Overview of This Apprenticeship Unit
This unit forms part of the national Apprenticeship Units programme – short, flexible training courses designed to help employers rapidly upskill their workforce in areas where skills shortages are emerging.
The AI Leadership – AI Adoption, Procurement and Governance unit provides leaders with the knowledge and skills to evaluate, procure and govern AI systems responsibly within their organisation. It focuses on evidence‑based decision‑making, risk‑aware procurement, and robust governance frameworks that ensure AI is adopted safely, ethically and effectively.
Units are aimed at employed learners aged 19+ and are based on employer‑led occupational standards to ensure relevance, quality and impact.
The Benefits Of This Apprenticeship Unit
- Build confident AI‑ready leaders: Participants learn how to lead responsible AI adoption, including governance, assurance and oversight.
- Strengthen procurement capability: Leaders gain the skills to evaluate AI vendors, assess risks and make informed procurement decisions
- Strengthen risk management & governance: The unit covers ethical, legal and organisational considerations to ensure safe and compliant AI use.
- Improve communication across teams: Learners develop the ability to explain AI risks, benefits and requirements clearly to non‑technical colleagues
- Fast, flexible and employer‑friendly: With just 30 hours of guided learning, this unit fits around operational needs and can be delivered remotely.
Benefits for Employers
- Build internal capability to lead AI adoption confidently.
- Strengthen governance, risk management and ethical oversight.
- Ensure AI adoption aligns with organisational policy, values and legal obligations.
- Reduce risks such as bias, data misuse, vendor lock‑in and compliance failures.
- Support digital transformation through structured, evidence‑based AI decision‑making
- Gain immediate workplace impact through applied learning and real‑world procurement or governance tasks.
What Learners Will Achieve
By completing this unit, learners will be able to:
- Lead organisational thinking on AI adoption, procurement and governance, including risk, compliance and assurance.
- Evaluate AI solutions using structured criteria such as performance, feasibility, cost, risk and organisational readiness.
- Conduct responsible AI procurement, including vendor due diligence, testing, benchmarking and ethical assessment.
- Define and document governance frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability and safe AI operation.
- Assess viability and risk through AI use cases, pilot projects and impact assessments.
- Engage and influence stakeholders, including non‑technical audiences, to build support for AI adoption.
- Critically evaluate and monitor AI systems, adapting governance as technologies and organisational needs evolve.
Duration & Delivery
Minimum duration: 30 hours
Typical delivery window: 6 weeks
Delivery model options:
- Blended learning (online and/or face‑to‑face).
- Applied workplace projects.
- Guided study and reflective practice.
Assessment is based on demonstrating the knowledge and skills outlined in the learning outcomes, aligned to apprenticeship standard.
This unit is designed for employed learners aged 19 and over.
Maximum funding: £750
Apprenticeship units will be fully funded for non-levy paying employers.
Levy payers can use their levy funds to pay for apprenticeship units. This is the first time levy funds can be used for non-apprenticeship training.
