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The initiative is a key part of BCP Council’s broader transformation efforts, supporting its ambition to modernise processes, boost efficiency, and deliver better outcomes for residents. Staff from across Operations and IT and Programmes teams are participating in the training, which is designed to upskill colleagues in areas like data analysis, automation, and AI adoption.

By investing in technical capability through applied learning, the council is developing a workforce that is better equipped to deliver data-informed services and make strategic decisions with confidence. As a result of this training, staff have already unlocked over 200 hours of time previously used for manual activities.

Sarah Chamberlain, Director of IT & Programmes at BCP Council, said: “This partnership is a vital part of our digital transformation strategy. Building internal capability in data and AI allows us to make faster, better-informed decisions and deliver more responsive services for our communities. We’re already seeing early signs of impact and are excited to expand this further in the months ahead.”

Training is being delivered by Multiverse, the upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption. The programmes are fully funded through the apprenticeship levy and delivered through a model that combines real-world projects with high-impact coaching.

Programmes include:

• Data Literacy (Level 3): Equipping staff with the foundational data skills to interpret, visualise, and apply data in daily decision-making
• Data Fellowship (Level 4): Upskilling colleagues into advanced analysts capable of building dashboards, automating workflows, and drawing insight from complex datasets
• AI Productivity & Leadership: A suite of AI-focused programmes helping staff deliver value using tools like Microsoft Copilot, and enabling leaders to scope and deliver AI-driven transformation

This partnership has already led to measurable improvements in service design, reporting, and digital innovation, with learners contributing to projects that increase efficiency and unlock time and cost savings across departments.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, said: “BCP Council is showing what’s possible when public sector organisations invest in future-ready skills. By training over 50 staff in data and AI, they’re not just improving how decisions are made — they’re building a modern, agile workforce that can continuously adapt and innovate to meet residents’ needs.”

Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices since 2016 and has worked with over 50 UK councils to close skills gaps in data, AI and digital transformation.

Multiverse has partnered with Fremantle to launch a new Data Academy for Fremantle employees ahead of new technology and processes being deployed over the summer. Training will enable team members to automate manual processes, optimise decision making, and use predictive analytics for improved content forecasting and audience engagement.

The Data Academy will enhance Fremantle's data and insights capabilities, enabling key departments across the company to better utilise and leverage their data.

Training is being delivered by Multiverse, an upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016.

The 35-strong cohort will complete Multiverse’s Data & Insights for Business Decisions, a Level 3 apprenticeship which builds the technical and analytical skills needed to turn data into actionable insights, through the effective use of digital tools like Power BI and Power Automate.

Paul Wood, Head of Global Insight, Fremantle said: “This Data Academy is more than a training programme, it’s a signal of Fremantle’s intent to empower our people with the tools they need to thrive in a data driven, AI enabled world. I knew this would be a powerful next step for us, and it’s been incredible to see how enthusiastically everyone taking part from across the business has embraced the opportunity. We’re building a culture where data fluency is part of our creative DNA, and this is just the beginning.”

Jo Dolman and Kate Temple, Co-Directors Global HR, Fremantle added: “At Fremantle, we’re committed to helping our people grow with the business. This partnership with Multiverse supports that ambition, giving our colleagues new digital skills and confidence with data that will enhance their day-to-day work. It’s a real step forward in building a future ready workforce.”

Multiverse combines work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone. It works with more than 1,500 organisations to close critical skill gaps in the workforce in AI, data and tech, through a new kind of apprenticeship.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, said: “Fremantle has a long-standing reputation as a major player in the global media landscape. We’re proud to support the team as they harness the power of data to fuel their continued creativity and innovation.”

Fully funded by the apprenticeship levy, ecda’s new academy will train 70 team members on AI-specific skills. The goal of the programme is to strengthen public sector capabilities and foster further cooperation to deliver improved services for local people.

Training will be delivered by Multiverse, an upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016.

