24 01732 759725 Corndel launches AI skills drive with Imperial College and Microsoft Corndel warns of AI knowledge gap as it launches new initiative to train 10,000 professionals in AI before the end of 2025 Corndel, a provider of transformative development programmes and professional apprenticeships, is marking the launch of The Enterprise AI Academy in collaboration with Imperial College London and Microsoft by warning of a disconnect between the attitudes of HR leaders and employees to AI-readiness. Its 2025 Workplace Training Report, based on a survey of 250 HR leaders and 1,000 employees, reveals that while 88% of HR leaders have confidence in their company’s ability to guide AI adoption and 60% are very confident that training programs are equipping employees with the skills necessary for digital transformation, 52% of employees and 48% of senior managers in enterprises with more than 1,000 staff have never used AI tools. Lack of knowledge and poor access to AI tools means that one third of UK employees feel ill-prepared to adopt AI in the next 1–3 years, with just 4 in 10 confident they can adopt AI tools themselves. Only 55% of employees trust their managers to lead digital transformation effectively. Although 97% of HR leaders claim their organisations offer AI training – and 50% believe it to be comprehensive – only 39% of employees say they have received any formal training. This rises to 52% among younger employees, but only 14% rate it as highly effective. Poor leadership Sean Cosgrove, Chief Commercial Officer at Corndel, says that the knowledge gap is concerning, particularly amongst leaders who are expected to set the company on its AI course, identify opportunities and support their teams in its adoption. He said: “Many senior leaders are being asked to set AI strategies without hands-on experience of the tools themselves. The National Data Strategy has already flagged the gap in leadership-level data skills, which extends to AI. Leaders don’t just need a vision for AI adoption, they need a real understanding of the skills their workforce requires. For many, even foundational AI skills like crafting effective prompts for generative AI are missing. That’s a gap we need to close.” Cosgrove adds that as well as boosting AI training for managers, businesses should extend training from narrow groups, such as technical teams or senior leaders, where it tends to be focused today, to the wider workforce where those most likely to use AI day-to-day are to be found. He said: “Without the right training, AI adoption stalls before it even starts. Organisations must take a more strategic approach to AI skills development—reaching beyond technical teams to the workforce.” Essential AI skills The newly launched Enterprise AI Academy aims to address the current skills crisis by providing 10,000 professionals with essential AI and data skills by the end of 2025. It offers four distinct programmes covering multiple career pathways, each of which includes training in AI Fundamentals, ensuring that all employees develop a critical understanding of responsible AI adoption. They are: n LEAD: Strategic AI Leadership – for executives and senior leaders, with a focus on developing knowledge of AI’s business impact and AI-led transformation; n BUILD: AI Engineer – for technical staff responsible for the design and deployment of AI‑driven solutions, equipping them with deep technical knowledge in AI, machine learning and data engineering; n TRANSFORM: AI Changemaker – for professionals responsible for AI adoption and business change, to help them integrate AI solutions seamlessly within organisations; and n ADOPT: AI Productivity Champion – for knowledge workers, to develop expertise in leveraging AI-powered tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, to enhance workplace productivity. Commenting on the new programme, Corndel CEO James Kelly, said: “At Corndel, we believe that AI is not just a tool, it is the future of work, and businesses that embrace its potential will drive innovation, efficiency and growth. Our AI Academy is designed to equip businesses with the skills needed to integrate AI effectively, empowering leaders to make informed decisions and teams to apply AI-driven solutions that deliver real impact. With the power of Microsoft’s innovation and Imperial’s worldleading research and insight, we are ensuring that businesses are not just AI-ready but AI-driven.” AI resolutions As well as launching the Enterprise AI Academy, Corndel is calling on all businesses to take the following four steps: 1 Enhance AI leadership readiness: Upskill leaders in AI fundamentals and change skills to drive transformation and inspire trust. 2 Close critical skills gaps: Prioritise technical, human and data training to build a futureready workforce. 3 Leverage apprenticeships: Maximise the Apprenticeship Levy to develop critical technology, data and leadership skills. 4 Boost productivity: Optimise AI to address workload imbalances, streamline processes and improve team performance. https://www.corndel.com/ ai-academy/ TRAINING Sean Cosgrove
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