AU0009, AU0010, AU0011: Your Complete Guide to the New AI Leadership Apprenticeship Units

1. Background: Why Three Units, Not One?

When Skills England launched the first wave of apprenticeship units in March 2026, the AI Leadership offering came as a single unit: AU0002 (AI Leadership, Developing AI Strategy). It covered everything from identifying AI opportunities to governing AI deployments to leading organisational transformation.

On 21 April 2026, Skills England withdrew AU0002 and replaced it with three separate units. The reasoning is straightforward: AI leadership is not a single skill. An organisation that needs help with AI governance has a fundamentally different need from one that needs help with AI strategy or AI transformation. By splitting the unit, Skills England has given employers the flexibility to target exactly what they need.

The practical upside for employers is significant. You can now enrol leaders on just the unit they need, combine two, or complete all three as a comprehensive pathway. And because each unit carries its own £750 funding allocation, the total available funding per learner has increased to £2,250.

2. AU0009: AI Strategy & Opportunity

3. AU0010: AI Adoption, Procurement & Governance

4. AU0011: AI Delivery & Organisational Transformation

5. Side-by-Side Comparison

6. Who Are These Units For?

All three units are designed for senior leaders and decision-makers. No technical or coding background is required. The typical profiles include:

• Managing Directors and CEOs who need to set AI direction and make investment decisions
• Department Heads and Operations Managers who need to integrate AI into their function
• Compliance and Risk Leaders who need to govern AI responsibly
• IT Directors and CTOs who need to evaluate and procure AI tools
• HR Directors and L&D Managers who need to lead workforce transformation around AI
• Transformation and Change Leads who need to deliver AI projects and measure impact

Any employee who will develop genuine new skills through the units is eligible, regardless of seniority or length of service. The only requirement is that the learning is new to the individual, not just a repackaging of existing capability.

7. Funding Explained

The funding model is the same as the original AU0002, but applied to each unit individually:

Non-levy employers (annual pay bill under £3 million): each unit is 100% government funded. No employer contribution required. A learner completing all three units receives £2,250 in fully funded training at no cost to the business.

Levy-paying employers (annual pay bill over £3 million): each unit draws from your Growth and Skills Levy account. At £750 per unit, this is a highly efficient use of levy funds compared to full apprenticeships that may draw £10,000–£27,000 per learner.

8. The TESS AI Leadership Pathway

While each unit can be completed independently, TESS Group delivers all three as a cohesive pathway called the TESS AI Leadership Pathway. It is structured as three stackable sprints, each building on the last:

The recommended order is Strategy first, then Governance, then Transformation. But this is flexible. If your organisation already has an AI strategy and needs help with governance, you can start at Sprint 2. If your priority is getting AI projects delivered, Sprint 3 is a valid entry point.

Delivery is live, expert-led, and virtual (via Zoom and Microsoft Teams). Each sprint runs over approximately 4–6 weeks with a commitment of a few hours per week plus dedicated workshop sessions. Employers can enrol individuals or cohorts, and we offer both open and private delivery options.

9. Which Unit Should You Start With?

Here is a quick decision framework:

Start with AU0009 (Strategy) if your organisation is still deciding where and how to use AI. If you do not yet have an AI strategy, a clear understanding of where AI creates value, or a business case for AI investment, this is your starting point.

Start with AU0010 (Governance) if you are already using AI tools but lack formal governance. If your team is adopting ChatGPT, Copilot, or other AI tools without clear policies, oversight, or procurement frameworks, this unit addresses your most urgent risk.

Start with AU0011 (Transformation) if you have a strategy and governance in place but are struggling to deliver. If AI pilots are stalling, change management is not happening, or you cannot measure whether AI is delivering value, this unit focuses on execution.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

What replaced AU0002?

AU0002 (AI Leadership, Developing AI Strategy) was withdrawn on 21 April 2026 and replaced by three new Level 5 units: AU0009 (AI Strategy & Opportunity), AU0010 (AI Adoption, Procurement & Governance), and AU0011 (AI Delivery & Organisational Transformation). Read our full announcement about the AU0002 split for the background.

Is there an End-Point Assessment?

No. Like all apprenticeship units, AU0009, AU0010, and AU0011 are assessed internally by the training provider with employer validation. There is no independent EPA, which means faster completion and less bureaucracy for learners and employers.

Can existing employees do these units?

Yes. Apprenticeship units are ideal for upskilling existing senior leaders. Any employee who will develop genuine new skills through the unit is eligible, regardless of seniority or length of service.

Do I need to do the units in order?

No. While TESS Group recommends starting with Strategy (AU0009), each unit is standalone. You can start with whichever unit addresses your organisation’s most pressing need.

How long does each unit take?

Each unit requires a minimum of 30 guided learning hours. At TESS Group, we typically deliver each sprint over 4–6 weeks, with a blend of live sessions, workshops, and applied project work. The pace can be adjusted to suit your organisation.

Can we enrol different leaders on different units?

Absolutely. You might enrol your CEO on AU0009 (Strategy), your compliance director on AU0010 (Governance), and your transformation lead on AU0011 (Delivery). Each leader gets the specific skills they need, and the combined capability strengthens your organisation’s AI readiness across the board.

What AI tools will learners use?

Across the pathway, learners get hands-on experience with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude (Anthropic), Google Gemini, and Grok. The focus is on strategic evaluation rather than operational use, so leaders learn to assess which tools are right for which purposes.

How does this connect to the rest of the TESS AI portfolio?

The AI Leadership Pathway sits at the top of the TESS AI Skills Pyramid. Below it, the AI & Automation Practitioner (Level 4) builds hands-on AI capability, the Data-Driven Team Leader (Level 3) builds data confidence in frontline managers, and the AI & ML Fellowship (Level 6) develops deep technical specialists. When your leadership team completes the pathway, they land in an organisation where every layer is building AI skills through a connected curriculum.