Birmingham's Crimson expands AI apprenticeship opportunities as West Midlands tech sector continues to grow

As artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies reshape the workplace, one Birmingham-based company is making sure the next generation of digital professionals has the opportunity to build the skills employers need.

Digital transformation consultancy Crimson has opened applications for the latest intake of its apprenticeship Academy, offering aspiring technology specialists the chance to launch careers in AI, automation and data engineering while working on real-world projects.

Since the Academy was launched in 2019, Crimson has supported 33 apprentices through structured training programmes that combine recognised qualifications with practical experience. Many of those apprentices have gone on to secure consulting, technical and client-facing roles within the business, demonstrating how apprenticeships can provide an effective alternative to the traditional university route.

The timing is significant. The West Midlands has become one of the UK's leading technology regions, boasting the fastest-growing and highest concentration of digital companies outside London. As organisations continue investing in artificial intelligence, automation and advanced data solutions, demand for skilled professionals is increasing rapidly.

Crimson's Academy has been designed to help meet that demand by giving apprentices the opportunity to work alongside experienced Microsoft specialists on AI-powered transformation projects for both public and private sector clients. Participants gain valuable hands-on experience while developing the technical and professional skills needed for long-term careers in one of Britain's fastest-growing industries.

Cat Halstead, Change and Transformation Director at Crimson, believes investing in local talent has never been more important. 

Cat told That's Business: "The technology sector is evolving rapidly, particularly with the growth of AI and data-driven services, and we need to ensure people have opportunities to develop the skills required for these careers.

"Through the Crimson Academy, we're helping people gain practical experience, earn recognised qualifications and build successful careers in technology while contributing to meaningful transformation projects."

The Academy is currently recruiting for two apprenticeship pathways: Data Engineer Apprentice – Digital Native and AI Automation Apprentice – Digital Native. Both programmes are aimed at people taking their first steps into the technology sector, regardless of whether they have chosen not to attend university or are looking for a more practical route into employment.

Former apprentice Loren Thomas, who joined the Academy in 2020 as a Software Testing Apprentice, credits the programme with transforming both personal confidence and career prospects.

"My apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally," Loren said. "It opened doors, broadened my experience and gave me the confidence to pursue a career I'm passionate about."

With applications now open, Crimson hopes to attract talented people from across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands who are eager to play a part in the region's thriving digital economy. As businesses continue embracing AI and automation, initiatives like the Crimson Academy are helping ensure the workforce develops alongside the technology itself.

Swiss AI Academy Launches Framework to Keep Humans in Charge as AI Scales

Swiss AI Academy has launched the Bionic Context Protocol (BCP), a 14-principle framework designed to prevent the erosion of human judgment and capability as artificial intelligence spreads across societies worldwide. 

The announcement was made during an independent auxiliary unDAVOS event alongside the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

"How you use AI matters as much as whether you use AI," Shaje Ganny, (PICTURED) Co-Founder of Swiss AI Academy, told That's Business. 

"When people passively accept AI outputs, capabilities degrade. When AI is designed to keep humans thinking and challenging, capabilities strengthen."

The problem: adoption outpacing safeguards

AI adoption is moving faster than governance and human capability safeguards. A 2025 MIT Media Lab study found that people who relied on AI writing tools showed weaker brain connectivity and struggled to recall their own work, a phenomenon researchers termed "cognitive debt." Current responses remain siloed: researchers study the problem, ethicists debate principles, organizations develop internal policies. BCP unifies this work into a coherent protocol that moves from discussion to implementation

The evidence: four decades of automation research

BCP is built on research into automation bias, skill decay, and human-machine interaction from safety-critical industries including aviation and healthcare. Studies from these fields show that when humans become passive observers of automated systems, their ability to intervene during failures declines.

The framework: three levels of protection

The protocol operates at three levels: individual, protecting personal agency and independent thinking; organisational, ensuring human needs are not subordinated to efficiency metrics; and societal, preserving the capacity of communities to shape their collective future.

The distinction: evolution versus erosion

BCP distinguishes between capability evolution, where societies intentionally choose which skills to develop or retire, and capability erosion, where skills disappear as an untracked side effect of systems optimized for speed or cost.

The call: global recruitment for five workstreams

The framework is released as version 0.6, a consultation draft intended to be completed through public contribution. Swiss AI Academy is recruiting workstream leaders and contributors across five areas: governance architecture, evidence synthesis, implementation tools, measurement systems, and sector-specific applications.

"A small group cannot carry this alone," Ganny said. "We need researchers, practitioners, educators, and policymakers who understand what is at stake."

The full framework and contributor registration are available at bcporg.info.