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.

Bath Digital Festival will return to Bath as a three-day event organised by techSPARK, bringing together the South West’s technology, digital and creative communities.

This year’s programme centres on the theme “What If?”, described by organisers as an invitation to challenge assumptions and explore new ideas. The festival will feature workshops, technology showcases, discussions and networking sessions across the city.

It is aimed at a broad cross-section of the regional ecosystem, including innovators, founders, educators, digital creatives and early-career talent. The format is intended to be more interactive than a conventional conference, with an emphasis on hands-on sessions and community-led activity.

Speakers are set to include applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, authors Sam Knowles and Alex Barker, and technology executive Dr Jacky Wright. Contributors from HMRC, OLTA, ART, Binary Syntax, British Esports and Amazon Web Services are also due to take part.

Regional universities will also have a visible presence. Technology showcases are planned from the University of Exeter, Bath Spa University and the University of Bath, which is taking part during its 60th anniversary year.

Regional focus

The festival is positioned as a showcase for the South West’s technology and creative sectors as regional clusters seek to attract investment, skills and collaboration outside London. By bringing together companies, public bodies, universities and individual creators, it aims to highlight the breadth of the area’s digital economy.

That regional focus has been central to techSPARK’s wider work in Bristol and Bath, where the not-for-profit connects founders, employers, investors and educators. The event reflects that mission by creating a space for people in the sector to meet, exchange ideas and form partnerships.

The previous edition drew attendees from technology, education and the creative industries, with participation from senior leaders as well as emerging professionals. The latest festival is set to continue that approach, offering opportunities for networking, skill-sharing and collaboration across the South West.

Second decade

The latest edition marks the festival’s entry into its second decade, a level of continuity that remains unusual for regional technology gatherings. That longevity may help Bath retain its place on the calendar for businesses and institutions seeking local industry links and public visibility.

Alongside the programme announcement, Ben Shorrock outlined techSPARK’s view of the event’s role. “Bath Digital Festival is one of the moments each year where the South West’s creativity, curiosity and ambition really shine. With the festival now in its second decade, that longevity is proof that this is where the region thrives: when people come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore what’s possible. This year’s theme, What If?, captures that spirit perfectly.

“We’re proud to bring organisations, innovators and communities into the same space to imagine the future and start building it. Events like this show why our ecosystem continues to grow in confidence and capability, and why collaboration remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Ben Shorrock, chief executive of techSPARK.

The programme spans subjects from emerging technologies to digital culture and the future of work. It will focus in part on questions around a digital future that is responsible, inclusive and accessible.

That framing reflects broader debates across the UK technology sector, as businesses, public institutions and educators weigh the social effects of new tools alongside the commercial opportunities. In Bath, the festival aims to place those issues in a local setting by connecting national speakers with regional organisations and communities.

For Bath itself, the event adds to the city’s growing profile as a meeting point for technology, education and creative work. The presence of universities, public sector organisations and private companies in one programme underlines how closely linked those strands have become in the South West economy.

The format will include panels, demos, interactive sessions and informal networking, with more events still being added to the programme.

Weston-on-the-Green resident, David Brian Williams, said he was approached by Bicester Fire Station to help them curate a haven for their servicepeople following the deaths of their colleagues.

Firefighters Martyn Sadler and Jennie Logan lost their lives in the line of duty during the Bicester Motion fire, which engulfed Hangar 79 on May 15, 2025. Dave Chester, a businessman, also lost his life.

Their heroism and bravery will continue to be remembered through a blooming corner of greenery, shrubs and swift birds, which have declined by more than 60 per cent since the 1990s.

The new memorial garden at Bicester Fire Station to remember the firefighters who lost their lives in the Bicester Motion fire in 2025 (Image: David Williams)

Mr Williams, who hand-builds nest boxes for conservation projects, installed swift boxes at Bicester School after persuading his parish council to add 16 chambers to its church, later becoming its biodiversity officer and expanding his work.

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While he is not involved in the planting or design of the garden, he said he was “pleased to hear from them and went there to discuss what we could do to help.”

He added: “It’s a lovely garden and will be a great place to relax and watch the swifts above when they take to the boxes.”

After consulting swift expert and friend Chris Mason of Cherwell Swifts, he returned a couple of weeks later to fit the four boxes and a loan bird calling device, funded by Cherwell Swifts.

This year alone he has put up 71 boxes, with more than 100 expected once back orders are fulfilled.