Lloyds Banking Group has launched an ambitious initiative to upskill its entire workforce in artificial intelligence, targeting 100 per cent AI literacy by the end of 2026.
To achieve this, the group is launching the AI Academy, a comprehensive training programme open to all 67,000 employees, regardless of their role or technical expertise.
A practical approach to upskilling
The initiative acknowledges the rapidly shifting skills landscape, with the World Economic Forum predicting that nearly 60 per cent of the global workforce will need to reskill by 2030.
Lloyds’ new academy aims to get ahead of this curve by offering bespoke learning paths tailored to how different employees interact with the technology. Roles have been categorised into distinct segments: AI Users, AI Leaders, AI Builders, and AI Enablers.
The programme kicks off immediately, with all colleagues required to complete a module on “Working with AI Responsibly”. This initial step focuses on ensuring safe and ethical usage aligned with Group standards before moving on to more advanced, role-specific training.
Ron van Kemenade, group chief operating officer at Lloyds Banking Group, emphasised that the goal is practical application rather than theoretical knowledge: “Scaling AI is about getting real use cases into production so we can simplify processes for colleagues and deliver more personalised services for customers. By investing in the skills of our people, we can do this responsibly and at pace, improving service today and building the foundations to scale new innovations in the future”.
Delivering tangible benefits
The curriculum will feature bite-sized content, interactive modules, articles, and podcasts available through the Group’s internal learning platform. By equipping staff with these tools, Lloyds hopes to save operational time, enhance customer service, and potentially open new revenue streams.
Sharon Doherty, chief people and place officer at Lloyds Banking Group, added: “Upskilling our colleagues is central to how we transform. The AI Academy gives every colleague practical, hands-on tools to use AI responsibly in their day-to-day work. By investing in our people, we’re strengthening the skills that matter most, so our teams can deliver for customers with confidence in a workplace already supported by AI”.