Of the initial cohort, 40 team members will be enrolled onto AI for Business Value, a 13-month Level 4 apprenticeship which enables individuals to design ethical AI solutions that are grounded in the needs of the organisation. A further 30 will complete AI-Powered Productivity, a Level 3 programme, which helps teams to streamline internal workflows by using GenAI tools effectively in their daily tasks.

Nicola Mallett, Head of Profession Data, Analytics and Performance, at Essex County Council said: "We are committed to empowering our workforce with the AI skills needed to enable them to navigate the use of everyday AI to enhance productivity and identify transformative opportunities for local services. Through this apprenticeship programme, we will equip our staff with the knowledge to implement AI ethically and robustly, enabling them to work more efficiently and collaboratively, ultimately driving better outcomes for Essex communities."

Sarah Tattersall, Assistant Registrar at the University of Essex said: “Investing in AI upskilling, through the apprenticeship levy, is a great way for us to better understand the benefits AI can deliver and provide an additional way to develop our staff in cutting edge technologies. We are excited to see the impact this learning will have for the University, and how it improves the student experience over the coming months.”

Dan Fenwick, Executive Director - Corporate Services at Thurrock Council said: “We’re always looking for ways to enhance our capabilities and deliver the best outcomes for Thurrock residents. The academy will help our teams to use technology to respond to residents’ needs more efficiently and effectively.”

Multiverse combines work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone. It works with more than 1,500 organisations to close critical skill gaps in the workforce in AI, data and tech, through a new kind of apprenticeship.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse said: “The ecda is a brilliant example of how collaboration between public sector organisations can strengthen capabilities and deliver meaningful benefits for local communities. By developing AI skills across both the university and council teams, we’re ultimately improving the efficiency and quality of services delivered to residents and businesses alike. They're setting a great example other local authorities could follow and see similar benefits from.”

Traditional education and training methods are struggling to keep pace. In this new world, Multiverse is committed to tackling these challenges head-on.

Our 2025 Impact Report takes a deep dive into how we are delivering learning that creates real-world impact, and helping people develop the skills they need to thrive.

We're supporting 22,000 learners to accelerate their careers and enabling over 1,500 customers to derive greater value by investing in their people to harness the potential of technology.

Impact for Customers

Multiverse provides solutions that not only address skills gaps but also deliver a tangible return on investment. We partner with clients to understand and address their specific skills needs, and develop personalised approaches to drive the adoption of technology.

We’re trusted by over a quarter of the FTSE100, half of Russell Group universities, 100 NHS trusts and 50+ local councils.

And our approach is delivering significant results:

• More than $2 billion in tracked ROI for our customers to date.
• $540 million projected ROI for learners enrolled this year.
• Productivity gains mean learners save one working month per year.

We empower businesses to unlock the full potential of their workforce. As Dan Jones, Portfolio Management and Operations, Director, Nationwide, puts it: “As we continue to invest in enhancing our technology and processes at Nationwide, it’s equally essential we place the same level

of investment in our people and their skills”

Impact for Learners

Multiverse provides pathways to acquiring valuable skills through applied learning and on-the-job experience. We recognise that traditional educational routes don't always cater to the diverse circumstances of individuals seeking to enter or advance within the workforce.

Our programmes deliver transformative outcomes for individuals:

• 1 in 2 learners (45%) received a promotion during their programme or in the 12 months after.
• 60% secured a pay rise.
• 98% achieved a pass or above in their programmes.

These outcomes highlight the potential of skills to help drive career advancement and social mobility.

As Harrison, an AI learner at Capita says: "AI has become a daily part of my workflow. Whether it’s automating tasks or improving efficiency, it’s saving me hours each week.”

Spotlight on AI

Businesses are investing in AI to the tune of $200 billion globally to drive efficiency and innovation. Employers want to meet the moment and seize the opportunity promised by productivity gains, and workers recognise the potential it has to catalyse their careers.

