Build a workforce that turns AI into real business impact.
TESS Group designs and delivers levy-funded apprenticeships that put modern AI to work inside your teams — from a flagship AI & Automation Practitioner programme to short Level 5 leadership units. 100% levy-funded for most UK organisations, bespoke to your business, with monthly rolling cohort starts.
Trusted by teams at 200+ UK employers
Your route to an AI-ready workforce
One flagship apprenticeship, tool-specific editions, role-based pathways and short leadership units — all levy-funded and built to put AI to work where it matters in your business.
AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4
Our cornerstone apprenticeship. Learners deliver real AI and automation projects on your priorities — building practical capability across the whole team. No coding background required, delivered live online, with an 8-month accelerated option for experienced staff.
- 100% levy-funded for most UK employers
- Live online — cohorts every month
- Real workplace AI projects, not theory
- Open to staff in any business function
Tool editions of the L4 · closed cohort
The same Level 4 apprenticeship, run as a private cohort for your organisation and built around the AI assistant your teams already use.
Microsoft Copilot edition
For Microsoft 365 organisations — everything taught and applied in Copilot across Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook.
Explore edition Level 4 · Closed cohortGoogle Gemini edition
For Google Workspace teams — delivered and applied in Gemini across Docs, Sheets, Gmail and Meet.
Explore edition Level 4 · Closed cohortClaude edition
For teams standardising on Anthropic's Claude — advanced reasoning, drafting and analysis built into the programme.
Explore editionRole-based pathways
The Level 4 reframed for specific roles, plus a Level 6 fellowship for those building deeper AI and machine-learning capability.
AI for Team Leaders
Equip frontline and team leaders to lead AI-enabled ways of working.
View pathway Level 4AI for Operations Leaders
For operations leaders driving efficiency and process improvement with AI.
View pathway Level 4AI for Coaching Professionals
For coaches and L&D professionals embedding AI into their practice.
View pathway Level 6 · DegreeAI & ML Fellowship
A degree-level apprenticeship for those building serious AI & data science depth.
View fellowshipAI Leadership Units · Level 5 · closed cohort
Short, focused units for leaders — 30 guided learning hours each, £750 per unit, no end-point assessment. Run as a private cohort to upskill your leadership team fast.
AI Strategy
Set a clear, commercially grounded AI strategy for your organisation.
View unit AU0010 · Level 5AI Adoption & Governance
Drive responsible adoption with the right guardrails, policy and governance.
View unit AU0011 · Level 5AI Delivery & Transformation
Turn AI strategy into delivered change and measurable business outcomes.
View unitStart with a free AI Taster Day
Not sure where to begin? Our free, NCFE-accredited AI Taster Days are delivered live online and give your team a hands-on first step — the no-risk way to see the impact before committing to a full programme.
22 apprenticeships across every business function
AI is our specialism, but it sits inside a complete portfolio. Whatever capability your teams need to build, there's a levy-funded apprenticeship to match.
AI & Data
AI & Automation Practitioner, AI & ML Fellowship, data analysts and the Level 5 AI Leadership Units.
Leadership & Management
Team leaders, operations and departmental managers, and senior leaders — CMI and ILM aligned.
Coaching & Mentoring
Coaching Professional and CMI/ILM coaching and mentoring qualifications for people developers.
HR & People
HR support and people-profession apprenticeships, CIPD-aligned, for growing people teams.
Operations & Improvement
Project management, business administration and improvement roles that keep delivery on track.
Digital & Marketing
Multi-channel marketing, digital and business-analysis apprenticeships for modern commercial teams.
From first call to team starting — in about 30 days
A simple, well-supported path from enquiry to live delivery, with a dedicated account manager looking after you the whole way.
Discovery call
We learn your goals, teams and priorities, and map the apprenticeships that fit — with honest funding advice.
Programme design
We shape a bespoke programme around your business, including tool editions and role-based pathways where they help.
Enrolment
We handle onboarding and paperwork. With monthly rolling cohorts, your team typically starts within ~30 days.
Delivery & support
Live online delivery, a dedicated account manager and monthly progress reviews keep momentum and outcomes on track.
Funded through the Growth & Skills Levy
Apprenticeships are government-backed training. For most UK organisations the training cost is fully covered — here's how it works for you.
Fund directly from your levy
If your annual pay bill is over £3m you pay the apprenticeship levy. Use your existing levy pot to fund TESS Group programmes — turning a tax you already pay into capability for your teams.
- Training funded from your existing levy pot
- No additional training cost for eligible programmes
- We help you make the most of your funds before they expire
Up to 100% government-funded
Don't pay the levy? Smaller and non-levy employers can access up to 100% government funding for apprenticeship training under the Growth & Skills Levy — so most teams pay nothing for the training itself.
- Up to 100% of training costs covered by government
- Ideal for growing teams building AI capability
- We guide you through eligibility and set-up
A provider built for results, not just delivery
An Ofsted Good, Skills England approved provider with a track record employers come back to.
Ofsted Good provider
An Ofsted Good, Skills England approved training provider you can trust with your people.
4.9/5 from 690+ reviews
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by hundreds of learners and employers — from across the businesses you know.
72% pass at Distinction
Against a national average of around 20% — outcomes that show real capability built.
Monthly rolling starts
No waiting for the next intake — cohorts begin every month, so teams start fast.
Dedicated account manager
One named contact who knows your business and keeps everything on track.
Bespoke programme design
Programmes shaped around your goals and tools, delivered live online to fit busy teams.
Team Leader Level 3 is being defunded from September 2026
If you currently use the Team Leader L3 standard, now is a good time to plan ahead. We can help you move to AI-enabled leadership alternatives — such as AI for Team Leaders (Level 4) — that develop the same leadership skills plus practical AI capability.
From teams at the companies you know
“This project increased visibility of performance reporting, stakeholder communication and accuracy. It enabled proactive management of peak volumes and faster responses to emerging challenges.”
“As a business, DPD have had good results with the TESS Group and have applied their courses to multiple apprenticeships. I'd 100% recommend them to anyone who wants to do an apprenticeship.”
“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 refining the questions to ask.”
Ready to build an AI-ready workforce?
Book a discovery call and we'll map the right levy-funded programmes for your teams — with honest funding advice and a plan to start within ~30 days.
Ofsted Good · 4.9/5 from 690+ reviews · 100% levy-funded