Lloyds Banking Group is rolling out mandatory artificial intelligence training for all 67,000 employees as part of its ambitious drive to achieve complete AI literacy across its workforce by the end of 2026. The initiative represents a significant milestone in the bank's £4 billion digital transformation strategy.
The newly launched AI Academy will deliver tailored, bite-sized training through the bank's internal learning platform, featuring interactive modules, short courses, articles, podcasts, and community learning opportunities. All staff members, regardless of their role or seniority level, must complete the programme, beginning with a core module focused on the ethical and responsible use of AI.
"Scaling AI is about getting real use cases into production so we can simplify processes for colleagues and deliver more personalised services for customers," said Ron van Kemenade, Group Chief Operating Officer at Lloyds Banking Group. "By investing in the skills of our people, we can do this responsibly and at pace, improving service today and building foundations to scale new innovations in the future."
The training programme aims to equip employees with practical AI skills that can be applied directly to their daily work, enabling them to streamline processes, save time, enhance customer experiences, and support the development of innovative services. The bank has invested several million pounds in the initiative, positioning it to compete with rivals like Santander and HSBC, which have also implemented mandatory AI training programmes.
The academy is structured to support different AI user types, including AI Users, Leaders, Builders, and Enablers, ensuring that training is relevant to each employee's role and responsibilities. The flexible learning format allows staff to engage with content around their day-to-day work commitments.
This workforce-wide training follows earlier AI education efforts that saw CEO Charlie Nunn and 300 senior managers complete a tailored AI course, alongside 10,000 front-office staff trained to use generative AI for customer support. The expansion to all employees marks a substantial escalation in the bank's commitment to AI adoption.
The initiative comes as Lloyds Banking Group—which includes Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland—continues its broader digital overhaul. Last year, the group announced 1,200 new roles focused on platform engineering, software, and data architecture to support AI integration across core operations.
Sharon Doherty, Chief People Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, emphasized the importance of preparing the workforce for rapid technological change, noting that a significant proportion of employees will require reskilling by the decade's end. The AI Academy ensures colleagues become confident, capable, and responsible AI users while maintaining trust and accountability through robust governance standards.
The bank's ambition to achieve 100% AI literacy by end-2026 underscores its commitment to placing people and skills at the centre of technological transformation, ensuring AI adoption delivers tangible benefits for customers, colleagues, and the business.