We want to make sure that the benefits of these skills are felt right across the population. And at the same time, we’re using AI to supercharge our own impact.

• We've launched five new AI programmes in the last 12 months.
• Our AI coach, Atlas, has received over half a million messages and has a 97% helpfulness rating.
• We are making AI skills accessible to everyone: almost a quarter of our AI learners have one or more contextual flags (23%), and our AI programs have a higher proportion of women than the sector average.

Multiverse's impact extends beyond individuals and businesses; we are also experiencing significant growth as an organisation. Our commitment to consequential learning drives us to innovate, scale our operations, and expand our reach, all while staying true to our mission of providing equitable access to economic opportunity.

Want to find out more? Read the report.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure today announces that it will build out its data academy with Multiverse, following the success of its graduating apprenticeship cohort.

In a move that will continue to boost business potential through data-driven decision making, the upskilling initiative marks Morgan Sindall Infrastructure’s continued commitment to investing in its people. The forthcoming launch will bring the total number of employees who have enrolled on digital and data programmes with Multiverse to 80.

Impact across the business has been substantial since the inception of the academy. The most recent cohort saw a 14% increase in individual efficiency during the programme – equating to more than 7,200 hours saved per year. Apprentices have used improved data skills to drive tangible business outcomes, from mitigating weather-related project delays, to reducing workplace safety incidents, to increasing visibility of potential quality issues. Following their completion of the programme, 86% of the graduating cohort achieved a distinction.

One apprentice who drove significant impact on programme is James Macdonald, who developed skills in Python, SQL and PowerBI. He said: “I’ve already benefited from learning how to conduct hypothesis tests and build regression models in Python. I’ve been able to apply this in my work on our carbon calculation tool, to predict the carbon footprint of forthcoming projects, which will be really valuable. And elsewhere I’ve already seen value in data skills reducing time spent gathering information for reporting dashboards.”

Multiverse’s 2024 Skills Intelligence Report revealed that in construction, 29% of employees’ time working with data is spent unproductively. Morgan Sindall Infrastructure’s continued commitment to upskilling, however, will enable its teams to automate processes and tasks, leading to a significant boost in efficiency and output.

Sarah Reid, Managing Director - Water & Highways at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure said: “The Digital and Data Academy is part of our ongoing commitment to developing and protecting our people, ensuring they have the right tools and knowledge to thrive in a fast-paced industry. Having the skills to harness data effectively will not only improve efficiency across the business but also create opportunities for personal and professional growth.”

Multiverse combines work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone. It works with more than 1,500 organisations to close critical skill gaps in the workforce in AI, data and technology.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning officer at Multiverse said: “Data is transforming the future of the construction industry. By taking a forward-thinking approach to close the data skills gap, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure will deliver measurable benefits for both its business and its people.”

King’s College London is upskilling 75 of its staff through a new Digital and Data Academy in partnership with Multiverse. The initiative will support the University’s ongoing digital transformation, which includes the review and automation of time-intensive tasks.

The Digital and Data Academy will enhance skills in key areas such as professional services technology and academia, further strengthening the organisation’s ability to make data-informed decisions to improve service provision to both students and staff. Once accredited, the cohort will have increased capacity to focus on the most impactful and strategic elements of their roles.

Training is funded by the apprenticeship levy and delivered by Multiverse, a tech company that specialises in high-quality training through applied learning. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices at over 1,500 organisations in data, AI and digital skills since 2016.

The 75-strong cohort will undertake Multiverse’s Level 4 Data Fellowship for professionals looking to establish or develop core data skills. At the end of the 13-month programme, King’s College London employees will have strengthened skills to support accurate, data-informed decision making while confidently using visualisation tools like Power BI.

According to Multiverse’s Skills Intelligence Report, the education sector is impacted by a lack of data skills, with 38% of employees’ time working with data spent unproductively, compared to the average of 30% across 18 other sectors. King’s College London’s new Digital and Data Academy will seek to proactively address this ahead of current sector concerns.

