Upskill the team you’ve already got — without finding the budget yourself
Northstar Skills Advisory helps UK employers find and access funded training and apprenticeship programmes — in AI & automation, digital skills and professional development — delivered by accredited training providers.
Funded training & apprenticeships for UK employers
Who we work with
Built for UK employers with roughly 30–200 staff, across sectors — manufacturing, professional services, retail, hospitality, construction, healthcare and more.
You know your team needs new skills. Finding the time, budget and the right route shouldn’t be the hard part.
Most business owners know exactly where the gaps are — AI and digital skills especially. What stops them acting isn’t the will, it’s not having the budget, the time, or any clear idea where to start. Most have no idea there’s funding available that can cover the cost of training their own staff.
Current opportunity
Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner Apprenticeship
Up to £18,000
In March 2026, this apprenticeship standard was opened up to employers in every sector — not just tech. It’s now one of the fastest, most direct ways to get your existing staff properly trained in applying AI and automation to their day-to-day work, rather than hiring a new specialist from scratch.
Funding for this standard runs up to £18,000, administered by your accredited training provider through the apprenticeship funding system. If your business pays the levy, it’s typically funded from your own levy pot at no direct cost. If you don’t pay the levy, co-investment is usually around 5% of the programme cost.
Who it’s for
- UK employers with roughly 30–200 staff
- Teams who need practical AI/automation skills but don’t have time to build a training programme internally
- Businesses who’d rather upskill existing people than hire a new specialist
- Levy-paying employers with unused funds sitting in their apprenticeship service account
Potential benefits
- A structured, accredited qualification — not an unaccredited course
- Delivered by a provider matched to your sector and team
- Minimal admin on your side — we make the introductions, the provider runs the process
- A genuine route to apply AI/automation skills inside the business you already have
Eligibility
Funding and eligibility depend on your business, your levy status, and your region. We’ll tell you straight what you qualify for on a call — this page is a starting point, not a guarantee.
How it works
Four steps, no jargon, no obligation.
-
We look at where your team’s skills gaps are
We start with a conversation about your business — not a form to fill in before we’ve even spoken. We’ll ask about your team, where the pressure points are, and where AI, digital or other skills gaps are actually costing you time or money.
-
We match you with the right programme and an accredited training provider
Once we know the gap, we match it to a genuine accredited training provider — not whoever’s paying us the most that month. Programmes range from AI and automation through to a wide range of other professional and technical skills, so you’re upskilling the people you’ve already got instead of hiring for every new skill.
-
We walk you through the funding routes your business can use — apprenticeship levy funds, levy transfer, or co-investment
This is usually the part people assume is complicated. We’ll walk you through what applies to your business — apprenticeship levy funds, levy transfer from a levy-paying employer, or co-investment if you’re not a levy payer — and tell you straight what you qualify for. Funding and eligibility depend on your business; we won’t pretend otherwise.
-
We make the introductions, so your people can get started quickly
Once you’ve chosen a route, we introduce you directly to the accredited training provider who delivers the programme and administers the funding. From there it’s between you and them — we stay close enough to make sure it’s actually working for you.
Why Northstar
Straight talk, not a sales pitch
If something isn’t right for your business, we’ll say so.
We don’t deliver the training
We match you with accredited providers and guide you through funding, then step back and let the experts deliver.
Funding expertise
Apprenticeship levy, levy transfer, co-investment: we know the routes and we’ll tell you honestly which one applies to you.
Built around your team, not a catalogue
Programmes range from AI and automation through to a wide range of professional and technical skills, matched to your actual skills gaps.
Levy funds don’t sit there forever
Since August 2026, unused apprenticeship levy funds expire after 12 months instead of 24. If your business pays the levy, funds sitting unused in your apprenticeship service account have a shorter shelf life than they used to — using them, or transferring them to another employer, is worth doing sooner rather than later.
Have a straight conversation about what’s available to you
No pressure, no pitch — just a look at your team’s skills gaps and what funding routes might apply.