Apprenticeship unit
AI Adoption, Procurement and Governance
For leaders involved in evaluating AI tools, making adoption and procurement decisions, and establishing responsible governance, assurance and risk controls.
Established apprenticeship support
A practical route needs a credible delivery partner
Compare the programme first, then use our specialists to check the role, workplace evidence and funding position before enrolment.
At a glance
Overview
For leaders involved in evaluating AI tools, making adoption and procurement decisions, and establishing responsible governance, assurance and risk controls.
Start with the role
Who this apprenticeship is for
Learners
Who it is for
Suitable for leaders, managers, operations, compliance, procurement, transformation, digital and governance roles.
Participant value
Participants build the confidence to ask better governance questions, shape responsible decisions and support safe, practical adoption.
What participants develop
AI adoption planning, procurement awareness, governance thinking, risk and assurance awareness, policy-minded decision-making and practical implementation judgement.
- AI adoption planning
- Procurement awareness
- Governance thinking
- Risk and assurance awareness
- Responsible decision-making
- Policy and controls awareness
- Operational judgement
- Leadership communication
Employers
Employer value
Use this unit when the organisation needs stronger internal capability around responsible adoption, procurement, governance and assurance.
What the employer contributes
A successful programme connects structured learning to meaningful workplace responsibility. Before enrolment, we help confirm that the role, available activity and internal support will give the learner a realistic opportunity to apply and evidence their development.
- A suitable employed role with relevant responsibilities
- Practical opportunities to apply learning at work
- A named manager who supports progress and feedback
- Access to projects, evidence and appropriate stakeholders
- Time for learning, reviews and required assessment activity
- Early action when progress or workplace opportunities need support
Compare your options
This apprenticeship may not be right for you
If the role, employment status, funding rules or required workplace evidence do not fit, the equivalent professional qualification may provide a more flexible route.
Apprenticeship consultation
Check the role, learner and funding position with a specialist.
Use a short consultation meeting to confirm whether this apprenticeship fits the workplace role and agree the most useful next step.
Meet your tutors
Learn from industry experts
Our course delivery team bring practical workplace insight, structured guidance, and supportive feedback to every stage of learning.
Christopher Journeaux
Trainer and Learner Support
Diane Earles
Head of Customer Experience
Fahad Malik
Marketing Executive
Jess Turnbull
Business Administrator
John Finlay
Tutor and Mentor
Mandy Mercer
Qualifications Consultant
Margaret Hyde
Trainer and Learner Support
Martin Hutchins
CEO
Nat Milner
Accounts and Office Administrator
Nic Miles
Course Coordinator
Phil Knowles
Head of Learning
Sally Steadman
Trainer and Mentor
Stuart Parton
Tutor and Mentor
A structured route
How learning and support work together
The programme combines planned development, practical workplace application and regular human support so progress remains visible and purposeful.
Planned development
How the unit works
Programmes combine scheduled learning, applied workplace tasks, regular reviews, portfolio-building and staged preparation for completion requirements.
Learning is sequenced around the requirements of the product and the opportunities available in the learner's role. Activities build towards confident application rather than isolated completion.
- Scheduled workshops and guided learning activity
- Workplace tasks connected to real responsibilities
- Evidence gathered progressively throughout the programme
- Milestones that make priorities and next steps clear
- Preparation integrated before final assessment
People-first support
Delivery and support model
Professional Academy combines trainer support, mentoring, employer guidance and technology-supported visibility so learners and line managers can see progress clearly.
Support connects the learner, their employer and Professional Academy. Regular conversations identify progress, unblock workplace challenges and keep development aligned with the role.
- Expert teaching and guidance from experienced practitioners
- Named support between scheduled learning activities
- Regular progress reviews with the learner and employer
- Feedback on application, evidence and assessment readiness
- Clear escalation when additional support is needed
From suitability to achievement
The apprenticeship journey
Use this summary to understand how suitability, planning, learning and assessment fit together.
- Stage 01
Check suitability
Confirm that the product, employed role, eligibility and available workplace activity create the right starting point.
- Stage 02
Plan the programme
Recognise prior learning, agree responsibilities and establish a practical training plan with clear milestones.
- Stage 03
Learn and apply
Combine guided learning with workplace activity, feedback, evidence and regular progress reviews.
- Stage 04
Complete assessment
Demonstrate the unit outcomes through the required skills test and secure employer validation of achievement.
Expert support, applied learning
How we mentor and support you
A blend of expert conversation, structured resources and applied workplace activity keeps learning practical, personal and connected to the progress you want to make.
Expert-led workshops
Learn with practising professionals
Live workshops turn theory into practical decisions. They are led by practising professionals who have held senior positions in their discipline and bring multi-sector experience, so discussion is grounded in the realities of your role.
Personal mentoring
Guidance from people who have done the role
Your mentor is a practising professional with senior leadership experience across sectors. They help you interpret feedback, overcome workplace challenges and turn learning into confident action.
On-demand e-learning
Build confidence between live sessions
Structured digital learning lets you prepare, revisit key concepts and progress at a pace that works alongside your role. Resources make every workshop and workplace conversation more useful.
