At Corndel, we believe in expanding minds and unlocking potential. Through our AI Academy, delivered in partnership with Imperial Executive Education and supported by Microsoft, we offer a suite of programmes designed to turn AI from a potentially daunting challenge into a measurable competitive advantage.
Whether you’re looking to supercharge your team’s daily productivity or build the technical foundations of your organisation’s AI infrastructure, understanding the different apprenticeship levels is the first step to moving your business forward with AI.
Understanding the Levels: How Apprenticeships Fit Your Business
Apprenticeships in the UK are structured by levels, which correspond to academic equivalents:
- Level 3 = A Level
- Level 4–5 = Foundation degree / HNC/HND
- Level 6 = Bachelor’s degree
Levels 2–3 focus on foundational skills, task execution, and supervision. Mid-levels (4–5) go deeper, introducing problem-solving, technical depth, and independent working elements. Level 6 focuses on higher-level skills and strategic thinking, leadership, and complex decision-making.
Level 3: Improving Productivity For Your Business
Our Level 3 Working Smarter with AI programme is built on the Digital Support Technician standard. It’s designed to move beyond basic AI awareness and into true mastery of AI tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Participants learn to apply AI effectively in everyday work. They’ll learn how to enhance communications, automate workflows, use and create custom agents, and master AI-powered data analysis. Our programme gives participants the skills and confidence to train others, improving and amplifying efficiency across the business.
The programme lasts 12 months, with 4 months’ assessment.
Impact study data shows that, within 6 months of starting our programme, individuals:
- save 5 hours per week
- enable 14 colleagues to use AI workflows
- drive a 110% increase in the number of Copilot actions logged.
Level 4: Improving Workflows, Processes and Systems with AI
The Level 4 Automation with AI programme is a 15-month apprenticeship designed for business professionals who want to create or manage automations that use AI to improve their team’s processes, systems and workflows.
While Level 3 focuses on individual productivity and "working smarter" with existing tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, this Level 4 programme shifts toward organisational impact, equipping learners with the strategic skills to map complex workflows and build custom solutions using platforms such as Microsoft Power Automate.
Built on the Level 4 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation Practitioner standard, the curriculum balances technical configuration with critical governance, data ethics, and change management. Participants emerge capable of delivering immediate ROI by reducing manual effort, improving process efficiency, and ensuring all AI implementations align with rigorous ethical and compliance frameworks.
Level 4: Driving AI-Enabled Business Transformation
Our Business Impact with AI programme is a 13-month apprenticeship (plus 4 months for assessment) specifically designed for purpose-led, value-driven professionals who identify, analyse, design and monitor AI-enabled change initiatives. It's ideal for both technical and non-technical professionals alike – from managers and analysts to strategists and transformation specialists.
This Level 4 programme enables businesses to rapidly scale high-impact AI initiatives across the organisation. Built on the Business Analyst Level 4 apprenticeship standard, it strengthens the business skills needed to unlock real value from AI transformation strategies through integrating cutting-edge generative and agentic AI tools into strategic decision-making.
Participants learn to build robust AI governance models and ethical frameworks while delivering measurable ROI, such as significant time savings and improved organisational agility. Even before the end of the programme, participants begin to roll out substantial improvements and emerge at the end with the confidence to support responsible AI adoption.
Level 6: Building, Integrating and Managing AI Engineering
Our Level 6 Applied AI Engineer programme is a high-level, technical apprenticeship designed for data professionals, software engineers, and aspiring AI specialists who want to master the architecture of machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs).
This pathway delves into the engineering required to build, procure, deploy, and scale custom AI solutions within a production environment.
The course covers advanced topics including neural networks, natural language processing, and the ethical engineering of AI systems, ensuring technical efficiency is deployed responsibly, and is built on the Level 6 AI and Machine Learning Engineer apprenticeship standard.
Who it’s for: It is ideal for individuals with a strong foundation in data or software who are ready to transition into senior technical roles, such as an AI Engineer or Machine Learning Specialist.
Ready to Move Forward?
Our AI Academy places our signature one-to-one coaching at the heart of every journey. We provide a tailored journey for every level of AI need and capability – from those employees taking their first steps with our Level 3 Working Smarter programme, to your technical specialist architecting the future as a Level 6 Applied AI Engineer. Our blend of world-class academic insight from Imperial Executive Education with practical, real-world application ensures that every individual has the confidence to think bigger and shape the future.
Explore our full range of programmes and join the hundreds of organisations already thriving with Corndel.