The UK government has launched a series of new initiatives worth over £200m to accelerate AI adoption and skills for workers and young people.
At the first-ever AI Adoption Summit on Monday, the government brought together tech companies, trade unions and industry leaders with the aim to drive the adoption of AI in ways that boost growth while creating new opportunities for workers and supporting them with new skills.
More than £200m of government investment, backed by partnerships with industry and trade unions, will help turn that approach into action, supporting skills, opening up routes into AI careers for young people, and helping businesses put AI into practice.
New initiatives include expanding the government ‘Bridge AI’ scheme with £100m to match British companies with British AI, along with support on skills, AI assurance and practical help so businesses know how to use AI to secure the strongest growth potential.
A further £53m has been committed for new initiatives to boost AI adoption and innovation, including the expansion of the Tech Town programme that Barnsley has pioneered. This will also include a £4m expansion to the Spärck AI Scholarships programme, which will sponsor up to 50 industry placements for top university scholars to get hands-on experience in UK companies.
More than 30 major companies, including BT, Rolls Royce, Accenture and EDF, have also signed up to share data and insights on how they are using AI in the workplace. This will be used help shape future policy and share expertise with small businesses looking to adopt the technology.
Training the next generation
The UK government has also launched a series of AI bootcamps and the Early Careers Jobs Alliance to help young people get into further education and the job market, with a focus on disadvantaged schools.
The announcement follows the publication of ONS data showing one million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Backed by £20m in funding, the new initiatives will map out how entry-level work is changing and support businesses in redesigning job roles while maintaining entry-level pathways.
The Early Careers Jobs Alliance brings together government, employers, trade unions and young people, with the aim of guiding people into work and provisioning opportunities to learn on the job.
Over 400,000 students will be provided with AI and tech skills training through TechFirst, as part of the initiative as the government looks to improve opportunities and map education to the evolving early-careers job market.
The AI bootcamp scheme, unveiled by tech minister Liz Kendall at London Tech Week, will be piloted across five local areas in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, providing free workplace and entry-level AI training and guaranteeing those who complete the bootcamp with a fully paid AI apprenticeship.
The government plans to roll out the scheme nationwide across England in the 2027 to 2028 academic year, if the pilot is successful.
