1. You are here:
  2. Homepage
  3. AI Events
  4. Sovereign AI Awards
  5. Skills & Talent Vote

Skills & Talent Vote

Sovereign AI Awards 2026 · People's Vote

Skills & Talent Award

Leadership in AI education, re-skilling the workforce, or attracting world-class talent to the UK. Our judges have shortlisted five finalists. Read about each one, then cast your vote.

01Meet the finalists 02Cast your vote 03Watch the live results
Vote now

The finalists

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order.

Chartered Management Institute

Nominated by Caroline Mallan, Chartered Management Institute

The Chartered Management Institute, with TechSkills, launched the UK's first Leadership for AI qualifications in spring 2026, at Levels 3, 5 and 7. They focus mainly on leadership and managing change, alongside the technical AI knowledge managers need, and were developed with employers including Amazon, Infosys and Fortinet.

The qualifications are delivered nationally through CMI's network of universities, colleges and training providers, and CMI is a strategic partner in the Government's AI Skills Boost initiative for managers and leaders.

Judges' analysis

The judges recognised the first accredited leadership qualifications for AI adoption in the UK, with national reach through CMI's provider network and a direct role in the Government's skills programme.

Data & AI Literacy Academy

Nominated by Sarah Driesmans, Data & AI Literacy Academy

Data & AI Literacy Academy runs data and AI literacy programmes for large employers, covering everyone from frontline staff to boards. Each programme is tailored to the client's strategy and judged on the value it delivers.

Since 2022 it has trained more than 20,000 people across 70 organisations, including SSE, the Ministry of Defence, Coventry Building Society and the Scottish Government. Over 89% of learners report greater confidence, and 84% put their new skills to use within four weeks.

Judges' analysis

The judges rated the Academy's reach and measured outcomes as the strongest in the category, with sustained delivery across large public and private employers.

Domestic & General

Nominated by Sarah Driesmans, Data & AI Literacy Academy

Domestic & General put 53 senior leaders through a seven-month data-driven leadership programme with Data & AI Literacy Academy. AI was taught last, so that leaders could first learn to judge the quality of the data behind it.

Leaders documented 213 practical uses for data and AI, including one that recovers more than £300,000 a year in payments. They also identified gaps in governance, such as audit trails for AI, which now go to the company's AI Design Authority.

Judges' analysis

The judges recognised a thoughtful approach that builds judgement before tools, with clearly documented outcomes and a direct link into the company's AI governance.

Gleeds

Nominated by James Garner, Gleeds

Construction consultancy Gleeds runs Upskill, a step-by-step AI learning pathway for its workforce. It starts with a mandatory AI literacy course, moves on to hands-on courses using a live AI tool, and offers AI and data apprenticeships with partners including Multiverse.

More than 100 colleagues have joined the apprenticeship pathway and 933 people have taken Upskill one-day courses worldwide. Since July 2026 staff must complete relevant training before using approved AI tools, with company-wide AI literacy targeted by the end of 2026.

Judges' analysis

The judges recognised an established, multi-level pathway that ties training directly to AI policy and tool access, building AI capability across the UK's built environment professions.

NSDesign

Nominated by Gary Ennis, NSDesign

NSDesign delivers practical AI education and mentoring to micro businesses and SMEs, mainly in Scotland. It works through national Business Gateway webinars, now CPD accredited, and with South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and chambers of commerce.

In the past year it delivered more than 1,500 learning and mentoring sessions, and its Business Gateway webinars have reached around 4,500 participants since January 2023.

Judges' analysis

The judges recognised NSDesign's sustained reach into small businesses, a hard-to-reach group that forms the base of the UK economy, with work repeatedly commissioned by national public bodies.

Live results

Votes so far. Results are updated regularly while voting is open.

Chartered Management Institute
0
Data & AI Literacy Academy
0
Domestic & General
0
Gleeds
0
NSDesign
0
0 votes castLast updated: awaiting first votes

Cast your vote

Choose one finalist and tell us who you are.

You can vote once in this category, and you are welcome to vote in every category. If the same email address votes more than once in a category, only the most recent vote is counted. The People's Vote runs alongside the independent judging panel's assessment.