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Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship for Public Sector Organisations

Public Sector AI and Automation Management Programme

Build practical AI and automation capability alongside management and human-centred skills to improve workflows, operational performance and public service delivery.

Level 4
Level 4

AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship

Duration
Duration
12 months + end point assessment
Qualification outcomes
Qualification outcomes
  • Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship
  • Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification

 

Audience
Audience

Professionals responsible for improving services, operational performance or workflows across public sector organisations

Funding
Funding

Fully fundable via the Apprenticeship Levy

Time commitment
Time commitment
Approx. 4 hours per week protected learning time

Programme overview

Delivered through the Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship, the programme develops practical AI, automation and digital capability in public sector professionals while strengthening stakeholder management, communication and decision-making capability.

The programme is aligned to University of Birmingham’s 21st Century Public Servant research on the importance of digital confidence, adaptability, communication and relationships in modern public service work.

 

Skills and capabilities developed

AI tools & automation
Microsoft Copilot productivity
Effective prompting
Workflow improvement
Unlocking value with AI
Responsible AI & governance
Decision-making
Stakeholder management
Communication
Collaboration

Evidence & outcomes

Future Talent Learning programmes deliver measurable improvements in management capability and organisational performance.

Our programmes consistently achieve strong learner outcomes and employer satisfaction.

FTL-Microsft

Microsoft AI Certification Included

Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals included

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Ofsted rated "good"

With 53% of participants promoted during or after the programme

award

100%

Participants report improved management capability
award

85%

Distinction rate across programmes, and 100% pass rate

Programme positioning

Who is this
programme for?

Professionals responsible for improving public services, operational performance or workflows using digital tools, automation and artificial intelligence.

Operational and service improvement roles
  • Service improvement managers
  • Operational delivery and support managers
  • Continuous improvement practitioners
  • Policy and delivery improvement leads
Digital and automation roles
  • Digital transformation leads
  • Service transformation managers
  • AI adoption leads
  • Workflow optimisation specialists
Project and delivery roles
  • Programme managers
  • Project managers
  • Implementation delivery leads and managers
Business and functional roles
  • HR transformation managers
  • Finance improvement leads
  • Business analysts

Where this
programme fits

This programme builds the AI-enabled productivity capability public sector organisations rely on to improve services and operational performance.

It forms part of Future Talent Learning’s broader approach to building human, management and AI capability across the workforce.


Core AI capability pathway
Supports digital transformation and workflow improvement
Strengthens responsible AI governance and adoption
Builds operational capability including problem solving and decision-making

 

Complements management, change and leadership capability pathways

Capabilities developed

Participants strengthen AI, operational and human-centred capability required to deliver AI-enabled service improvement.


AI capability - Practical use of AI tools and automation platforms
Operational capability - Workflow optimisation and service improvement
Human capability - Collaboration, communication and influence
Public service value - Automation opportunities that improve public service outcomes
Collaboration capability - Working across operational and technical teams
Transformation capability - Embedding adoption and continuous improvement

Organisational outcomes

Public sector organisations typically use this programme to improve services and operational performance through AI and automation.

Identification of high-value automation opportunities in service delivery
Reduced manual administration and operational errors
Faster service processing and improved citizen responsiveness
More consistent and governed use of AI tools across teams
Measurable productivity improvements in operational workflows

Why this programme?

Our programme helps public sector organisations turn AI adoption into practical service improvement.


It develops the capability to identify opportunities, redesign workflows and implement AI responsibly, alongside the management and human-centred skills needed to support adoption and deliver impact.

Book discovery call Download prospectus

Levy-funded AI capability

AI-enabled learning platform

Supported by Microsoft with AI certification

Transform workflows into AI-powered automations

Time-efficient:
learning fits the working week

The real constraint with professional development is rarely funding — it is time.

Our programmes are designed to work with the flow of real work, not compete with it.

Participants typically commit around four hours per week, combining structured learning, coaching and applied missions directly linked to their role.

This ensures development strengthens day-to-day performance while building capability for the future.

 

12 month programme overview

Structured curriculum missions are combined with live workshops and peer learning so participants build capability progressively through real work. 

Curriculum missions

Participants complete monthly applied missions designed to improve real workflows in their organisation.
01

Spot the opportunity

Identify automation opportunities in real workflows
02

Map the work (as-is)

Analyse processes, bottlenecks and failure points
03

Feasibility and risk scan

Evaluate data quality, viability and risk
04

Option design

Design improved workflows with AI and automation
05

Tool and platform evaluation

Assess automation tools and technology options
06

Solution design workshop

Define requirements and agree MVP solution
07

Configure low-code automation

Build pilot workflows and test improvements
08

Integrate and document

Connect systems and document new workflows
09

Test and iterate

Monitor results and refine automation
10

Adoption and training

Support users and embed new workflows
11

Governance and assurance

Implement controls, documentation and oversight
12

Measure value and scale

Demonstrate ROI and expand improvements

Live learning events

Live learning workshops allow participants to practise new approaches, discuss real workplace challenges and deepen understanding through guided discussion.
01

Which automations really matter?

