Apprenticeships vs Data Literacy Academy: Bridging the data literacy gap together

Why enterprise leaders need a multifaceted approach to Data Literacy

The UK’s data skills gap is no secret. A 2023 report by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology revealed that 48% of UK businesses struggle to find workers with the data skills they need.

As data becomes a foundational capability across every industry, Chief Data Officers and executives are under pressure to upskill workforces at scale. Data apprenticeships have emerged as a key part of the solution. But they’re not the only answer.

At Data Literacy Academy, we believe data capability building doesn’t need to be either/or. Apprenticeships and agile, live online learning can, and should, work together to create long-term impact, fast. Unlike an apprenticeship, Data Literacy Academy equips everyone in your organisation with data confidence, not just a few.

Our approach is focused on winning hearts and minds, building a common language and tackling the most challenging problems of our era: reducing silos, improving tech adoption and empowering people to make decisions based on data. This is what it takes to truly become a data-driven organisation, and by only focusing on apprenticeships, you're leaving out the majority of your workforce.

Here’s how they complement each other.

What apprenticeships offer

Data apprenticeships are a powerful tool for long-term workforce development. Backed by the Apprenticeship Levy and supported by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, these programmes offer:

• Structured, accredited learning aligned with national standards
• Practical, on-the-job experience for early-career professionals
• Government funding that helps organisations invest in skills without bearing the full financial burden
• Longer timelines (typically 12–24 months), allowing deep skill-building over time

Apprenticeships are particularly well-suited for entry-level roles, career switchers, and organisations looking to build talent from the ground up or deepening technical expertise.

However, they can be less flexible when organisations need to move quickly, upskill existing staff, or embed data literacy across all departments, not just technical teams. They aren’t focused on embedding broad cultural and behavioural change for hundreds or thousands of people at a time.

What Data Literacy Academy offers

Data Literacy Academy was designed with today’s time-poor, change-driven organisations in mind. We offer persona-based, customised learning journeys that help data leaders make progress fast, without waiting for results of year-long programme cycles. And our primary focus is delivering ROI and business outcomes. It's all about real impact, not vanity metrics or being a tick-box exercise.

Key benefits include:

• Faster time to value: Programmes can launch in weeks, not months
• Flexible, on-demand delivery: Suits hybrid teams and busy professionals
• Scalable across departments: We don’t do data for data teams, we focus on business teams, no matter if they’re desk-based or on the front lines
• Team-centric approach: Encourages collaboration and shared accountability
• Strategic alignment: Supports enterprise-wide goals like AI adoption, data governance, or digital transformation

Data Literacy Academy doesn’t replace apprenticeships, it fills the gaps they can’t always reach. Especially when leaders need to shift data culture fast or build confidence in decision-making at every level.

How we work together: A blended approach to culture building

Rather than choosing between apprenticeship or our live, online learning, forward-thinking organisations are combining both. Data Literacy Academy is the wrapper that embraces your full scale of data initiatives, acting as an enabler.

Here’s how we compare:

Our approach allows CDOs and business leaders to align skills development with strategic priorities, whether that’s modernising services, meeting new reporting requirements, or enabling more data-driven decisions across the board.

Building the workforce the future needs

Tackling the global data literacy gap requires more than one solution. Apprenticeships are a useful long-term investment. But they’re not a silver bullet, and they work best when paired with flexible, scalable options like Data Literacy Academy.

By combining deep technical or early-career training with accessible, team-based learning for current employees, organisations can create a truly data-literate workforce, faster, and with lasting impact.

If you’re thinking about how to upskill your teams in 2025, it might not be a case of apprenticeship vs online learning, but rather apprenticeship and our online learning.

Want to learn more about building a data-literate culture in your organisation?

Explore our programmes or get in touch with our team for a tailored conversation.