UK Government Launches Ambitious AI Skills Initiative for Workers and Students

UK launches AI skills drive for workers and schoolchildren

The UK government is to team up with tech giants including Google, Microsoft and Amazon to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to announce Monday. Starmer is also set to unveil £187 million ($253 million) in funding to help develop tech abilities for one million secondary school students, as part of its "TechFirst" program to bring AI learning into classrooms and communities. "We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation -- so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it," Starmer was to say, according to extracts released by his Downing Street office. "This training program will unlock opportunity in every classroom -- and lays the foundations for a new era of growth," he was to add. The UK's AI sector is valued at £72 billion and is projected to exceed £800 billion by 2035. It is growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, employing over 64,000 people, according to government figures. Alongside TechFirst, Starmer was also to announce a government-industry partnership to train 7.5 million workers, with tech giants committing to make training materials freely available to businesses over the next five years. Training will focus on teaching workers to use chatbots and large language models to boost productivity. Google EMEA President Debbie Weinstein called it a "crucial initiative" essential developing AI skills, unlocking AI-powered growth "and cementing the UK's position as an AI leader". The government was also to sign two Memorandums of Understanding with semiconductor firm NVIDIA, "supporting the development of a nationwide AI talent pipeline", according to the UK government.

UK to boost 'homegrown talent' in new AI skills drive

London (AFP) - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged to boost "homegrown talent for the AI age" by teaming up with tech giants to train 7.5 million workers in artificial intelligence skills. Speaking at the start of London's Tech Week, with a line-up of speakers including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Starmer said: "In this global race, we can be an AI maker and not an AI taker." Starmer was due to have a one-on-one conversation with the chief of the star Silicon Valley semiconductor firm whose chips are critical for artificial intelligence applications and research. Ahead of the event bringing together industry giants, Starmer announced a government-industry partnership to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills, including in using chatbots and large language models to boost productivity. Tech firms including Nvidia, Google, Microsoft and Amazon committed to make training materials freely available to businesses over the next five years. Google EMEA region President Debbie Weinstein called it a "crucial initiative" essential for developing AI skills, unlocking AI-powered growth "and cementing the UK's position as an AI leader". In his opening speech, Starmer said Britain must build "the digital infrastructure that we need to make sure AI improves our public services". The UK has a "responsibility" to "harness this unprecedented opportunity and to use it to improve the lives of working people", Starmer added. "We are going to build more homes, more labs, more data centres, and we're going to do it much, much more quickly." Economic growth His government has pledged to fire up the UK's flagging economy, including with "pro-growth" AI regulations to attract tech investment and turn Britain into an "AI superpower". "We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation -- so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it," Starmer said in a press release before the event. The British leader unveiled £187 million ($253 million) in funding to help develop tech abilities including training for one million secondary school students, as part of its "TechFirst" programme. He called it a "step change in how we train homegrown talent for the AI age". The investment will "embed AI right through our education system", he said, announcing nearly £150 million in undergraduate and PhD research scholarships in AI and tech. Starmer also announced a "commitment from Nvidia to partner on a new AI talent pipeline", including through expanding a Nvidia lab in Bristol, southwest England. The UK's AI sector is valued at £72 billion, employing over 64,000 people, and is projected to exceed £800 billion by 2035. It was growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, according to government figures from 2023 -- an "incredible" rate, according to Starmer. Other speakers at the tech conference include the CEO of Mistral AI, Arthur Mensch, the UK's Science Secretary Peter Kyle and Markus Villig, founder of ride-hailing app Bolt.

