The UK is accelerating its efforts to become the first G7 economy to adopt AI with a massive national effort.
Every adult in the UK will now have access to free AI training, as the UK government significantly expands a joint program with industry to equip 10 million workers with practical artificial intelligence skills by the end of this decade.
The move marks one of the most ambitious national upskilling initiatives in modern UK history and signals a major shift in how the workforce is prepared for an AI-driven economy.
Commenting on this breakthrough AI push, Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
“Change is inevitable, but the consequences of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone shares in its benefits.”
“It starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities presented by AI, and putting power and control in their hands.”
Improving national skills for the AI era
The expansion comes as the UK aims to be the first in the G7 to adopt AI. Ministers believe that widespread use of AI capabilities has the potential to generate as much as £140bn of economic value a year by increasing productivity, reducing routine tasks and creating more highly skilled roles.
But the challenges are clear. Just 21% of UK workers are now confident in using AI in the workplace, according to new research. Adoption remains spotty, with only one in six UK companies expected to be using AI tools by mid-2025.
Small businesses are the furthest behind, with small businesses 45% less likely to adopt AI than large organizations.
Free AI training that gives you ready-to-use skills
To fill this gap, the government has launched a new series of short, free AI training courses hosted on the AI Skills Hub.
Developed by a leading technology company, the course has been assessed against Skills England’s new AI Foundation Skills Benchmark, giving learners confidence that their training meets nationally recognized standards.
Most courses take less than 20 minutes to complete and are completely online, so anyone with an internet connection can take them. Learners will gain practical skills in using everyday AI tools for tasks such as drafting text, creating content, analyzing information, and streamlining administrative tasks.
Upon completion, participants will receive a virtual AI Foundations badge. This badge is designed to demonstrate reliable workplace competency to employers.
Since June, over 1 million courses have already been completed, highlighting the strong demand for hands-on, easy-to-use learning.
Reaching public services and small businesses
The program is being rolled out in both the public and private sectors. NHS staff and local civil servants will also benefit, with the UK’s largest employer playing a central role in scaling up the initiative.
The current goal is to reach 10 million employees in this decade, including at least 2 million small and medium-sized business employees. Government officials describe the initiative as the largest targeted training program since the Open University’s inception in the 1960s.
Industry and government work together
Speaking at Bloomberg’s London headquarters, the Technology Secretary confirmed a significant expansion of industry partners supporting the programme.
New participating organizations include the British Chambers of Commerce, Cisco, Cognizant, Confederation of British Industry, Confederation of Small Businesses, Councils, Local Government Associations, Multiverse, Pax8, techUK and key government departments.
They join founding partners such as Accenture, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, and Barclays, all committed to providing free AI training on a national scale.
prepare for future work
Alongside the skills rollout, the government has launched a new AI and Future of Work department. The department, supported by experts from business and trade unions, will monitor how AI reshapes jobs, wages and productivity, and ensure policy responds to changes in technology.
Its mission is to help workers adapt, protect communities from disruption, and ensure AI-driven growth leads to better, safer jobs.
Funding, scholarships, and community growth
Additional investments support the strategy. A £27m increase to the TechLocal scheme, part of the £187m TechFirst programme, will support up to 1,000 new tech jobs across the country, alongside AI-focused training, specialist courses and work experience.
The government has also opened applications for Spärck AI scholarships at nine UK universities. Up to 100 AI and STEM graduate students will receive full tuition, lifestyle support, mentorship, and industry introductions.
Together with the wider Skills for Life digital program, free AI training is now a cornerstone of the UK’s industrial strategy, aimed at ensuring that workers, businesses and communities are not left behind in the AI transition.
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