AI Leadership Programme
(Fully Funded – 12 Week Programme)
AI Leadership Units for Business Professionals Lead the Future of Your Business with AI
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way organisations operate, from improving efficiency and customer experience to supporting smarter decision-making and business growth.
Our new AI Leadership Units are designed to help professionals and organisations confidently introduce, manage and lead AI within the workplace.
Whether you are exploring AI for the first time or looking to develop a strategic approach, these fully funded programmes provide practical, business-focused skills that can be applied immediately.
More About This Programme...
About This Programme
This course is built for organisations that want to move from AI curiosity to real-world implementation.
Rather than focusing purely on AI tools, this programme develops the leadership capability needed to manage the entire AI lifecycle:
Understand → Decide → Choose → Control → Deliver → Improve
Who This Is For
This programme is ideal for:
- Business leaders and managers
- Operational leads
- Team leaders
- Project managers
- Digital and transformation teams
- Professionals looking to lead AI adoption within their organisation
If you are responsible for strategy, performance, or transformation, this programme will equip you to lead AI effectively.
What You’ll Learn
Across the 12-week programme, learners will gain practical capability in:
- Identifying where AI adds value in your organisation
- Building and delivering an AI strategy
- Selecting the right tools, platforms, and vendors
- Implementing governance frameworks and ethical safeguards
- Managing AI risks, compliance, and oversight
- Leading organisational change and workforce adoption
- Monitoring AI performance and continuous improvement
Programme Overview
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Delivery: 1 full-day workshop per week
- Format: Live, interactive sessions
- Cost: Fully funded (subject to eligibility)
- Outcome: Leadership capability to manage AI end-to-end
Programme Breakdown
Unit 1
Unit 1 – 4 weeks, 30 hours, 1 day per week live teams session with practical real world learning opportunities.
Learning Outcomes
- Organisational leadership in setting AI policy and strategy. Including business cases, detailing implications for the workforce, organisational perception and sustainability to inform decision making.
- Evaluate opportunities for AI-driven improvement using qualitative and quantitative evidence, including the assessment of risk.
- 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, identifying investment areas balancing productivity gains against feasibility, impact and organisational readiness.
- Engage stakeholders to build support for AI strategy and adoption, including non-technical audiences.
- Critically evaluate and monitor. Implementing adaptations, including responses to emerging AI technologies and trends.
Unit 2
Unit 2 – 4 weeks, 30 hours, 1 day per week live teams session with practical real world learning opportunities.
- Evaluate AI solutions and vendors using structured criteria following organisational process (cost, performance, risk, data readiness).
- Make procurement decisions based on testing, benchmarking and user validation following organisational policy and process.
- Assess risks associated with AI acquisition, including vendor lock-in, data, IP, and sustainability.
- Design and implement AI governance frameworks, including roles, responsibilities and escalation pathways.
- Embed ethical, legal and regulatory considerations into AI decision-making processes.
- Define assurance and compliance processes, including documentation, auditability and transparency.
- Design and implement human oversight mechanisms for AI systems.
Unit 3
Unit 3 – 4 weeks, 30 hours, 1 day per week live teams session with practical real world learning opportunities.
- Lead delivery of AI-enabled organisational change, ensuring AI solutions are sustainable and aligned to long-term organisational objectives.
- Assess and manage workforce impacts of AI adoption, including reskilling, role redesign, anticipating and responding to potential job displacement and workforce reduction. Assess the impact on the organisation’s wider ecosystem, for example, suppliers and digitally excluded groups.
- Implement organisational level AI risk management, including monitoring, the use of tools, mitigation and escalation.
- Achieve audit requirements and regulatory compliance, including incident and security response planning.
- Monitor performance and risks of deployed AI systems, including bias, drift and security vulnerabilities.
- Communicate AI risks and opportunities internally and externally, including communication with non-technical stakeholders, and regulators.
Programme Breakdown
Why AI Matters for Business
AI is no longer just for large tech companies. Businesses across every sector are now using AI to:
- Improve productivity and efficiency
- Reduce repetitive manual tasks
- Strengthen customer service and communication
- Support data-driven decision making
- Improve compliance and reporting processes
- Streamline operations and project delivery
- Create competitive advantage and innovation
Organisations that embrace AI effectively are positioning themselves to work smarter, respond faster and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
Benefits for Employers
Our AI Leadership Units help businesses:
Build Internal AI Capability
Develop confident leaders who can identify opportunities for AI adoption and drive change across the organisation.
Improve Efficiency
Explore practical AI tools and approaches that can save time, improve workflows and support operational performance.
Support Strategic Growth
Learn how AI can support innovation, planning, decision-making and long-term business development.
Reduce Risk
Understand the importance of AI governance, ethical use, compliance and responsible implementation.
Future-Proof the Workforce
Equip teams with the skills and confidence needed to adapt to emerging technologies and changing ways of working.
Benefits for Individuals
Learners will gain:
Practical AI Knowledge
Understand how AI works and how it can be applied within real business environments.
Leadership & Strategic Skills
Learn how to lead AI adoption, support teams through change and contribute to business transformation.
Increased Confidence
Develop the confidence to use AI tools responsibly and effectively within the workplace.
Career Development
Gain valuable future-focused skills that are increasingly in demand across all industries.
Immediate Workplace Impact
Apply learning directly to current job roles through practical activities and business-focused projects.
Flexible, Practical & Employer-Focused
The AI Leadership Units are designed to be:
- Fully funded (subject to eligibility)
- Delivered through live, tutor-led training
- Practical and workplace focused
- Suitable for employed learners aged 19+
- Built around real business application rather than theory alone
Enrolment
- Programme Length: 12 weeks
- Start Dates: Rolling cohorts available
- Funding: Fully funded (eligibility applies)
- Places: Limited availability
Eligibility:
- Employed
- Work 50% time in England
- Aged 19+
- Identification
Fully Funded for Non Levy employers, Fully funded for Levy employers with reserves or a 5% contribution if not. ALL employers must be registered on their Digital Account to access this funding – Register here: Employing an apprentice: Create an account – GOV.UK Once registered ad UK Skills Academy Ltd UKPRN 10054946
