Jonathan De Vita is a computer scientist and alumnus of Lancaster University who studied the field of artificial intelligence as part of his degree studies. This article will look at moves by the UK government to support the wholesale adoption of AI throughout the country by teaching British workers how to get the most out of this game-changing technology.
In January 2026, the government launched a series of free AI training courses. The online lessons offer advice on various aspects of artificial intelligence, from prompting chatbots to utilising them to assist with administrative functions. Many of these courses are provided free of charge, with others subsidised. The move forms part of the UK government’s plans to reach 10 million UK workers by 2030 via the most ambitious vocational training scheme since the Open University’s launch in 1971.
Reflecting on the government’s plans, the Institute for Public Policy Research warned that workers will need to know much more than merely how to prompt a chatbot in order for the UK labour force to adapt to the growth of AI. In a BBC report, Institute for Public Policy Research senior research fellow, Roa Powell, highlighted that skills for the age of AI cannot be reduced to short technical courses alone. Rather, workers will need support to build judgement, physical skills, critical thinking, confidence and leadership to use these tools safely, she suggested.
The UK government drew on the expertise and skills of tech giants like Google, Amazon and Microsoft to design the AI skills training courses, with a virtual badge presented to those who complete all 14 modules. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall indicated that the move was designed to help people build confidence using tech in the workplace, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring AI works for Briton by enabling Britons to work with it. As Ms Kendall pointed out, change is inevitable. However, the consequences of that change are not. She conveyed the government’s commitment to protecting people from the risks of AI while ensuring they can share in its benefits.
While some of the AI training courses are free, others are paywalled. The lessons are available to all adults in the UK via the virtual AI Skills Hub. They vary in length, with some lasting as little as 20 minutes, and others spanning several hours. The British Chambers of Commerce, the Local Government Association and the NHS were among the first to commit to encouraging staff and members to sign up.
Sharron Gunn serves as head of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. She welcomed the move, albeit with the caveat that the onus should not only be on workers to adapt. Ms Gunn highlighted the need for UK businesses of all sizes to build teams with a benchmarked level of AI skills. She also underscored the need for far greater understanding of technology at board level, ensuring those involved in the governance of organizations – who often give their time unpaid – have the confidence and knowledge required to scrutinise executive decisions.
Having invested £27 million in funding to connect people to tech roles in local communities, the UK government has also created new graduate traineeships and professional practice courses. Its overarching goal is to ensure that British workers benefit from all the advancements AI will bring through the creation of a cross-governmental unit to advise on AI’s impact on the UK economy and labour market.
The UK government aims to upskill circa 10 million British workers, helping the country to assert its position as the fastest AI adopter of all the G7 countries. Its ambitious targets are designed to ensure that the domestic labour force is confident, adequately skilled, and ready to recognise and capitalise on the opportunities posed by AI.
