A leading training provider on a mission to make the UK the best place to work in the world has seen a huge take-up in its newly launched digital and AI apprenticeships as businesses rush to train up staff on the latest tech.
Derby based Nine Dots Development, which has been running training courses in HR, management and leadership for 11 years, has launched a digital arm which includes the offer of four new apprenticeships in the rapidly advancing field of AI and data analytics.
Co-founder James Davison, who heads up Nine Dots’ newly formed digital arm, said the new apprenticeships were already being taken up at four to five times the anticipated rate within days of being launched.
Companies across the UK are eager to train apprentices in cutting-edge topics such as how to successfully implement AI into the workplace, with many reporting significant benefits such as cost savings, sharper idea generation and streamlined workflows.
Nine Dots has also reported that managers and younger learners are often signing up to undertake the new courses side by side.
Nine Dots Development launched the new 12 and 15-month courses in 2026 following a £725million Government investment in apprenticeships with a new focus in digital skills.
The new apprenticeships are aimed at equipping young people for the workplace of the future and helping businesses to successfully harness the vast potential of AI.
A Government task force in 2025 found that there was a huge AI adoption gap between large businesses and Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Reports are that microbusinesses are 45 per cent less likely to adopt AI than their larger counterparts.
There are schemes to tackle the disparity including a Government shake-up which means from April, SMEs can now have 100 per cent of their apprenticeship fees paid for if the apprentice is under 25 – including the new AI apprenticeships – and 95 per cent paid for if they are over 25.
James said: “We have seen a remarkable take-up of our new digital and AI apprenticeships since launching the new programmes. Numbers of sign-ups are already far in excess of what we anticipated with the new apprenticeship training starting in the April and May period.
“It shows that companies recognise how AI and digital skills are areas they need to fully master by training people properly from day one. We are already seeing that AI is about to be absolutely huge. It is going to shake up every corner of the workplace. These new apprenticeships are a great way of helping businesses put it in place intentionally, how to implement AI into people’s workflows in a lasting way, and not make mistakes they may later regret.”
Nine Dots has four new apprenticeship programmes. Particularly popular is the new Government launched Artificial intelligence (AI) and Automation Practitioner, a level 4 apprenticeship completed in 15 months.
Data technician; data analyst and digital support technician apprenticeships are also on offer.
Earlier this year, Nine Dots developed and rolled out its own full internal implementation of AI adoption.
James said: “Launching AI in the workspace is actually a huge task. There are all kinds of implications that many businesses may not be aware of, such as data security for example. A lot of people do not realise that the AI tools they are experimenting with have different providers and there are implications around that connected with data storage. Uploading sensitive financial or employee information into an AI tool, for example, may mean it could be visible online in ways a user may not appreciate.
“There are also the human implications. Many people fear AI and that it may affect jobs, so there is an impetus for employers to keep productivity afloat by implementing successful change management around AI and the vast potential – and risk – of the new tools now at our fingertips.
“Then there’s an ethical side. How will companies offset the carbon emissions that come about as a result of AI? It is something that we have found some employees very much want to know. Companies with clear policies around this may see it have a positive impact on their recruitment.
“The whole conversation around AI and data is a huge one with many facets to which many may have not given enough consideration. At Nine Dots we are very pleased to see companies coming on board and finding out about AI adoption and the power of their data through signing up for these apprenticeships. They empower organisations to implement these new tools in the right way, and it will be great for young people too, who will be able to learn skills that will be absolutely vital for them in the workplace of the future.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Nine Dots Development by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