Kirti Swift, Deputy Director - Organisational Development at King's College London said: “Through this academy, we are strengthening a culture of data literacy and digital capability across the university. This will enable smarter decisions, deeper insights, and more efficient ways of working - freeing us to focus on what truly matters: enhancing the experience and outcomes for our students and staff.”

Isabelle Leung, Senior Research Grants Administrator at Kings College London, who is enrolled in the apprenticeship, said: “My team leverages data from across multiple systems daily, identifying and resolving problems or discrepancies. This training has already allowed us to streamline processes, improve accuracy and drive efficiencies, reducing the turnaround time of our monthly reviews from one week to just two days.”

Multiverse combines work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone. It works with more than 1,500 organisations to close critical skill gaps in the workforce in AI, data and tech, through a new kind of apprenticeship.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse said: “King’s College London is a global epicentre of exceptional research and innovation, led by the finest professionals. It has identified an opportunity to strengthen its operations through an enhanced understanding and utilisation of data – our Data Fellowship program is designed to help individuals on their team for exactly this.”

In today’s fast-changing workplace, traditional training methods no longer suffice. As AI automates routine tasks, employees must develop higher-order skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to apply technical knowledge in context.

Multiverse and Skillable are joining forces to bridge the divide between learning and real-world application. This partnership integrates Skillable’s hands-on virtual labs with Multiverse’s structured coaching model, creating an immersive ecosystem where learners gain both theoretical knowledge and practical, scenario-based experience. By combining strengths, Multiverse and Skillable empower employers with a scalable solution that ensures professionals can confidently apply technical skills in real-world settings—reinforcing their shared philosophy that people learn best by doing.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, added, "Our partnership with Skillable expands our experiential learning approach by providing practice environments that mirror real-world use cases. Coupled with our coaching, Skillable's virtual labs allow us to create experiences where learners can safely practice technical skills before applying them in production environments."

Through this collaboration, apprentices benefit from structured skill-building experiences that provide immediate feedback, with the ability to reset and try again without consequences—creating low-pressure learning opportunities that build confidence. These experiences are further enriched by Multiverse's personalized coaching, which helps learners connect technical skills to broader business contexts.

Frank Gartland, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Skillable, remarked, "Our partnership with Multiverse represents an exciting opportunity to enhance their industry-leading apprenticeship model with our hands-on virtual lab technology. Together, we're creating a learning experience combining the best of human coaching with immersive scenarios that stretch skills and bolster confidence, giving learners both the guidance and practical experience needed for ongoing success in today's digital economy."

The partnership will launch with Multiverse's Applied Data Engineering (ADE) apprenticeship program, the latest addition to its portfolio of data skills products. This program exemplifies how the combined approach elevates learning outcomes: learners gain hands-on experience in data infrastructure management through Skillable's customizable labs, while Multiverse coaches provide strategic guidance on applying these skills to real business challenges.

Learners in the ADE program gain hands-on experience managing complex data infrastructure, developing advanced pipelines, securing databases, implementing rigorous data governance, and even applying machine learning to enhance data solutions—all within Skillable's safe learning environments that protect critical production systems and sensitive data. Throughout their learning journey, Multiverse's expert coaches provide targeted support, helping employees translate these technical skills to their organization's unique environments and technology stacks. This powerful combination bridges the gap between controlled practice and real-world application, ensuring apprentices can confidently implement their new capabilities using their organization's specific tools, processes, and business context.

As the workforce continues to adapt to new technologies and business challenges, Multiverse and Skillable are committed to delivering the hands-on, outcome-driven learning environments needed to thrive. With plans to expand across technical domains, including cloud computing and AI, this partnership marks the start of a new era in applied learning—where talent development is measured not by knowledge alone but by the ability to deliver results.

Most of the UK’s largest listed companies are underprioritising skills development in relation to technology, according to new Multiverse analysis of a sample of FTSE 100 annual reports spanning the last 10 years.

