UK Government aims to upskill 10 million workers with AI skills hub

The UK Government has announced an expansion to its AI Skills hub, with the intention to upskill 10 million people in the UK over the next decade.

The hub was launched in June last year and has already delivered one million courses.

But ministers say unlocking the potential of AI could generate an extra £140bn in annual economic output.

Every adult in the UK is eligible to take courses via the hub, which is focused on developing practical skills such using AI to draft text or undertake administrative tasks.

Tech secretary Liz Kendall said the move would ensure people were protected from the risks of AI while benefiting from its use. “That starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities AI brings, putting the power and control into their hands,” she added.

The government has hailed the hub as the “biggest targeted training programme” since the Open University was created in 1969.

Accenture, Amazon, Barclays, BT, Google, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Sage, SAS and Salesforce were the founding partners of the initiative when it first launched.

Several more industry partners have got on board, including the British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses.

The NHS is also a partner, as health workers are expected to benefit from the upskilling programmes.

Ministers have also launched the new AI and Future of Work Unit, which will provide analysis of AI’s impact on the economy and labour market to inform future policy decisions.

An expert panel from business, academia and trade unions will support the unit.

And a new TechLocal scheme, backed by £27m funding, has been launched to help support employers and increase access to job opportunities.

Any UK-registered business can apply for a share of the cash. The first round of funding will be to help education providers develop AI degrees and graduate traineeships, while a second round will aim to get more people into tech jobs in the local community.