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During National Apprenticeship Week, Access is introducing three AI qualification pathways for employees, ranging from foundational AI advocacy to advanced machine learning engineering. The programmes are fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy and delivered in partnership with QA, one of the UK's leading tech apprenticeship providers.
Jon Jorgensen, Access CEO, said:
“This week, we’re proud to launch our first AI‑focused apprenticeship programme. We believe skills like AI shouldn’t be limited to people with computer science degrees - they should be accessible to anyone with curiosity and ambition. We’d love to expand our apprenticeship offering even further, but the system needs to be simpler.
This week we launched 119 apprenticeships, but we could be doing this at ten times the scale if the system were simpler. The Levy's intention is brilliant - championing practical, job-based learning - but the complexity has been holding back employers and learners alike.
Only 4% of levy-paying businesses spend their full levy* - many employers, including Access, have struggled to navigate an overly complex process. Last year, rather than forfeiting the unspent funds, we passed them on to our Access Care customers so they could hire their own apprentices.
At Access, we’re committed to helping people from all backgrounds build meaningful careers. Apprenticeships open doors for talented, driven individuals, but red tape and rigid rules keep getting in the way. If the process were simpler, employers like us could do even more to help people learn, grow, and get ahead.”
The UK AI Apprenticeship Programme offers three pathways:
- AI Advocate Apprenticeship (Level 3) - Designed for customer-facing and operational roles, this pathway develops AI champions who can coach teams, optimise workflows, and embed AI into day-to-day operations using tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Databricks Engineer Apprenticeship (Level 5) - Equips data professionals with advanced skills in data engineering, machine learning, and the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to transform raw data into actionable business insights.
- AI Engineer Apprenticeship (Level 6) - Develops in-house specialists capable of designing, building, and deploying scalable Generative AI and Machine Learning solutions using Azure AI, GitHub Copilot and Databricks.
Donna Parry, Level 3 AI Advocate Apprentice, said: "With AI playing an increasingly central role in how we work, I wanted to be at the forefront of that evolution. This apprenticeship is exactly what I needed to take my skills to the next level.
Being able to upskill while working means I can immediately apply what I’m learning to support my teams and our customers. It’s already making a real difference in how I approach my work day-to-day, and I’m excited to see where these new AI capabilities will take my career.”
Adam Lonsdale, Level 6 AI Engineer Programme said: "I started my career with GCSEs and was keen to keep developing without taking the traditional university route. The Level 6 AI Engineer apprenticeship gives me the opportunity to build advanced, real‑world AI skills while continuing to work and learn on the job, while being supported in my role.
Through the programme, I’ll develop capabilities in areas such as generative AI, machine learning, data engineering, and cloud‑based AI solutions, as well as learning how to design, deploy and maintain responsible AI systems. For me, this apprenticeship is about more than gaining a qualification, it’s about building confidence, accelerating my personal development, and opening long‑term career opportunities in AI and technology.”
The Access programmes are funded through the UK Apprenticeship Levy, with no cost to employees. Training combines structured learning with hands-on project work to deliver immediate impact.
Access's 119 AI apprentices will be embedded across the company's operations, from customer success teams to engineering, meaning teams serving the company's 160,000+ clients will increasingly understand how to apply AI to solve business challenges.
*Employers only spending half of apprenticeship levy funds
About The Access Group
The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 160,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what’s important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs over 9,000 people and continuously drives product innovation and customer service excellence.
For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow us @TheAccessGroup.