Zurich launches AI apprenticeship to upskill workforce

Zurich UK  has launched a new AI apprenticeship program as part of its long-term strategy to scale responsible AI adoption and upskill its workforce.

The 17-month program will enroll 92 employees and represents an investment of nearly £1.3 million from Zurich’s apprenticeship levy. Developed with Corndel and Imperial College London, and supported by Microsoft, the initiative focuses on practical AI use cases alongside governance, ethics, and human accountability. Participants will complete the training alongside their day jobs and earn either a Level 3 or Level 4 qualification.

The program was oversubscribed, drawing more than 100 applications, underscoring internal demand for AI skills. It complements Zurich UK’s broader AI efforts, which include an AI activation taskforce, internal champions, peer-to-peer learning, and the use of in-house and third-party generative AI tools such as Zurichat and Microsoft Copilot.

According to Zurich, the apprenticeship is designed to close knowledge gaps that continue to limit broader AI adoption, despite the majority of employees already using AI productivity tools on a regular basis.

“Zurich is a business built on strong relationships and delivering quality service to our customers and partners. Our use of AI doesn’t replace our people but enables them to focus on more meaningful, higher value work. That’s better for colleagues, and ultimately means a smoother, more personalised experience for the customers who rely on us. It’s great to see so many colleagues recognise the opportunity here and are keen to get involved. Importantly, every AI initiative we adopt has governance and ethics built in from the start and human accountability is key.  Every solution we deploy is designed to be reliable, transparent, accountable, and genuinely human-centred. Understanding these principles is a key part of our new qualification.” – Zurich UK’s Responsible AI lead, Penny Jones.