Debenhams Group launches AI Skills Academy to 'future-proof' workforce
Debenhams Group, previously Boohoo Group before a March 2025 rebrand, is launching an AI Skills Academy in partnership with Multiverse to "drive innovation and build a future-ready workforce".
The academy is being rolled out in partnership with workforce development platform Multiverse and will be available to all of its employees.
Fully funded through the group’s £1.35 million Apprenticeship Levy, a government fund for work-based training, the AI Skills Academy will provide employees with structured, on the job learning across the group’s retail brands including Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing, boohoo, boohooMAN and Karen Millen.
Staff will be taught all the technical skills required to embrace AI in their day to day work, including using AI tools to boost productivity and "free up time for higher value, strategic work", while streamlining operations and reducing manual tasks.
The new programme will be launched internally via a company wide communication campaign, including in-person sessions to help teams understand the opportunities on offer.
The aim is to build AI systems in-house to accelerate digital transformation and reduce reliance on external providers.
Dan Finley, CEO of Debenhams Group, said: "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. This is about unlocking the potential of every colleague to drive real innovation across the group."
The new programme comes as Debenhams Group continues to double down on the use of AI across the business, having recently announced new partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Peak AI.
It also comes following last week’s news that Debenhams Group is partnering with Pinterest to boost brand awareness and growth. It is now utilising the visual search and discovery platform to reach an engaged audience through Pinterest’s growing suite of AI tools.
