With AI changing how businesses operate and the skills people need, Deloitte research identifies that insufficient workforce skills are the biggest barrier businesses face when integrating AI into existing work.
As Sage brings AI into more everyday business workflows, it is investing in people alongside technology. The new cohort of graduates and apprentices will work alongside experienced colleagues across Sage and contribute to the accounting, finance, HR and payroll technology its customers rely on.
“Investing in the next generation of talent is incredibly important to us at Sage,” said Amanda Cusdin, Chief People Officer, Sage. “Our graduates and apprentices bring fresh perspectives, new ideas and real enthusiasm to our business. We want to give them the opportunity to learn, build their confidence and develop the skills that will set them up for successful careers. As technology continues to change the way we work, providing practical experience, structured training and opportunities to grow has never been more important.”
Connecting UK and Indian talent
The intake includes 87 graduates and apprentices in the UK and 45 graduates in India, which coincides with ‘The Great North’ trade mission to India. This brings together businesses, universities and civic leaders from across the North of England to strengthen relationships in trade, investment and innovation.
The mission follows the UK–India trade agreement coming into force and reflects the countries’ growing digital relationship. Sage’s intake across the UK and India demonstrates the opportunity for businesses to develop talent, exchange knowledge and create pathways into technology careers across both markets.
Headquartered in the North East, Sage also operates within a regional technology ecosystem that is preparing for greater AI investment and adoption. The North East AI Growth Zone aims to attract investment, create skilled jobs and expand access to training and careers in AI.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: “The North East has always been a region of talent and ambition, and I’m determined that our people benefit from the opportunities that new technology brings.
“Sage is a fantastic North East success story. A leading global business, headquartered in the region. It’s brilliant to see them investing in the strong connections between the North East and India and the next generation of local talent in both markets.”
Building experience for changing careers
Graduates and apprentices will receive structured learning, mentoring and practical experience alongside experienced Sage colleagues. Their development will combine role-specific training with broader skills such as analytical thinking, adaptability and working effectively with AI.
They join Sage as AI changes both how technology is developed and how businesses operate. Sage is already bringing AI into everyday business workflows through Sage Copilot and a growing range of AI Skills and Agents across finance, accounting, payroll and operations.
These capabilities are designed to reduce repetitive work while keeping people informed and in control. Developing AI fluency alongside customer, market and regulatory knowledge will be important as Sage continues to expand its use of AI across the business.
Struan Gow, Product Cohort Co-ordinator, joined Sage’s 2024 graduate cohort as a data analyst after studying chemistry at university. He said: "Working at Sage has allowed me to grow my interest in technology and data into a career. As a graduate, I’ve built systems now used across the whole business, presented our latest technological capability to the C-suite, and given lectures at university about the digital tools I’ve developed for our customers. I now get to support the next intake of graduates as a cohort coordinator, and I’m excited to use what I have learnt so far to support new colleagues.
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About Sage
Sage creates the confidence businesses are built on. Our finance, HR and payroll technology supports the critical work millions of small and mid-sized businesses and accountants depend on – helping them navigate complexity, reduce risk and make better decisions. As AI transforms how that work gets done, Sage provides the essential platform for the people who need to get it right, bringing together trusted technology, deep domain expertise and the connected services they rely on every day. We extend that commitment by using our time, resources and experience to help create opportunity in the communities where we live and work.
The Great North
The Great North is a Mayoral led partnership set up to seize the growth prize that devolution has made possible across the north. We're a bottom up partnership, combining forces to collaborate on cross northern priorities that can accelerate growth at scale.
The Great North was established in May 2025, bringing together Mayors and regional leaders from across the North of England around a shared ambition: to speak with a stronger collective voice, unlock the North’s economic potential and champion its interests nationally and internationally.
Since then, we have brought Northern leaders together behind shared priorities for growth and devolution; worked with Government on the first Northern Growth Strategy; launched a collective Investment Prospectus and inaugural Great North Investment Summit; developed an ambition for a future Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North; and established new collaborations around trade, investment and the creative industries.
Our focus is on the opportunities where working together adds value: where the scale of the North matters, where a shared voice from Mayors and Leaders carries greater weight, and where collaboration can create opportunities beyond those any one region could achieve alone.
GREAT campaign
The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign is the UK’s international communications programme. It enhances the UK’s global reputation and drives economic growth by encouraging international audiences to visit, study, trade and invest in the UK. GREAT is one of the world’s most impactful nation branding and marketing initiatives, providing the UK government’s international network with a high-quality, consistent brand used by 26 government departments and arms-length bodies. It successfully promotes the UK’s strengths in 164 countries, delivering £8.4 billion worth of returns to the UK economy since launch.
Sage has announced its latest global intake of 175 graduates and apprentices. The new cohort will receive structured learning, mentoring and hands-on experience as Sage invests in the skills needed for an increasingly AI-enabled economy.
AI is changing how businesses operate and the skills people need. Deloitte research identifies insufficient workforce skills as the biggest barrier businesses face when integrating AI into existing work. As Sage brings AI into more everyday business workflows, it is investing in people alongside technology.
They will work alongside experienced colleagues and contribute to the accounting, finance, HR and payroll technology Sage customers rely on. Their development combines role-specific training with broader skills such as analytical thinking, adaptability and working effectively with AI.
The announcement coincides with The Great North trade mission to India, led by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, which brings together businesses, universities and civic leaders from across the North of England. The mission follows the UK–India trade agreement coming into force. Sage’s intake across both countries shows how businesses can develop talent, exchange knowledge and create pathways into technology careers in both markets.
Sage is headquartered in the North East, and most of its UK intake is based in Newcastle. The region is preparing for greater AI investment and adoption through the North East AI Growth Zone, which aims to attract investment, create skilled jobs and expand access to training and careers in AI.
Sage is bringing AI into everyday business workflows through Sage Copilot and a growing range of AI Skills and Agents across finance, accounting, payroll and operations. These capabilities are designed to reduce repetitive work while keeping people informed and in control.
