Learners will span ages, career stages and geographies to ensure fair distribution of economic opportunity
Today Multiverse, the upskilling platform for tech and AI adoption, announces a commitment to train 15,000 new AI apprentices over the next two years. This ambitious initiative supports the UK Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, laying out a tangible first step towards expanding pathways into AI careers across the nation.
The adoption of AI technologies is projected to contribute £79.3 billion to the UK economy by 2035, but businesses urgently need skilled workers in order to realise these gains. More than half of workers have received fewer than five hours of training on AI, and just one third (34%) of FTSE 100 companies reference AI training in their latest annual reports.
These new AI apprenticeships will be created and delivered in partnership with leading employers across the country, including Skanska, John Lewis Partners, Visa, The University of Manchester and Legal & General, ensuring that AI opportunities are not confined to certain regions.
Multiverse’s existing AI learner base spans geographic locations. More than 2,200 AI apprentices are currently enrolled through over 200 employers, from Wigan to Wiltshire and Manchester to Maidstone, demonstrating the nationwide demand for these critical skills. The 15,000 new AI apprentices will join their ranks, creating a nationwide community of AI experts that will boost the productivity and innovation of their organisations.
Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said: "Cutting-edge technologies like AI are transforming the way our economy works, so it is vital that British people have the right skills to make the most of the new opportunities tech presents. These efforts are central to the ambitions for jobs and growth, at the heart of our Plan for Change.
“Multiverse's commitment to thousands of AI apprenticeships will help us achieve just that, backing people right across our country to develop the skills they need to for a career in AI, no matter where they live.”
Katy Dowding, President and CEO at Skanska, said: “The construction industry is a key driver of economic growth, and we are equipping ourselves with the core foundational skills in AI that will ensure we can support our customers in delivering their ambitions, drive efficiency and improve productivity. Our first 25 AI apprentices are already showing the great potential of these technologies.”
Financial services provider Legal and General recognised the opportunity to proactively adopt responsible AI across its functions through upskilling. It has 50 apprentices on AI programmes.
Derrick Hastie, Chief Technology Officer, Asset Management, L&G said: “AI isn't just a buzzword for us; it's a critical enabler of efficiency and growth. AI will soon be embedded in all our delivery teams, to help us create innovative solutions for our customers. But technology alone isn't enough. Education and skills are essential to ensure our people aren't just observers of change — they're active architects of it.”
Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Non-Executive Director at Multiverse, said: "The promise of AI will remain unfulfilled unless all kinds of people possess the skills to truly harness it. This is no longer a distant concern but an urgent agenda in boardrooms nationwide. Training is a vital conduit to productivity, ensuring that the UK workforce is not just AI-literate, but AI-fluent, and capable of turning potential into prosperity."
Euan Blair, CEO, Multiverse, said: "Whether it's impacting you directly yet or not, we are already undergoing an AI revolution - and the key to winning in this new era lies in augmenting human capability. Our commitment to 15,000 AI apprenticeships is a bold declaration that AI skills must be for everyone, at every stage of their career. We want to equip entire organisations with the ability to seize the opportunities AI offers and build the workforce of tomorrow."
The new AI apprentices will enrol through their employers as early as June, either coming in as new hires or through upskilling initiatives for existing staff, and programmes will be funded by the Growth and Skills Levy. Learners will develop skills tailored to their requisite level of expertise, from AI ethics and prompt engineering, to data management and governance, to building and deploying machine learning and AI models.
All programmes will be delivered by industry-expert coaches, with apprentices’ new skills applied within the day-to-day requirements of their roles. Business impact is measured through projects, in the form of new revenue unlocked by skills, or costs avoided through additional productivity.
Rachané Bryan-Henderson, an account manager at advertising agency BBH, part of Publicis Groupe, said: “As someone who didn’t go to university I didn’t take a “traditional” pathway. The experience I gained through working has stood me in good stead, but AI now gives me an even greater advantage. By applying these new skills in my role I’m able to lead the way in my company, putting AI to use as we grow.”
For more information on apprenticeships, visit the Government’s Find an Apprenticeship(opens new window) service.
Professional services company Capita has enrolled nearly 200 apprentices onto AI programmes across its UK offices, from Bradford to Bristol. Adolfo Hernandez, Capita’s CEO, said: "Developing our colleagues’ AI proficiency is not just about identifying opportunities for efficiency, but about future-proofing our workforce and driving innovation across our organisation. By combining people, processes, and technology we help our clients across the public and private sectors deliver better, faster, and more efficient services to customers and citizens. We see AI as a once-in-a-generation shift that will redefine how organisations operate, and Multiverse's approach ensures our colleagues gain practical, job-relevant AI skills that make an immediate impact."
Nottingham City Council is upskilling 40 of its staff in AI, the latest step in its efforts to digitally transform its workforce. Sajeeda Rose, chief executive of Nottingham City Council, said: “As a council we are always looking for ways to bring better services to the people of Nottingham.Combining data insights with AI capabilities will help us to effectively deliver on our improvement plan.”
Mandy Lamb, Managing Director, Visa UK and Ireland, said: “Visa has been harnessing the power of AI for decades. We see AI as a catalyst—not just for technology, but for talent. We’re excited to be investing in the next generation of leaders who can harness the power of AI and continue to help shape the future of payments.”
