You may have seen our recent article in FE Week about the growing use of shadow AI in apprenticeship delivery. The term describes the use of artificial intelligence tools, applications, or models inside an organisation without the formal approval, oversight, or governance of IT, data protection, or risk management teams. For apprenticeship providers, this shadow AI use presents a significant risk.

The risks for apprenticeship providers

Apprenticeship providers and colleges handle sensitive learner, employer, and funding data, making the unregulated use of AI tools a significant risk. It can lead to data privacy breaches under UK GDPR, data leaks, non-compliance with ESFA and ICO rules, and compromise academic integrity.

Unchecked AI use may also introduce bias in decision-making, violating equality laws, and erode public trust, damaging both institutional reputations and confidence in the wider education sector. Even if there is no bias, providers will be vulnerable to accusations because the results provided by generative AI are not fully explainable and do not produce an audit trail.

AI tools designed for apprenticeship delivery

To address these risks, apprenticeship providers need AI tools that are built for their specific context — with data protection, compliance, and academic standards at their core. That’s where Aptem Enhance comes in. Enhance offers a suite of secure, auditable AI solutions designed specifically for apprenticeship delivery. It ensures:

• Secure solutions to prevent data and security breaches.
• Audit trails to demonstrate compliance and transparency.
• Human-in-the-loop solutions to prevent bias and uphold fairness.
• In-built compliance with regulatory requirements

Aptem Enhance uses the same robust IT security protocols as Aptem Apprentice to safeguard information and prevent data leaks. Its security measures and audit trails guarantee the compliant handling of publicly funded data, while AI tools designed for the apprenticeship sector maintain academic integrity and quality standards.

Giving providers the confidence to use AI ethically and effectively

The conversation around AI should be one of opportunity, because there is significant potential to deliver efficiency gains and higher quality standards, but responsibility is equally important. Providers that understand the risks of shadow AI usage can proactively implement IT policies to support the proportionate use of AI. These policies will support the adoption of secure, compliant solutions, which can mitigate the risk of shadow usage. The right policies and solutions allow apprenticeship providers to protect their data, reputation, and academic standards while making the most of AI’s potential.