Financial Services AI for Smarter Work Programme

The Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship develops employees who can help organisations use digital tools, productivity software and artificial intelligence (AI) effectively in everyday work. Participants learn how to diagnose issues, support colleagues and improve workflows using modern workplace technologies.

It also develops the human-centred skills needed to apply these tools well, including communication, collaboration and supporting colleagues to adopt new ways of working.

Research from the Financial Services Skills Commission highlights the growing importance of AI, digital literacy, adaptability, coaching and understanding customer digital experience across financial services roles.

The programme translates these priorities into practical development by helping employees use AI tools effectively while strengthening communication, collaboration, judgement and support for colleagues in everyday financial services work.

The Financial Services AI for Smarter Work Programme, delivered through the Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, develops practical capability to use AI tools, automation and digital technologies to improve everyday work across financial services organisations. Participants learn how to identify opportunities to use AI copilots, improve digital workflows and support colleagues using modern workplace technologies.

Participants also strengthen communication, collaboration and judgement, helping them support adoption and improve how work gets done across teams.

Yes. The Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship is increasingly used by organisations as a modern alternative to the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship, particularly where roles require both digital capability and strong workplace skills.

As well as building practical AI and digital productivity capability, the programme also develops core management and human-centred skills such as communication, collaboration, problem solving and supporting others — making it highly relevant for team-based roles in modern financial services organisations.

The Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship is suitable for employees who want to use digital tools and AI technologies more effectively in their work.

Typical participants include:

• operational and administrative staff
• service and customer support teams
• digital champions and AI adopters
• employees responsible for improving digital workflows.

It is especially valuable in roles where people combine digital capability with communication, collaboration and support for colleagues, including team-based roles where individuals contribute to coordination, service delivery and improvement.

No.

The Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship is designed for employees who use digital tools in their work rather than software engineers or data scientists.

Participants learn how to apply AI tools, digital platforms and automation to improve productivity and workflows without needing to write complex code.

Yes.

The Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship is fully fundable at £13,000 through the Apprenticeship Levy for eligible organisations.

The programme sits within the government apprenticeship funding system, allowing organisations to use levy funds to build AI capability and digital productivity across the workforce.

The programme runs for 12 months, followed by the End-Point Assessment (EPA) which normally takes around 4–6 weeks.

Participants typically commit around four hours per week of protected learning time, alongside applying learning directly in their role.

This ensures development strengthens day-to-day performance rather than competing with work.

Participants achieve the Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, aligned with the national occupational standard.

They also gain Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification, demonstrating practical understanding of artificial intelligence tools and responsible AI use.

Many AI training courses focus on technical subjects such as machine learning, programming or data science.

The AI for Smarter Work Programme focuses on applying AI tools in everyday work, including:

• improving productivity using AI copilots
• automating routine tasks
• improving digital workflows
• supporting colleagues using workplace technologies

It also develops the human-centred skills needed to make improvements work in practice, including communication, collaboration and supporting others — skills traditionally associated with team leader roles, now applied in AI-enabled workplaces.

Many organisations are introducing AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and other artificial intelligence assistants, but employees often lack the confidence or skills to use them effectively.

Programmes such as the Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship help organisations build practical AI capability across teams so employees can use AI tools productively, improve workflows and support digital transformation.