copilot across Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook. AB-730 prep & final project.

Months 15–18

Project, Presentation, Professional Discussion & EPA

Independent assessment by 1st for Awarding. Graded Pass or Distinction across applied knowledge, skills, and communication.

Employer ROI: The Business Case for AI + Leadership

Why invest £18,000 in one apprentice? Because the returns compound across your whole team.

⚡

Faster tool adoption when teams are led by AI-literate managers

📈

40%

Reduction in staff turnover when leaders coach through change

💼

£18K

In levy funding = £0 out-of-pocket cost to your business

🎓

Portable qualifications your employee takes with them (and you benefit from now)

How Teams Perform: With vs Without AI-Literate Leadership

Tool adoption success rate

75%

Staff engagement with AI

60%

Productivity lift (first 6 months)

85%

What You Get With TESS vs a Typical AI Apprenticeship Provider

Feature	Typical AI Provider	AI for People Leaders (TESS)
Leadership Qualification	✗ None included	✓ CMI Level 3 Management & Leadership
Total Qualifications	✗ 0–1	✓ 4 (CMI + NCFE Data + Prompt Mastery + Microsoft)
People & Coaching Focus	✗ Tech-focused, not people-focused	✓ Leadership styles, communication, developing individuals, change management
Data Skills	Varies - often theoretical	✓ NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Data
Copilot & Prompt Engineering	✗ Rarely included	✓ NCFE Prompt Mastery + Microsoft AB-730
Coaching Frameworks	✗ Not included	✓ GROW, OSKAR, psychological safety
Levy Funding	£18,000	£18,000 - same funding, far more value
Designed For	Generic / technical roles	✓ People leaders managing teams

🏆

Industry-Leading

Only ST1512 combining AI + CMI + Microsoft

🎯

Role-Focused

Designed for people managers, not generic learners

📊

ROI-Proven

3x tool adoption with AI-literate leaders

Why No Other Provider Offers This

✓

Integrated, Not Bolted-On

CMI L3 leadership modules woven throughout AI content - not tacked on at the end. You learn communication and leadership styles first, then develop people and manage change alongside the tools.

✓

CMI + Microsoft + NCFE

Other providers deliver AI training. None bundle the CMI leadership qualification + Microsoft credential + NCFE data cert. TESS does.

✓

4 Credentials Your Employee Keeps Forever

Move jobs, move countries, move sectors - these qualifications travel with them. They're your investment in people, not your company.

✓

Built for the AI Adoption Problem

Other providers teach AI. TESS teaches leaders how to help teams adopt AI. That's why adoption succeeds, staff stay, and ROI compounds.

Trusted Partners & Awarding Bodies

Qualifications delivered and assessed by the industry's leading bodies.

Microsoft
AI Industry Leader

1st for Awarding
EPAO Partner

NCFE
Awarding Body

CMI
Chartered Management

TESS Group
Training Partner

End-Point Assessment (EPA)

Your apprentice demonstrates competence in their workplace role through a rigorous, independent assessment.

Project (Mandatory)

Apprentice completes a workplace AI & automation project demonstrating applied knowledge, skills, and real business impact.

Professional Discussion

Structured discussion with an independent assessor exploring the apprentice's competence across all assessment outcomes.

Presentation

Apprentice presents their project outcomes, demonstrating communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking.

✓

Graded: Pass or Distinction

Independently assessed by 1st for Awarding (EPAO) across applied knowledge, applied skills, regulatory awareness, and communication.

Your EPA Timeline

1–4

Month 12–14: EPA Prep

Workplace project scoped. TESS guides preparation, evidence gathering begins.

2–5

Month 15–16: Project & Portfolio

Apprentice completes AI project in their workplace. Portfolio of evidence compiled.

3–6

Month 17: Assessment

Project assessed, presentation delivered, professional discussion with independent assessor.

4–7

Month 18: Results

Graded Pass or Distinction. All qualifications awarded. Apprenticeship complete.

My team didn't just learn AI - they got excited about it. The coaching frameworks helped me explain why change was happening, and our people stayed engaged through the whole adoption. That's where the real ROI is.

👩‍💼

TESS Apprentice

Manufacturing Sector (TESS Apprentice)

Compare Our AI Apprenticeships

Find the right programme for your needs

Programme	Level	Duration	Key Focus	Funding Band
AI & Automation Practitioner	Level 4	15 months	Hands-on automation, no-code tools, AI prompting	£18,000
AI for People Leaders	Level 4	15 months	Leading teams through AI change, coaching frameworks	£18,000
AI for Operations Leaders	Level 4	15 months	Supply chain, process optimisation, ROI measurement	£18,000
AI for Coaching Professionals	Level 4	15 months	AI coaching models, client transformation, ethics	£18,000
AI & ML Fellowship	Level 6	24 months	Advanced ML, strategic deployment, governance	£24,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the programme.

Who is this programme for?

▼

Team leaders, shift managers, section leads, project coordinators, aspiring first-line managers, and team coaches. Anyone who manages or coaches people and needs to lead them through AI adoption. This is NOT for individual contributors - it's for people in leadership roles.

Do I need AI experience?

▼

No. We start from the fundamentals: what is AI, why it matters, ethics. You'll learn alongside your team. The programme assumes no prior technical knowledge - it builds from first principles and is designed for leaders, not data scientists.

What does it cost my company?

▼

£0 out-of-pocket. The £18,000 cost is covered by your payroll levy. If you don't have a levy account or have unused balance, TESS can help you access it. Apprentices over 19 at start of apprenticeship cost 5% shared (£900). The government funds 95%.

How is the programme delivered?

▼

All sessions are delivered via live online workshops (Zoom or Microsoft Teams), so your team can learn from their desks - no travel or venue costs required. We deliver nationwide across England, running closed cohorts so your team learns together. Face-to-face delivery can be arranged on request.

How long is the programme?

▼

15–18 months, including EPA (End-Point Assessment). The first 14–15 months cover the 14 modules. Months 15–18 focus on the workplace project, portfolio, and independent assessment. Pace adapts to your apprentice's progress.

Can your team help manage the apprenticeship?

▼

Yes. TESS handles recruitment, training delivery, EPA coordination with 1st for Awarding, and progress tracking. You manage the apprentice's day job and provide a mentor. We'll guide you on all apprenticeship compliance and reporting.