Skip to main content

Founding Verification Cohort

Apply to be considered for the Founding Verification Cohort

The cohort is designed for three to five UK SMEs already operating AIGMS™ (Artificial Intelligence Governance Management System). The free initial application collects summary information for cohort consideration only. It is not an Entry Check, assessment or application for public AIGMS™ Verified status.

Free initial applications are open. Every later programme stage remains closed.

Summary information only. Do not upload or paste governance evidence.

Current position

Only recruitment and administrative screening are open

An authorised business representative may submit readiness information at no cost. The Programme may check whether required fields are complete, consider cohort eligibility and respond. Submission does not make the business a cohort participant. Participation can begin only after separate written participant terms are accepted.

What the application can do

  • Create a recruitment and administrative screening record
  • Allow completeness and cohort eligibility to be considered
  • Give the Programme enough information to respond about the application

What applying cannot do

  • Create a right to an Entry Check or assessment
  • Trigger payment, evidence access or paid work
  • Reserve a cohort place or make the business a participant
  • Create public status, a Status ID or mark permission

Cohort design boundary

Designed for a small UK SME pilot

These are the current design boundaries for candidate recruitment. They do not mean that pilot work has begun or that every eligible applicant will be invited to participate.

3 to 5

UK SMEs in the controlled pilot design

2 or more

Business sectors represented in the intended cohort

1 legal entity

Covered by each initial application

90 days

Minimum consecutive calendar period of genuine operating evidence

Before you apply

Use this checklist to judge whether applying is worthwhile

The application is intended for UK SMEs with completed implementation and genuine operating evidence. These indicators support a decision about whether to apply. They are not an acceptance, readiness or assessment finding.

Defined organisation and scope

  • A legally identifiable UK SME
  • An authorised business representative
  • At least one Active AI Activity
  • A coherent function, service or organisational boundary

Current governance records

  • A current AI Governance Policy which is signed and dated
  • A complete Activity Register for the proposed scope
  • Current Consequence Profiles for every Active or Under Review AI Activity in scope
  • Recorded Safeguard selections with reasons

People and operating evidence

  • A named Governance Lead and Accountable Persons
  • Role-appropriate competence records
  • At least 90 consecutive calendar days of genuine operating evidence
  • Access to relevant personnel if later pilot work is authorised

Review and disclosure

  • A Governance Evidence Pack and index
  • At least one complete Assurance Review
  • Current incident and complaint overviews plus a Shadow AI discovery record
  • Disclosure of material changes and relevant implementation support

What happens next

Two steps are open. Every later stage needs separate authority.

  1. Submit the initial business application

    The applicant supplies its legal entity, proposed scope, operating period, AI Activity population, highest Consequence Rating and approved business contact details. It does not submit evidence files.

  2. Administrative screening

    The Programme checks completeness, considers cohort eligibility and responds about the application. This makes no suitability, readiness, assessment or acceptance finding.

Status boundary

The Founding Cohort cannot grant public AIGMS™ Verified status

No public status is available through this cohort.

  • No organisation currently holds public AIGMS™ Verified status.
  • No Status ID or AIGMS™ Verified Mark has been issued.
  • The public register currently contains no Current status entries.
  • A future public route may open only after pilot testing, independent appointments, secure evidence handling, specialist reviews and a recorded formal launch decision.
  • Any future AIGMS™ Verified status will be private verification. It will not be UKAS accredited, government approved or regulator endorsed.
  • Verification will not confirm legal compliance or the safety, accuracy or performance of an AI tool, product, AI Activity or output.

Evidence security

Do not send governance evidence with an initial application

The form is intended for approved business contact details and a readiness summary only. Do not send an Activity Register, Governance Evidence Pack, employee information, customer information, incident records, legal material, health information, passwords, confidential business records or evidence links through the website or ordinary email.

Evidence access would require separate authority and a written agreement covering purpose, scope, confidentiality, access, retention and the secure route.

Free initial application

Apply only if the foundations above are already operating

The initial application is free and creates no obligation. It supplies the summary information needed for recruitment and administrative screening. It does not authorise payment, evidence access, an Entry Check, assessment work or public status.

Start the free initial application Business applicants only. Applying does not reserve a place or create entitlement to any later stage.