Ankura launches AI practice focused on workforce skills and redesigning work

Editorial illustration of a team assembling pieces representing people, skills, governance and business processes

The UK-based AI by Design practice will combine strategy, governance and workforce transformation, with Catriona Campbell leading the team.

Ankura has launched AI by Design, a UK-based practice serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa that will help organisations prepare their people, operating models and governance for AI adoption.

For HR and recruitment leaders, the workforce element includes redesigning roles, reskilling employees and managing the organisational changes needed to embed new technology. The practice was announced on 30 September and is led by Catriona Campbell MBE.

“Across every industry, the organizations that succeed with AI are the ones that bring their people with them, not just their technology.”

Kevin Lavin, CEO, Ankura

Three areas of support

The service combines AI strategy, AI governance engineering and AI workforce transformation. An internal AI Factory will build, test and deploy technology in delivery environments.

Ankura says its approach is designed around each organisation’s ambitions, people and capabilities, rather than a particular technology. Campbell argues that organisations need to be ready to adopt and govern AI, as well as redesign the work and systems around it.

The practice will work with Decoded on AI literacy and reskilling, Seymour-Powell on human-centred design and Inference Group on AI engineering and delivery. An advisory council will provide perspectives from technology, governance, academia and industry.

Why it matters

HR teams have a practical role in deciding how jobs change, which skills employees need and how new ways of working are introduced. Evaluating an AI programme therefore means considering training, management support and accountability alongside the software itself.

The announcement sets out Ankura’s service proposition; it does not provide measured results from the new practice.

Image: editorial illustration created for Onrec.

Key takeaways

  • The new UK-based practice will serve clients across EMEA.
  • Workforce support will cover role redesign, reskilling and organisational change.
  • Strategy and governance will sit alongside workforce transformation in the service.

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