Founders and Coders
This apprenticeship is designed for experienced software engineers who want to move into AI-native engineering and machine learning. You're the kind of person who has been building production systems, shipping code, and solving real problems; now you want to apply those skills to machine learning infrastructure, model deployment, and AI product development.
We're looking for people who are curious about how things work under the hood, not just how to call an API. You should be comfortable with programming, familiar with software development practices, and ready to engage with the mathematical and statistical foundations that underpin machine learning. The programme will stretch you, but it builds on a foundation you already have.
Before you start, we conduct an initial skills assessment to understand your starting point. This isn't a pass/fail test; it's a conversation about what you already know and where the gaps are.
If you have substantial prior experience in certain areas (perhaps you've already built ML pipelines, or you have a strong background in statistics), we may adjust your training plan to skip content you've already mastered. Apprenticeship funding cannot be used to teach you things you already know, and we don't want to waste your time retreading old ground.
The skills scan also helps us identify if you need any foundation work before starting, or if a different programme might be a better fit.
Although this programme is geared towards experienced software engineers, we don't select on credentials alone. We select on curiosity, diligence, and the ability to do the work.
If you don't have years of professional engineering experience but you're exceptionally well-prepared; if you've taught yourself to code, built projects in your own time, engaged seriously with the fundamentals; we want to hear from you. Our application process is rigorous, and if you can demonstrate the aptitude and commitment to succeed, your background matters less than your potential.
We actively seek exceptional people from diverse paths. Our cohorts have included senior engineers from major tech companies, academics, startup founders, and top graduates. They've also included people with very little formal education, people who have been homeless, refugees, and career changers. What they share is the drive to learn and the discipline to follow through.
If you're unsure whether you're ready, apply anyway. The application process will help both of us figure out if this is the right fit.