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Overview
The AI leadership – AI adoption, procurement and governance apprenticeship unit is a five-day live training programme designed for leaders who influence or make decisions about acquiring, implementing, and governing AI systems within their organisations.
This unit builds the strategic and practical capability required to move from AI ambition to defensible, evidence-based adoption. Learners develop the skills to evaluate AI use cases, assess suppliers and delivery models, manage risk, and design governance frameworks that ensure accountability and transparency across the AI lifecycle.
The programme places strong emphasis on ethical, legal, regulatory, and human-centric considerations. Participants learn how to embed responsible AI principles into procurement, oversight, assurance, and compliance processes, ensuring that AI systems are adopted in a way that supports organisational resilience and public trust.
Funding: This apprenticeship unit is funded through the Government’s Growth and Skills Levy. Levy-paying employers can use their levy funds to cover the cost of training, while non-levy employers typically benefit from government co-investment up to the published funding band.
Find out how your organisation could benefit from the Growth and Skills Levy.
Prerequisites
Please note: Eligibility must be assessed prior to accepting bookings for this programme. Contact us to arrange a discussion with your QA team.
There are no formal technical prerequisites. Learners should:
- Hold a leadership or management role with decision-making authority
- Have involvement in procurement, governance, risk, or digital transformation
- Be prepared to engage in discussion, case study analysis, and applied strategic planning
Who should attend
This apprenticeship unit is designed for:
- Senior leaders and managers
- AI sponsors and programme owners
- Heads of function with AI accountability
- Leaders responsible for AI risk, governance, or transformation
No prior technical AI expertise is required. The course is designed for non-technical leaders who need to make informed, evidence-based decisions about AI adoption and oversight.
Learning objectives
By attending this programme, learners will:
- Translate AI strategy into structured, evidence-based adoption decisions
- Evaluate AI use cases using data, testing evidence, and feasibility assessment
- Assess technical delivery models and long-term operational risk
- Make defensible infrastructure, sourcing, and commercial decisions
- Evaluate AI suppliers and manage vendor risk
- Design governance and assurance mechanisms for responsible AI adoption
- Strengthen compliance, audit readiness, and oversight capability
- Embed human oversight and review across the AI lifecycle
Course Outline
- Move from strategic intent to evidence-based AI adoption decisions
- Evaluate AI use cases using data, testing approaches, and feasibility evidence
- Assess technical delivery models, including in-house, outsourced, and hybrid approaches
- Identify and manage long-term operational, financial, and reputational risk
- Conduct structured evaluation of AI suppliers and vendor risk
- Design governance frameworks that support responsible AI adoption
- Define accountability structures, roles, and decision rights in practice
- Implement risk escalation, security, and assurance mechanisms
- Structure compliance processes and demonstrate audit readiness
- Embed human oversight and decision review throughout the AI lifecycle
Delivery format
This is a five-day live training programme delivered over 30 hours. The format includes:
- Facilitated workshops and expert-led discussions
- Real-world case studies and applied scenarios
- Group exercises focused on strategic planning
- Peer discussion and leadership insight sharing
- Structured frameworks and practical templates
Learners are encouraged to apply course concepts to their own organisational context throughout the programme.
Validation and assessment
Mandatory:As a minimum, learners will need to pass a skills test, to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills and knowledge set out in the apprenticeship unit. Employers will need to validate the result to confirm the learner has been successful.
Business benefits
- Organisations that invest in AI leadership capability will:
- Make defensible, evidence-based AI procurement decisions
- Reduce operational, regulatory, and reputational risk
- Strengthen accountability and oversight of AI systems
- Improve supplier due diligence and contract management
- Enhance compliance and audit readiness
- Build trust in AI adoption across stakeholders
Individual benefits
Learners will:
- Gain confidence in evaluating AI systems and suppliers
- Strengthen their ability to manage AI-related risk and governance
- Improve their understanding of procurement and sourcing decisions for AI
- Develop structured approaches to assurance and compliance
- Enhance their credibility as accountable AI leaders
Frequently asked questions
How can I create an account on myQA.com?
There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.
If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".
If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.
Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.
How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?
Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.
We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.
How do QA’s online courses work?
QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course.
Once you have purchased the Online course and have completed your registration, you will receive the necessary details to enable you to immediately access it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.
All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.
When will I receive my joining instructions?
Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.
When will I receive my certificate?
Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.