Business & Technology
ANS launches AI apprenticeship courses for managers
ANS has been approved to deliver the Level 5 AI Leadership Apprenticeship Unit through its ANS Academy and is launching a Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship.
The new programmes expand the Manchester-based digital transformation provider’s training offer as demand grows for staff who can manage AI adoption within businesses. The Level 5 unit is aimed at leaders, managers and professionals responsible for setting AI strategy, while the Level 4 standard is designed for those leading automation and AI-driven change in teams or departments.
Department for Education approval makes ANS one of the first providers to offer the new Level 5 unit. The course will cover innovation management, governance and responsible AI implementation.
Apprenticeship units differ from traditional apprenticeship programmes in being shorter and more focused on specific skills. The format is intended to help learners gain specialist knowledge in a matter of weeks while fitting around existing roles.
The Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship has a broader operational focus. Its curriculum includes prompting, AI agents, quality management, governance, ethics and organisational change, and it is open to people in both technical and non-technical roles.
The expansion comes as employers face pressure to move AI projects from trials into routine business use while managing governance and oversight. Training providers and technology companies have increasingly focused on the skills gap that can slow adoption, particularly among managers expected to make decisions on risk, process changes and responsible use.
ANS said the programmes form part of its wider strategy to help organisations embed AI in workflows and change how teams operate. It links that approach to what it calls “Frontier Firm” ways of working, where AI is integrated into day-to-day processes rather than treated as a stand-alone experiment.
The academy has become a prominent part of that strategy. Earlier this year, ANS said it became the first apprenticeship provider to achieve a “strong standard” across all categories under Ofsted’s new inspection framework.
Toria Walters outlined the reasoning behind the new courses.
“As AI moves from experimentation into everyday business operations, organisations need people with the skills to adopt it strategically and responsibly at scale. Expanding our Academy offering with these programmes is an important part of how we support that transition.
“They have been designed to make AI skills development far more accessible and practical for organisations at every stage of their AI journey. Together, they provide a flexible pathway for organisations looking to build confidence and capability around AI quickly and responsibly,” said Toria Walters, chief people officer at ANS.
The training is intended for both ANS’s own workforce and other organisations looking to build internal AI expertise. That reflects a wider market shift as companies seek formal training routes for staff beyond specialist data science or engineering teams.
ANS has also strengthened its ties with Microsoft as it builds its AI advisory and implementation work. Earlier this year, the company said it became one of the UK’s first Microsoft Frontier Partners after being named Microsoft UK Partner of the Year.
Richard Thompson said the courses are intended to address organisational barriers that go beyond access to software.
“At ANS, we talk about becoming a Frontier Firm – organisations that embed AI across workflows to augment people, improve productivity and unlock new ways of working.
“But achieving that transformation requires more than access to technology alone. The right skills, governance and leadership capabilities are needed to embed AI effectively, and these programmes will be an important part of helping businesses build that foundation with confidence,” said Thompson.
The move also aligns with broader government attention on apprenticeships and workforce development as AI becomes a larger part of economic policy and business planning. For employers, shorter, targeted courses may be easier to adopt than longer programmes when they need to train managers and operational staff without taking them away from day-to-day roles for extended periods.
Both programmes are now open for registrations of interest, with enrolment for organisational cohorts planned at a later date.
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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