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AI Skills Boost gives people free access to complete AI training – providing practical AI skills for work. People will be able to gain a government-backed virtual AI foundations badge for completing selected training courses.
Training is available on the revamped AI Skills Hub, a free site where users can create a learning profile and follow a tailored learning journey beyond the foundations training.
AI and the Future of Work Unit
This will be a new Unit that will research and monitor AI’s economic and labour market impacts to provide timely advice on when new policies should be implemented. The Unit will also lead across government on the AI and the Future of Work Programme.
This programme will prepare the UK for AI-driven labour market transformation. The programme will be guided by the principles of recognising that work is fundamental to human dignity, ensuring people benefit from this once-in-a-generation transformation, prioritising economic growth through AI adoption, supporting workers to update their skills, and establishing a positive, practical vision for the future.
An expert panel of industry, academia, civil society and trade union representatives will support the Unit, providing strategic insight to its work, supporting external collaboration, and enabling the effective delivery of the work programme. Members include Daniel Susskind, Diane Coyle, Abigail Gilbert (IFOW), Naomi Weir (CBI), and Mike Clancy (Prospect Union).
TechLocal
As part of the £187 million TechFirst programme, government has launched application details for the £27 million TechLocal scheme which will support local employers and help people get access to job opportunities.
The funding over 4 years, will be available to UK registered businesses and learning providers to bid for through 2 competitions. The first will fund UK education providers to develop innovative AI degrees and graduate traineeships, ensuring graduates are equipped for immediate impact in the workforce, and the second will get more people into tech jobs in their local community.
Full list of industry and public sector partners as of January 2026
Accenture
Amazon
Barclays
British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
BT
Cisco
Cognizant
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Department for Education (DfE)
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Google
IBM
Institute of Directors (IOD)
Intuit
Local Government Association (LGA)
Microsoft
Multiverse
NHS
Pax8
PwC (Delivery Partner)
Sage
Salesforce
SAS
techUK
Sources
DSIT analysis of OECD modelling
This number is based on self-reported calculations provided by 11 industry partners on AI upskilling they have delivered in the UK since 2025
Claim based on ~2 million people having Open University degrees versus aiming to reach 10 million workers through AI Skills Boost initiative
AI Skills for Life and Work: summary report
AI Adoption Research
Data from business insights and impact on the UK economy – ONS. Large businesses (250+) have an adoption rate of 44.4% and micro businesses (fewer than 10) have an adoption rate of 24.3%. Calculation: (44.4% – 24.3%) / 44.4% = 45.3%
DSIT media enquiries
Email press@dsit.gov.uk
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000
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Published 28 January 2026
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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-ai-training-for-all-as-government-and-industry-programme-expands-to-provide-10-million-workers-with-key-ai-skills-by-2030
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