Identify high-value automation opportunities with measurable impact.
02

Process mapping for automators

Map workflows to identify bottlenecks and automation opportunities.
03

Responsible & ethical AI

Apply governance, ethics and accountability in AI systems.
04

Selecting from the tool landscape

Evaluate automation and AI tools for organisational needs.
05

Human-in-the-loop design

Design workflows balancing automation with human oversight.
06

Running a solution design workshop

Facilitate collaborative workshops to define automation solutions.
07

Collaborating with technical teams

Work effectively with engineers and data specialists
08

Balancing automation and judgement

Decide where human decisions remain critical
09

Managing risk in AI projects

Share approaches to risk mitigation
10

Building AI capability across teams

Explore how organisations scale adoption
11

Measuring productivity improvements

Discuss metrics and impact measurement
12

Continuous improvement with AI

Embed iterative optimisation in workflows
13

Facilitation

Lead structured discussions and collaborative problem solving.
14

Change leadership

Support teams adapting to automation and new ways of working.
15

Storytelling

Communicate ideas, insights and improvement outcomes clearly.
16

Relationship building

Build trust and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
17

Leading change

Support teams through change and organisational transformation.
18

Collaboration

Work effectively across operational, digital and technical teams.
19

Problem solving

Use structured thinking to diagnose and solve complex problems.
20

Stakeholder management

Align stakeholders around automation priorities and improvement goals.

Live peer study groups

Monthly coach-facilitated sessions provide a structured space to exchange ideas, share challenges and explore how learning can be applied in real organisational contexts.
01

Responsible AI in practice

Discuss ethical use of AI in operational decisions
02

Automation opportunities

Share examples of workflow improvements
03

Human oversight in AI

Explore human-in-the-loop design approaches
04

Adoption challenges

Discuss barriers to automation adoption
05

Governance and compliance

Discuss standards and controls for AI usage
06

Improving operational workflows

Share practical automation examples
07

Facilitating improvement discussions

Practise leading structured problem solving sessions
08

Leading AI adoption in teams

Discuss how managers support colleagues using AI tools
09

Decision-making in automation projects

Balance efficiency, risk and organisational priorities
10

Operational improvement mindset

Share approaches to continuous workflow optimisation
11

Collaborating with technical teams

Work effectively with engineers and data specialists
12

Balancing automation and judgement

Decide where human decisions remain critical
13

Managing risk in AI projects

Share approaches to risk mitigation
14

Building AI capability across teams

Explore how organisations scale adoption
15

Measuring productivity improvements

Discuss metrics and impact measurement
16

Continuous improvement with AI

Embed iterative optimisation in workflows

Weekly delivery model

Approx 4 hours of protected learning time per week + applied learning on the job. One of the most time-efficient delivery models in the sector — combining protected learning time with applied learning directly in the flow of work.

Structured learning: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

AI-enabled learning + human coaching + interactive workshops

Participants build capability through a blend of:

• self-paced learning modules
• interactive live workshops
• guided exploration using AI learning tools
• peer study groups and coaching support.

These sessions introduce practical frameworks, tools and approaches that can be applied immediately at work.

Applied learning in the workplace: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

Applied & work-based learning

Participants apply learning directly to real workplace challenges through monthly missions and work-based workflows.

This ensures development is:
• immediately relevant
• visible to the organisation with measurable productivity improvements
• embedded in day-to-day performance
• Learning strengthens existing work — rather than sitting alongside it.

The FTL learning experience

Development is designed around how adults learn most effectively at work — through applied practice, reflection, coaching and collaboration.
Find out more

Real workplace challenges drive learning.

Participants apply new skills directly to their role through structured monthly missions linked to real organisational priorities.

FTL-Applied-learning-missions

Related programmes and pathways

This programme is also available in customised versions for Public sector or Financial Services sector. Speak to our team to discuss a bespoke solution for your workforce. 

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An outstanding programme to accelerate the development of future leaders. — Roger Minton, Head of Leadership, Anglo American
FTL-Babcock
FTL’s highly customised programme has become the core of our management development strategy. The FTL team are slick, knowledgeable, responsive and a pleasure to work with. - Nick Dormor, Senior Learning Specialist, Babcock
FTL-Quote-Ofsted
FTL provides top-tier, highly engaging, innovative and effective methods of learning, leading to high success rates and impact that line managers can observe. — Ofsted, Sept 2024

Frequently asked questions - Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship for Public Sector

See our full FAQs page for more information or contact us if you have any questions.
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Speak to our team

Get in touch to explore how this programme could support your workforce development priorities and strengthen AI capability across your organisation. 

We'll get back to you within one working day.
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