Corndel

Corndel: apprenticeships and executive programmes in leadership, data and AI

Corndel is a British corporate training company that works with large organisations to develop their teams' capabilities through apprenticeships and executive programmes. Its activity is structured around three academies: AI, Data and Leadership, aimed at equipping workforces with both technical competencies and human skills applicable to the business.

The company presents itself as an enterprise-level strategic partner and maintains that its approach adapts to what each organisation and its professionals need, with the stated goal of generating immediate value against real-world challenges and commercial goals. According to its own description, it has supported more than 400 business organisations and tens of thousands of people within them.

Three academies: AI, Data and Leadership

The catalogue is organised into three main lines of programmes:

• AI Academy: hands-on, role-relevant AI and data training, aimed at driving AI adoption across teams with immediate business impact. Includes programmes developed in partnership with Imperial and supported by Microsoft.
• Data Academy: programmes to improve decision-making, innovation and business agility, increasing data fluency across all teams and expanding the expertise of data specialists. Delivered in partnership with Imperial.
• Leadership Academy: programmes aimed at accelerating and amplifying the impact of managers and leaders, cementing the skills and behaviours that foster culture, performance and digital transformation. Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Methodology: individual support and measurement of results

Corndel highlights as a distinctive feature the assignment of a dedicated coach to each participant, with an average experience of nearly two decades in leadership in real-world environments. The company attributes its completion rates, which it describes as market-leading, to this personalised support, and states that its results regularly exceed the national average in nearly every regard.

In terms of recognition, the company notes that it has been rated 'Excellent' by both businesses and individuals in UK Government (DfE) ratings and that Ofsted has awarded it the 'Strong Standard' in every area assessed. It also indicates that it is the only large provider rated excellent by employers and individuals and that more people complete their programmes with Corndel than with any other large provider.

Academic and technological partnerships

The training offering is supported by collaborations with institutions and organisations:

• Imperial College London: the university, which the company places as number 1 in Europe and number 2 in the world according to QS 2026, provides academic content and connects participants with a global professional community.
• Microsoft: Corndel is an official Microsoft Training Service Partner, which according to the company enables it to offer sector expertise and practical application so that teams can adapt to technological changes.
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI): the UK authority on management and leadership and the accrediting body of the Leadership Academy, which grants graduates internationally recognised qualifications.

Areas of impact it pursues

The company frames its offering around four concrete outcomes for organisations: retaining and developing talent with greater engagement and motivation; equipping teams with agility to adapt to change; strengthening leaders so they drive innovation, strategy and teams; and creating specialists in AI, data and digital capable of influencing, communicating and leading transformation within the organisation.

Case studies and sectors served

Among the experiences the company makes public are projects with large organisations in different sectors:

• Distribution: John Lewis Partnership has developed apprenticeship programmes focused on innovation, inclusivity and social mobility, strengthening leadership capabilities.
• Retail: Hallmark went from 24 participants to a company-wide culture shift in two years with the Data Academy, improving confidence in using data for decision-making.
• Finance: Visa reimagined early talent development with degree apprenticeships, in an approach that moves away from traditional graduate training routes.
• Healthcare: professionals in the healthcare sector have used the programmes to apply data to care delivery and operations management.
• Facilities management: Mitie is driving AI adoption across its workforce with training aimed at equipping its teams with skills and confidence.

The company puts the number of people who have been through its programmes at more than 40,000.