The UK government has unveiled a major initiative to train workers in artificial intelligence, aiming to equip up to 10 million people with the skills to use the technology in the workplace by 2030. Officials describe the programme as the most ambitious training effort since the Open University was established in 1971.
The initiative offers a series of online courses, many free and some subsidised, covering practical AI applications such as prompting chatbots, automating administrative tasks, and using AI tools safely. Lessons vary in length from short 20-minute sessions to several hours, and participants who complete 14 of the courses can earn a virtual badge to demonstrate their skills.
Tech companies including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have contributed to the design of the courses. The government says the programme is intended to make workers more confident in using AI at work, while protecting them from potential risks.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the training was part of a wider effort to ensure AI benefits all citizens. “We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI,” she said. “Change is inevitable, but the consequences of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone can share in its benefits.”
Several organisations have pledged support for the scheme. The NHS, the British Chambers of Commerce, and the Local Government Association have all committed to encouraging staff and members to take part in the courses.
However, experts caution that training must go beyond technical instruction to prepare workers for a rapidly evolving workplace. Roa Powell, senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said short courses alone are not enough. “Skills for the age of AI can’t be reduced to short technical courses alone,” she said. “Workers also need support to build judgement, critical thinking, physical skills, leadership, and the confidence to use these tools safely.”
Sharron Gunn, head of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, welcomed the government’s move but said responsibility for AI readiness should not fall solely on employees. “Alongside dedicated AI professionals, with degrees in computer science or digital apprenticeships, UK businesses of all sizes need their teams to have a benchmarked level of AI skills,” she said. Gunn added that greater understanding of technology is also needed at board level so that governance bodies can properly scrutinise executive decisions involving AI.
The government’s AI training programme represents a significant step in preparing the UK workforce for a future in which artificial intelligence plays a central role across industries. By combining practical instruction with organisational support and oversight, officials hope the initiative will help workers harness AI while safeguarding standards in workplaces nationwide.
