Building a professional home for practical AI /Help shape BPAI
BPAI - British Practitioners of Artificial Intelligence

BPAI / STANDARDS & MEMBERSHIP

Trust, by design.

The proposed standards, founding membership, Fellowship and roadmap. These plans are open for consultation; assessment and Fellowship are not yet operating.

Help shape BPAI

EVIDENCE OF PRACTICAL CAPABILITY

Credibility should be earned.

PROPOSED PILOT FRAMEWORK

Membership, Fellowship and assessed status are separate. The assessment model below is being developed and tested before launch.

01

Demonstrate delivery

Two delivered case studies showing the business problem, outcomes, costs, limitations and handover.

02

Provide client evidence

Two client references to inform a grounded review of the practitioner's work and approach.

03

Explain your decisions

An interview with two trained assessors, using published criteria and transparent handling of conflicts of interest.

04

Maintain the standard

A defined scope, continuing development, annual renewal and periodic reassessment.

What an assessment would mean
Evidence of capability within a defined scope and period, rather than a guarantee of future results. Initial scope is intended to cover business-improvement applications. Higher-risk exclusions, confidentiality controls, complaints and independent appeals must be defined before launch.
Proposed responsible-practice code

These draft principles are being developed for consultation before a formal membership and assessment scheme launches.

  1. 01Take on work you can deliver and be clear about your limits.
  2. 02Agree scope, costs, responsibilities and success measures.
  3. 03Protect confidentiality and use client data only as authorised.
  4. 04Test the solution, record its limitations and keep people responsible for important decisions.
  5. 05Separate measured results from estimates and marketing claims.
  6. 06Declare commercial interests, including supplier relationships.
  7. 07Provide a clear handover and a route for concerns.

Assessment criteria, complaints handling, appeals and enforcement arrangements remain subject to development and approval.

Responsible practice throughout: permissions, security, proportionate data use and human oversight.

PROPOSED FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP / FIRST FIFTY

Help shape a useful
professional home.

Our ambition is to build an initial community of fifty practitioners. Founding membership is an early participation offer—not a role on the founding team, Fellowship or an assessment award.

Free to express interest. No payment, obligation or membership status is created.

Help shape the first member offer

  • Shape practical standards through early consultation on what useful, proportionate practice looks like.
  • Help test peer learning sessions focused on real delivery questions, limits and lessons.
  • Try shared practical resources and help improve them before the wider member offer is set.
  • Take part in early consultation on membership, assessment safeguards and client confidence.
Before anyone joins

Initial membership is intended to be free. The duration, benefits, joining criteria, launch dates and any future fees will be confirmed before anyone joins.

Corporate membership and supplier sponsorship remain separate routes. Financial support cannot purchase influence over assessments or Fellowship decisions.

HELP SHAPE BPAI

Bring a practical perspective.

BPAI is being developed with practical delivery in mind. We welcome perspectives from AI practitioners, business users and people affected by AI, including those without a technical background.

01

Share a practical lesson

What worked, what did not, what others could learn, keeping client identities and confidential information out of the initial enquiry.

02

Review a draft resource

Help make proposed guidance clear, useful and realistic.

03

Suggest a priority

What would most improve confidence in practical AI, and which problems or skills should BPAI focus on?

These are expressions of interest, not appointments, membership approval, Fellowship or assessor status. Any contribution, publication or formal role would be agreed separately.

PROPOSED FELLOWSHIP / DISTINCT FROM MEMBERSHIP

Recognition grounded
in evidence.

PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTATION

Fellowship is being designed for senior practitioners who can demonstrate practical AI competence, responsible practice and contribution to others. Joining early would not be enough.

PROPOSED INITIAL FELLOWS

01

James Plester

Proposed for independent review

02

Joe Wright

Proposed for independent review

03

Mark Winsbury

Proposed for independent review

04–10

Up to seven further places

The initial cohort would remain capped at ten.

Stuart Lyons
POTENTIAL FELLOWStuart Lyons

Finance professional with experience in commercial finance, team development, FP&A and systems transformation.

Possible consideration as one of the remaining seven initial Fellows, subject to agreed independent review. This is not an assessment, acceptance or appointment.

These are proposed founding Fellows, not assessed or accredited appointments. No postnominals, chartered status, external recognition or guaranteed assessment is claimed.

What the review would look for

  • Delivered work Project examples, the practitioner's role and evidence-supported outcomes.
  • External perspective Relevant references, feedback from peers or other evidence supporting the work.
  • Responsible practice How data, permissions, limitations and human oversight were handled.
  • Contribution Mentoring, shared learning or practical support that helps others improve.
Proposed nomination and independent review

Nominations would be considered by an appropriately independent panel. Founders would not take part in decisions about themselves or where they have a conflict of interest. The panel, criteria, process, appeals and any Fellowship fees are not yet operating or agreed.

PROPOSED ROADMAP — TIMING SUBJECT TO PILOT FEEDBACK AND READINESS

A careful path
towards launch.

Planning targets, not confirmed dates or evidence of completed work. Broader membership, Fellowship and assessment will not open unless their foundations are ready.

  1. 01

    October–November 2026

    Founding consultation

    Gather expressions of interest and test priorities with practitioners, buyers and supporting organisations.

  2. 02

    November–December 2026

    Founding-member pilot

    Run proposed practical peer sessions and test the usefulness of shared resources with early participants.

  3. 03

    December 2026–January 2027

    Assessment and Fellowship safeguards

    Test the assessment criteria, Fellowship requirements, independent review and complaints and appeals process before either scheme opens.

  4. 04

    January 2027

    Readiness review

    Review governance, privacy, operating capacity and pilot findings before deciding whether to open broader membership and assessment.

Before we launch

Launch decisions will be based on governance, privacy, operating capacity and pilot findings. BPAI does not currently claim an operational Fellowship, assessment or accreditation scheme.