Ecommerce conglomerate Debenhams Group has launched an AI Skills Academy as part of a push to integrate the technology into its business.
The group behind digital shopping brands such as Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo, has partnered with edtech unicorn Multiverse to expand the AI skills of its workforce.
The skills academy has been backed by £1.35m of government funding via the Apprenticeship Levy that supports work-based training schemes.
Staff at the group will be encouraged to incorporate AI into their day-to-day work to automate and expedite manual tasks and develop in-house AI systems for a full-scale digital transformation down the line.
“Adopting AI is not just about investing in our systems – it’s about investing in our people. With the launch of the AI Skills Academy, we’re giving our teams the tools to think differently, work smarter and build for the future,” said Dan Finley, chief executive of Debenhams Group.
“This is about unlocking the potential of every colleague to drive real innovation across the Group.”
Debenhams at a time was one of the oldest department store chains in the UK, originally founded in 1778. The original company was liquidated in 2020, with the branding and website bought by Boohoo the following year.
It has been seeking a major integration of AI in its business this year, having signed a major deal with AWS last month to help scale its digital offering.
The group’s AI adoption drive follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pledge in June to see 7.5 million British workers trained in AI.
Register for Free
Bookmark your favorite posts, get daily updates, and enjoy an ad-reduced experience.
Already have an account? Log in
