Brunel has been approved to deliver new AI leadership apprenticeship units in AI adoption, procurement, and governance.
Our upcoming apprenticeship units, developed by Brunel Business School, are designed to help strengthen your strategic approach to AI - from developing practical frameworks and leadership capability to guiding AI adoption, making informed procurement decisions, and shaping governance that stands up to real organisational demands.
What are apprenticeship units?
Apprenticeship units offer focused, flexible training designed to help employers and organisations address urgent skill needs.
Delivered as three short, Level 5 units, this new model helps organisations build leadership capability in key areas of AI without committing to a full apprenticeship programme.
Who are the units for?
The units are designed for professionals in leadership and decision-making roles who influence how AI is introduced and used within their organisation.
You’ll find these units particularly useful if your role involves:
- shaping strategic direction or transformation initiatives
- assessing opportunities for AI-enabled change
- contributing to business cases or investment decisions
- evaluating solutions or working with internal and external partners
You may also be responsible for governance, oversight or assurance, where understanding risk, accountability and ethics is key.
The course is suited for professionals working across a variety of areas, such as strategy and leadership, digital and transformation, operations and service delivery, and procurement and commercial roles. It'll help you balance innovation with control, ensuring AI is both effective and well-managed in your organisation.
What are the new AI leadership units about?
We’re developing a series of AI leadership units focused on three key areas:
- AI adoption: where and how AI can deliver value
- AI procurement: choosing the right tools and partners
- AI governance: managing risk, ethics and accountability
Programme outline
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organisations operate, compete, and deliver value. For leaders, the challenge is no longer whether to use AI, but how to apply it in ways that are effective, responsible and aligned with organisational goals. This programme will support professionals to move beyond experimentation and make clear, informed decisions about how AI should be adopted and applied in practice.
These units focus on the leadership, governance and practical decisions that support successful AI adoption. Rather than treating AI as a purely technical topic, you'll explore how it can be embedded across your organisation in ways that reflect business priorities, operational realities and long-term strategy. We'll cover topics like:
- how AI can support strategic goals and organisational performance
- what successful AI adoption looks like in practice
- how to assess, select and procure AI solutions
- organisational readiness and the factors that influence implementation
- managing risk and putting effective governance in place
- embedding ethical and responsible AI practices
- balancing innovation with accountability
We'll explore these areas using real-world scenarios, practical frameworks and peer discussion to look at how AI is shaping transformation programmes, service design, decision-making and operational improvement. You'll be able to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and consider how AI can be integrated into your current ways of working.
The units are designed around the realities of implementation as well as strategy. You'll explore not just what's possible with AI, but what's appropriate, feasible and sustainable for your organisation.
By the end of the programme, you'll be better equipped to make confident, informed decisions about AI, evaluate opportunities and solutions, and support AI-enabled change in a way that's structured, responsible and aligned with organisational objectives.
Funding
Each unit can be funded up to £750, using the Skills and Growth Levy.
Programme director
Register your interest
Want to be among the first to hear when these courses open, or are you interested in helping co-design the units themselves?
Register your interest today, and we’ll keep you updated with:
- confirmed course details
- dates and availability
- updates on co-design opportunities
- invites to information sessions, where you can find out more about the units, what to expect and how they could work for your organisation
Why choose Brunel Business School?
- Real-world, practical learning: we focus on what works in practice - not just theory. You’ll gain tools and frameworks you can use straight away.
- Shaped by industry: our programmes are built with employers, so they reflect real organisational challenges and priorities.
- Collaborative approach: learn alongside professionals from different sectors. Share experiences. Test ideas. Build solutions that work in the real world.
Building the AI workforce of the future