Despite seven in ten FTSE 100 companies mentioning a strategic priority relating to technology, only 7% describe skills and training as a strategic priority in their latest annual reports. This proportion has not improved since 2013 (6%), while technology has shot up, suggesting that boardrooms are not yet recognising the sweeping impact of technology on workforce skills and people requirements.

With Goldman Sachs predicting that AI investment will rocket to $200bn this year, companies who do not act are potentially putting record levels of investment at risk.

To uncover this data, Multiverse’s data science team worked with expert data analyst David Abelman (ex-Meta, Bain & Company), to build a Large Language Model (LLM) system to analyse structured information from over 100,000 pages of publicly available annual reports. The resulting Boardroom Skills Agenda report provides empirical evidence on how people and skills are missing from the boardroom’s top priority list.

The missing skills piece

Where companies do proactively reference skills strategies, they are often not undertaking reviews of the existing skills capabilities of their workforce. Only 17% describe running skills reviews of their workforces in the latest reports, while 78% of companies reference reviewing their Board of Directors’ skills.

According to the report, companies are also not targeting skills development relating to the most consequential technologies that will shape the future of work. For example, while 97% of companies mention critical compliance and DEI training, only 34% of companies referenced Artificial Intelligence (AI) training.

These findings follow Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reporting, which confirms that the average number of days of workplace training received each year has fallen over the last decade. Employer spending on training has decreased over the same period, and there has been a fall in both public and private investment in training.

Meanwhile, growth is top of the UK’s political and economic agenda, with the Government promising to break down the current barriers to equipping the workforce with the right skills to maximise new technologies.

Euan Blair, CEO of Multiverse, said:

“Annual reports are a weathervane for the issues that are capturing the boardroom’s attention. What we can see in the data is that investment in technology is skyrocketing but skills and training has stagnated. It’s telling that at the same time, so has UK productivity.

“Technology tools are only as powerful as the people who use them. Without prioritising people, companies will be left with tech strategies that are missing a key piece of the puzzle. The tech revolution will not arrive until companies connect the dots between tools and talent.”

Further headline findings from the Boardroom Skills Agenda report include:

Technology is impacting workforce skills, despite absence from boardroom top priority list

The growing impact of technology on the workforce is starting to be signalled in some reports, with discussion of “reskilling” and technical “upskilling” on the rise. Yet overall the incidence and prioritisation of technical skills initiatives is notably still low.

• The proportion of companies mentioning reskilling has nearly tripled in the last 10 years from 7% to 20%, while technical upskilling has more than doubled (23% to 51%).
• Yet in the most recent set of annual reports, only 10% of companies provided a sum for how much they were investing in training.
• When referenced, the average (median) spend was £600 per employee. A median of just 0.16% of company revenue was spent on training, and only 1% of working hours.

Apprenticeships overtake graduate schemes

The AI analysis also found that companies are delivering training via a number of different schemes, and referencing these schemes more than they were 10 years ago:

• 59% of companies referenced an apprenticeship scheme (vs 48% 10 years ago), while 48% have a graduate scheme (vs 39% 10 years ago).
• Meanwhile, 32% said they had an internship scheme (vs 19% 10 years ago).

David Abelman, Data Science Consultant, added:

“When implemented carefully, LLMs provide a fantastic way to extract quantitative information from textual documents at scale. We were able to craft a workflow to make sense of over 100,000 pages of annual reports, giving us a unique understanding of how companies discuss their people development in relation to their increasingly strategic prioritisation of technology.

“It was clear that whilst technological focus has ramped up, strategic skill development is generally lagging behind. But it’s also promising to see signals of change in the tactical implementation of learning and development initiatives. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out in the coming years as the increasing impact of AI is felt.”

Download the full report.

Buckinghamshire New University is launching a Data Academy for 35 of its staff members in a bid to enhance employee experience, maintain student satisfaction and grow student numbers.

