AI Leadership: AI Strategy & Opportunity

4 days Fully funded for employers AU0009

The AI Leadership: AI Strategy & Opportunity Apprenticeship Unit (AU0009) is ideal for those in leadership roles responsible for setting direction, governance and oversight for AI use, who need upskilling in AI leadership literacy.

This 4-day, Level 5 programme is particularly relevant for those businesses at an early stage of AI adoption, where there's a need to build initial understanding and identify relevant opportunities.

Is this Apprenticeship Unit right for my business?

This Apprenticeship Unit is suitable for employers seeking to:

Build confident, informed AI leadership capability
Accelerate AI adoption while controlling risk and reputational exposure
Ensure AI decisions align with values, regulation and workforce wellbeing
Create a clear, defensible AI strategy supported by governance and assurance

Learners should be:

Aged 19+
Employed

AI Leadership skills gained

By completing the AI Strategy & Opportunity Apprenticeship Unit, learners will develop the capability to:

Set AI policy and strategy.
Evaluate opportunities for AI-driven improvement using qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Define, document and communicate an AI strategy aligned to organisational goals, values and risk appetite.
Assess viability and risk through AI use cases and pilots.
Engage stakeholders to build support for AI strategy and adoption.
Critically evaluate and monitor. Implementing adaptations, including responses to emerging AI technologies and trends.

Knowledge gained

During this Apprenticeship Unit, learners gain a strong understanding of:

AI and automation concepts and models that support leadership decision-making.
The capabilities, benefits and risks of automation, AI and digital tools.
The role of organisational leadership in responsible AI adoption.
Understand how to develop and implement organisational AI strategy and plans.
How to assess the viability of solutions when making acquisition decisions.
Principles and application of testing methodologies and their application in practice.
Principles of human oversight and human AI collaboration to achieve shared outcomes.

Transferable skills

Learners also build wider professional skills highly valued by employers:

Strategic decision‑making under uncertainty.
Values‑based and ethical leadership.
Stakeholder influence and executive communication.
Risk‑informed judgement and assurance.
Cross‑functional leadership across technical and non‑technical teams.
Change leadership and workforce engagement.

Apprenticeship Unit Funding: How it works

A full breakdown of how apprenticeship units are funded is available below, specific to both Levy and Non-Levy paying employers.

Levy Employer:

Fully funded directly from your Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account, subject to available funds.

Levy Employer with insufficient funds / co-investment:

95% is funded by government co-investment, you agree to pay a mandatory 5% cash contribution.

Non-Levy Employer:

Fully funded using your reservation made via the Government's apprenticeship service website.

AI Leadership: AI Strategy & Opportunity

What your employee will learn

The AI Strategy & Opportunity Apprenticeship Unit is assessed daily through:

Scenario-based group tasks
Facilitated discussion and questioning
Applied mini-assessments

Curriculum Sequencing:

Day 1–2: Build conceptual understanding → leadership strategy
Day 3: Apply analytical and evaluation techniques
Day 4: Embed governance and operational delivery

Learning Timeline: