It is National Apprenticeship Week in the UK, running from 9–15 February 2026. The week celebrates the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals and businesses, and is usually met with additional training and upskilling for employees, especially current apprentices.
Jon James, CEO at BT, has issued a statement on how, at BT Business, the company is using AI to transform how the teams work and serve their customers.
AI training for all Business colleagues
BT Business is launching tailored AI training for all 11,000 of employees across all roles and disciplines. All BT Business staff will receive a course of training modules that support people at all stages of AI knowledge – from AI fundamentals to role-specific training, supported by coaching from leaders and line managers.
The skills programme is provided by Avanade and Microsoft, who will provide dedicated webinars and learning pathways for participants, as well as resources for managers to create tailored study plans for their teams.
New AI roles for Apprentice and Graduate roles
BT Business is including their first BT apprentice and graduate roles fully dedicated to AI as part of its 2026 intake. They will also be providing new AI & Data apprenticeships for existing colleagues, enabling them to train in new fields.
In partnership with leading educational technology company Multiverse, these Business staff will be given the chance to develop new AI, data, automation and technology skills.
Support for Small Businesses, Public Sector and Charities
BT also works in partnership with Babington, one of the UK’s largest apprenticeship training providers, to provide a £4m Apprenticeship Fund to support SMEs, charities and public sector organisations across England. Now in its third year, this programme helps to train new apprentices and upskill existing staff, with £1.6m allocated so far to support 223 apprentices across 142 employers.
One of the recipients of the fund is the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC), based at Cosford, who respond to around 4,300 emergencies a year, often reaching patients within 10 minutes. Entirely funded by public and business donation, the charity relies on volunteers but also needs a skilled staff team. With limited HR capacity, MAAC received £4,500 from BT’s Apprenticeship Fund to support a HR apprentice.