By building a data-driven culture in areas such as admissions and academic registry, upskilled employees will support in achieving some of the university’s strategic milestones, including retaining its place as a top 10 university in National Student Survey student satisfaction rankings.

Training is being delivered by Multiverse, a tech company that identifies, closes and prevents skills gaps, through personalised, on-the-job learning. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016.

According to Multiverse’s Skills Intelligence Report, the education sector has the highest rate of time lost to unproductive data tasks. For Buckinghamshire New University, time-consuming manual processes previously impacted staff’s ability to spend time on more value-added tasks, while data silos led to inconsistent ways of working. By upskilling its employees in data, the university will be able to optimise processes and significantly increase productivity.

Employees will be enrolled on two Multiverse programmes. The Level 3 ‘Data & Insights for Business Decisions’ course will give staff the skills to understand data quality, apply automation to reduce silos and save time, while also managing organisational change and influencing behaviour across the organisation. The more advanced Level 4 ‘Data Fellowship’ will upskill university staff in computer programming, data modelling, integration and analysis techniques, with an introduction to machine learning and predictive analytics.

Jon Lees, Academic Registrar at Buckinghamshire New University, said: “At BNU, we are committed to investing in our staff talent. Our collaboration with Multiverse will help deliver on this, as we build our staff’s expertise and professional practice, and continuously improve our organisational effectiveness. As we launch our first cohort, we look forward to seeing positive change take place, led by data skills for the modern workplace.”

Multiverse combines work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone. It works with more than 1,500 organisations to close critical skill gaps in the workforce in AI, data and tech, through a new kind of apprenticeship.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse said: “Buckinghamshire New University has a rich heritage in transforming student lives and has recognised how more effective data management has the potential to contribute to this. By investing in the development of its staff, Buckinghamshire will be able to accelerate progress in meeting its strategic objectives.”

Together, Skanska UK and Multiverse have already trained over 50 employees through specialist learning opportunities enhancing skills. This latest addition will further enhance skills across the organisation and contribute to delivering Skanska UK’s digital transformation strategy.

Sally Scott, Director of Talent and Capability at, Skanska UK: “Through this partnership we are equipping our people with the knowledge and skills to ensure our projects deliver on time and to cost and quality expectations, making faster, data informed decisions. Our Data apprenticeships are now joined by a new AI apprenticeship, enabling more colleagues the opportunity to upskill.”

The training is being delivered by Multiverse, a tech company that identifies, closes and prevents skills gaps, through personalised, on-the-job learning. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016.

The expanded Academy offers programmes such as the Level 3 apprenticeship ‘Data & Insights for Business Decisions’, covering core technical skills including cleaning, formatting and preparing data. The Level 4 ‘Data Fellowship’ lays the foundation for apprentices to become high-performing analysts and data science professionals.

Skanska UK is also leading the way on developing skills in AI in the construction sector, launching a first cohort onto Multiverse’s ‘AI for Business Value’ programme. AI will be taught as an tool to understand opportunities for ensuring profitability and predicting performance, while reducing manual processes to free up time for skilled workers.

According to the Multiverse Skills Intelligence Report, the UK construction industry currently contends with nearly a third of employees' time working with data being spent unproductively. Through upskilling, Skanska UK will help deliver more effective outcomes for customers and in turn help it compete in an increasingly data-driven construction sector.

Tom Gould, Operational Efficiency Director, at Skanska UK said: “From enhancing project timelines to optimising resource allocation, we recognise the transformative role data has in construction. Working together with Multiverse we are expanding learning opportunities for our people, ensuring we continue to deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions to clients and remain on the leading-edge of an evolving industry.”

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, said: “It’s fantastic to see the value that Skanska has gained from our long-running partnership. In expanding the Data Academy to more employees, and exploring the opportunities afforded by AI, Skanska is seizing the opportunity to build for the next era of construction. In this new era, digital skills will be a catalyst for improved operations throughout the industry, from project development to sustainability and beyond.”