AI Public Sector Week - The Apprenticeship Designed to Fix the UK Digital Skills Gap

Crispin Read (CEO, The Coders Guild) presents the AI & Automation Apprenticeship Level 4 - designed with Skills England to turn the UK digital skills gap and youth unemployment crisis into a genuine opportunity. A practical walk-through of what the apprenticeship covers, how fast it delivers results, and why building in-house AI capability beats hiring consultants. What's covered: The skills shortage and youth unemployment paradox - and how this apprenticeship addresses both How the Level 4 AI & Automation Apprenticeship was designed with Skills England using Innovate UK research The 12-month journey: what learners deliver in weeks 1-6, at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months What the apprenticeship actually teaches: product thinking, project management, governance, ethics, tools How peer learning and group coaching accelerate progress and build accountability Build vs. rent: why upskilling your own team keeps capability in-house Two routes in: upskilling existing staff vs. bringing in new hires The capability hub model: aligning training directly to your strategic goals 00:00 Introduction - the skills gap and youth unemployment paradox 01:34 About Crispin Read and The Coders Guild 03:35 How the apprenticeship was created with Skills England 05:30 Design principles: people-led, outcome-focused, fast ROI 07:04 The 12-month journey: weeks 1-6 through to completion 11:13 What the apprenticeship covers: product, project, governance, tools 14:26 How it is delivered: peer learning and group coaching 15:49 Cost reality: consultants vs. in-house upskilling 17:29 Two routes: upskilling existing staff or hiring new 21:08 The capability hub model 22:35 Trailblazer cohorts and how to get started About The Coders Guild: We're a UK digital skills training provider working with SMEs on practical AI adoption. We designed the Level 4 AI & Automation Apprenticeship with Skills England - the first of its kind. Fundable through the Growth and Skills Levy. Find out more: https://thecodersguild.org.uk/ Book a 25-min chat about AI training for your team: https://calendly.com/workforce-develo... Next webinar:   / events   #TheCodersGuild #AIApprenticeship #DigitalSkills #AIAutomation #PublicSector