Preston is a Lancashire employment hub with BAE Systems' Warton and Samlesbury sites nearby, a major public sector presence, and a mix of engineering, professional services and higher education at the University of Central Lancashire. But across all of these sectors, one challenge keeps coming up: teams need practical AI skills, and they need them now.
AI apprenticeships are one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways for Preston employers to build that capability. They're levy-funded through the Apprenticeship Levy (or 95% funded for SMEs), delivered entirely online so location is never a barrier, and they develop your existing employees rather than forcing you to hire externally.
Why Preston employers are choosing AI apprenticeships
The shift isn't theoretical. Businesses across the North West are already enrolling team members on AI apprenticeships because:
- They're 100% levy funded. If you pay the Apprenticeship Levy, this training costs your business nothing. SMEs can access 95% government co-funding, bringing the cost close to zero.
- They upskill existing staff. You don't need to hire new people. AI apprenticeships develop the team you already have, giving them practical skills they apply to real work from week one.
- They're delivered online. Live sessions, 1:1 coaching, and workplace projects, all delivered remotely. Your Preston-based team joins from their desks. No travel, no disruption.
- Monthly starts. No waiting for September intakes. Enrol your team any month and they start immediately.
Which AI programmes are available?
TESS Group delivers a range of AI and data apprenticeships suited to different roles and levels. The most popular with Preston employers include:
- AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4, chosen by Preston aerospace, public sector and engineering teams applying AI to operations, admin and analysis workflows
- Data-Driven Team Leader Level 3, popular with Lancashire team leaders at BAE Systems, NHS trusts and UCLan-linked employers moving to data-led decisions
- AI & Machine Learning Fellowship Level 6, for senior technical staff at BAE Systems Warton and Samlesbury, and Preston's engineering cluster building AI strategy at scale
- AI workshops (Copilot, Gemini, Prompt Engineering) for rapid upskilling across whole teams in Preston's aerospace, public sector, engineering and higher education sectors
Every programme includes live workshops, 1:1 tutor support, and a workplace improvement project where learners apply their skills to a real business challenge.
Your team. Your goals. A 20-minute call.
Tell us what you want AI to change in your organisation, we'll map it to a levy-funded apprenticeship that delivers.
Book a Discovery Call →How it works for Preston businesses
Getting started is straightforward. You book a free discovery call, and a TESS advisor maps your team's needs to the right programme. There's no obligation, and they'll confirm your levy eligibility on the spot.
Once enrolled, your team members attend fortnightly live online sessions alongside learners from other organisations. They also get monthly 1:1 coaching and work on an improvement project tied to your business priorities. Most employers see a measurable return before the programme even finishes.
What Preston employers are asking
Do my staff need a technical background? No. The Level 3 and Level 4 programmes are designed for non-technical employees. No coding experience is needed.
Can I enrol a whole team? Yes. Many employers put through cohorts of 5 to 20+ at once. TESS will build a schedule that works around your operations.
Is this available to SMEs? Absolutely. If you don't pay the levy, the government funds 95% of the cost. For most SMEs with fewer than 50 employees, it's levy-funded with no employer contribution.
How long do the programmes last? Between 13 and 24 months depending on the level. Short courses run from 1 day to 12 weeks.
Our Preston BAE-supply team is cleared to SC, can the apprenticeship coexist with Security Check clearance? Yes. Workplace projects are scoped inside your own security boundary, so nothing classified leaves your environment. Preston aerospace and defence employers run cohorts under standard SC and DV controls, and workplace projects are framed around operational improvements that fit inside existing clearance rules.
See the full Preston AI apprenticeship options
Visit the AI Apprenticeships hub for the full list of programmes available to Preston employers, or Book a Discovery Call to get started.
Frequently asked questions.
Do my staff need a technical background?
No. The Level 3 and Level 4 programmes are designed for non-technical employees. No coding experience is needed.
Can I enrol a whole team?
Yes. Many employers put through cohorts of 5 to 20+ at once. TESS will build a schedule that works around your operations.
Is this available to SMEs?
Absolutely. If you don't pay the levy, the government funds 95% of the cost. For most SMEs with fewer than 50 employees, it's levy-funded with no employer contribution.
How long do the programmes last?
Between 13 and 24 months depending on the level. Short courses run from 1 day to 12 weeks.
Our Preston BAE-supply team is cleared to SC, can the apprenticeship coexist with Security Check clearance?
Yes. Workplace projects are scoped inside your own security boundary, so nothing classified leaves your environment. Preston aerospace and defence employers run cohorts under standard SC and DV controls, and workplace projects are framed around operational improvements that fit inside existing clearance rules.
Related programme: AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4, fully levy-funded with TESS Group.