Tech Giants partner with Government to boost UK Worker AI Skills

A fifth of the UK workforce will be equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) under a new government-industry partnership.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle made the announcement as he convened leading tech firms for the first in a series of focused talks.

Firms including Amazon, Barclays, BT, Google, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Sage, Salesforce, and SAS joined the discussions.

The partnership was unveiled by the Prime Minister during London Tech Week and aims to break down barriers to opportunity and unlock economic growth.

The initial meeting focused on identifying future skills needs and making training more accessible.

Participants worked on agreeing terms of reference and a schedule of regular meetings to monitor progress.

Peter Kyle said: “Artificial Intelligence is the new economic frontier, and we want to get Brits ready for jobs of the future so we can spark the growth powering our Plan for Change.

“If we want to realise AI’s incredible potential though, we need to make sure people of all ages and from all parts of the UK have the skills they need for jobs both in and with the technology – especially given we expect around 10 million workers to be using AI in their day-to-day role by 2035.

“Within days of announcing that we’re partnering with some of the world’s biggest tech leaders to help us do exactly that, we’re getting them around the table – representing a vote of confidence not only in Britain’s workers, but in the potential we offer as a global AI powerhouse.”

Each participating company will contribute to the initiative through targeted training and resources.

Microsoft has committed to upskilling one million UK workers in AI by the end of the year.

SAS and Sage will provide high-quality AI training to help boost worker confidence in using the technology.

Steve Hare, Sage CEO, said:  “This initiative is exactly what the UK needs – skills-focused and future-looking.

“At Sage, we see every day how small businesses want to embrace AI but are held back by a lack of confidence and know-how.”

“By working together across government, industry, and education, we can give people the tools they need to unlock AI’s full potential and drive real productivity across the economy.”

IBM will offer targeted training modules through its SkillsBuild programme, giving workers practical tools to adopt AI in their roles.

Since the government took office, the UK has attracted over £44 billion in AI investment. More than 13,000 jobs have been created since January, when the Prime Minister launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

With AI demand growing, ministers and industry leaders will continue working together to ensure people across the UK are ready for the jobs of tomorrow.