Applied assignments
Show what you can do at work
Assignments connect learning to real responsibilities, giving you a clear way to practise, reflect and build credible evidence of progress. Expert guidance helps turn live work into meaningful development.
Presentations and feedback
Communicate your thinking with confidence
Presentations give you a supported space to articulate recommendations, explain decisions and respond to professional questions. Constructive feedback builds confidence before you use these skills with stakeholders.
English apprenticeships only
Understand apprenticeship funding
Funding and eligibility depend on employer type, learner circumstances, role suitability, start date and current English apprenticeship rules.
Assessment and progression
How this apprenticeship unit is completed
Use current Skills England completion requirements and evidence expectations. Avoid describing apprenticeship units as having gateway or end-point assessment unless official guidance confirms it.
- Stage 01
Readiness
Confirm the role, learning activity and evidence needed for the unit.
- Stage 02
Skills assessment
Demonstrate the published knowledge and skills through the provider-delivered test.
- Stage 03
Employer validation
Confirm successful achievement of the unit outcomes.
AI Adoption, Procurement and Governance, version 1.0, is assessed against the knowledge, skills and learning outcomes published for this apprenticeship unit.
Assessment requirements
- Mandatory skills test: the learner must pass a skills test delivered by the training provider, demonstrating the knowledge and skills set out in the unit.
- Employer validation: the employer validates the result to confirm that the learner has successfully achieved the unit outcomes in the workplace context.
- Optional extended assessment: the employer or learner may choose independent external assessment where appropriate, such as through a non-mandatory qualification.
The assessment should demonstrate solution and vendor evaluation, procurement decisions, acquisition risk, governance, compliance, ethical decision-making and human oversight.
Official unit details: Skills England, AI Adoption, Procurement and Governance version 1.0.
Study support you will receive
You are never developing alone
Hear how learners experience the people, resources and guidance around their development.
Apprenticeship standard
Knowledge, skills and behaviours
These statements are loaded directly from the Dataverse apprenticeship standard record for AU0010.
Expand each section to view all of the learning outcomes.
Knowledge1 statements
| Ref | Statement |
|---|---|
| K | AI solution evaluation, procurement, risk, governance, ethics, compliance, assurance and human oversight. |
Skills1 statements
| Ref | Statement |
|---|---|
| S | Evaluate vendors, make procurement decisions, apply governance, compliance, assurance and human-centred AI practices. |
Compare with adjacent development options
Use these links to compare adjacent routes, move back up to the parent pathway page and connect this programme to wider apprenticeship support content.
Compare all related apprenticeship routes
Move back to the parent pathway page to compare route fit, progression and next-step guidance across the wider family.
Compare the wider AI leadership unit pathway
Use the AI leadership unit hub to compare the three units and decide whether targeted upskilling or a broader leadership pathway makes more sense.
Understand the wider apprenticeship journey
Review the wider apprenticeship journey, role fit and implementation guidance before choosing a unit or a broader route.
Free programme guide
Request the apprenticeship brochure
Take away the programme information and review it with the people involved in the decision.
Related routes and useful links
Use the parent discipline page and support pages to compare adjacent options, understand funding and plan the wider apprenticeship journey.
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Apprenticeship funding
Understand apprenticeship funding, eligibility and the practical steps before enrolment.
Apprenticeships for organisations
See how organisations can develop capability through role-led, workplace-based apprenticeships.
Support that helps apprenticeships succeed in practice
Professional Academy combines experienced trainers, people-first support, line manager guidance and structured learner visibility.
Continual reviews keep learners moving
Regular checkpoints help employers, learners and trainers spot drift early, keep evidence on track and maintain momentum towards timely completion.
Named trainers and advisers stay close to the programme
Support is led by experienced people who understand workplace delivery, learner confidence and the practical decisions employers need to make.
Planning is shaped around timely, high-quality completion
We structure delivery, review cadence and intervention around sustained progress, strong gateway readiness and the conditions that support higher achievement.
Development stays tied to live work, not abstract theory
Learners build evidence through real campaigns, customers, service activity or operational work so the apprenticeship creates value while capability grows.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Who is this apprenticeship designed for?
This apprenticeship is designed for employed learners whose role provides suitable responsibilities, workplace activity and opportunities to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and behaviours.
How long does the apprenticeship take?
The programme duration is shown in the quick facts on this page. The exact timetable depends on prior learning, workplace opportunities, learner progress and readiness for end-point assessment.
How is the apprenticeship funded?
Eligible apprenticeship training is normally funded through an employer apprenticeship levy account or co-investment. We confirm eligibility, employer contributions and any exclusions before enrolment.
What support will the learner receive?
Learners receive structured teaching, learning resources, progress reviews and named human support. Employers and line managers are involved so learning can be applied in the workplace.
How is progress assessed?
Progress is reviewed throughout the programme using learning activity, workplace evidence and regular reviews. The learner must meet the gateway requirements before completing the independent end-point assessment.
What if this apprenticeship is not the right fit?
We can compare the role, learner experience, funding position and workplace evidence with alternative apprenticeships or an equivalent professional qualification before you commit.
Next step
Want to build AI leadership capability?
Talk to us about your leadership team, your AI priorities and which unit or pathway may be most suitable.