UK to become 'AI maker not taker', says Sir Keir Starmer

The UK will become an "AI maker not an AI taker", according the prime minister, as he announced millions of pounds of funding to train students in AI. Sir Keir Starmer said the UK public needed to "lean in" and embrace artificial intelligence. NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang, who shared the stage with the prime minister, predicted that in the next 10 years, "every industry in the UK will be a tech industry" because of AI. He said the UK has one of the "richest AI communities anywhere in the world" and is the biggest country for AI investment other than the US and China. However, it currently doesn't have the infrastructure needed to become a global AI superpower, he said. "You can't do machine learning without a machine. The ability to build AI supercomputers here in the UK will naturally attract more AI startups and create a better ecosystem, said Mr Huang. His comments come on the morning two UK tech firms, Alphawave and Ionics, agreed takeovers by US rivals. When Labour entered office, it cancelled a planned supercomputer, saying it wasn't funded. It has since announced it wants to increase UK computing power 20-fold by 2030 and build a brand-new supercomputer. As he announced a series of new investments in training for workers and students, Sir Keir said that within the coming years the government should be able to "look every parent in the eye" and pledge that tech can create a "better future" for their children. Read more from Sky News: Prince William warns world's oceans are 'diminishing before our eyes' Can we trust ChatGPT despite it 'hallucinating' answers? "By the end of this Parliament we should be able to look every parent in the eye in every region in Britain and say 'look what technology can deliver for you'," he said. During the session, he announced a new £187m "TechFirst" scheme to equip secondary school pupils with AI skills for future jobs. He also announced a scheme backed by Google and Microsoft to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills by 2030. Google, Microsoft, IBM, Nvidia, BT and Amazon have signed up to make "high-quality" training materials widely available to workers free of charge over the next five years, according to Number 10. Sir Keir hosted a private reception at Chequers on Sunday with leading technology bosses and investors, including former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, Faculty AI co-founder Angie Ma, Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis and Scale boss Alex Wang.

Starmer calls on Nvidia's Huang to train up Britons on AI

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is partnering with Nvidia's Jensen Huang to bolster the UK's AI capabilities and skills. This collaboration aims to train more individuals in AI and expand research at universities and Nvidia's Bristol lab. Keir Starmer will make an appearance alongside Nvidia Corp co-founder Jensen Huang on Monday, as the British prime minister puts technology and artificial intelligence at the heart of his government's plan to boost economic growth. The Labour leader will hold an in-conversation event in London with tech billionaire Huang to mark an agreement in which Nvidia helps the UK train more people in AI and expands research at universities and at the company's own AI lab in Bristol, west England. Starmer is keen to emphasize a positive vision for technology and growth at the start of a crucial week that will see the Labour government promote its plans to spend hundreds of billions of pounds over the course of the parliament. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is under pressure from opposition parties and some of her own colleagues, due to expected cuts in other areas. In her spending review on Wednesday, Reeves will prioritize the cherished but struggling National Health Service as well as the UK's military capabilities in light of Russian aggression and the prospect of less support from US President Donald Trump's White House. She will also confirm large amounts of capital investment -- which is exempted from her fiscal rules -- but day-to-day spending will be squeezed, with some departments facing real-terms cuts. Downing Street, keen to focus on its growth plans rather than spending restraints, confirmed £86 billion ($116 billion) in funding for British science at the weekend, covering areas such as pharmaceuticals, green energy and military technology. On Monday, Starmer will announce an £187 million program to improve the AI skills of British workers and students. The initiative is backed by major tech companies IBM, QinetiQ and Microsoft, the government said, as well as BT and defense manufacturer BAE Systems. As part of the government's efforts to promote tech in the UK, Starmer hosted CEOs and investors including Eric Schmidt and Demis Hassabis at Chequers, his countryside retreat, over the weekend.

UK launches AI skills drive for workers and schoolchildren

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce a major AI skills drive, partnering with tech giants like Google and Microsoft to train 7.5 million workers. The £187 million TechFirst programme will also boost AI education in schools, aiming to strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in artificial intelligence.The UK government is to team up with tech-giants including Google, Microsoft and Amazon to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to announce Monday. Starmer is also set to unveil £187 million ($253 million) in funding to help develop tech abilities for one million secondary school students, as part of its "TechFirst" programme to bring AI learning into classrooms and communities. "We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation -- so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it," Starmer was to say, according to extracts released by his Downing Street office. "This training programme will unlock opportunity in every classroom -- and lays the foundations for a new era of growth," he was to add. The UK's AI sector is valued at £72 billion and is projected to exceed £800 billion by 2035. It is growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, employing over 64,000 people, according to government figures. Alongside TechFirst, Starmer was also to announce a government-industry partnership to train 7.5 million workers, with tech giants committing to make training materials freely available to businesses over the next five years. Training will focus on teaching workers to use chatbots and large language models to boost productivity. Google EMEA President Debbie Weinstein called it a "crucial initiative" essential developing AI skills, unlocking AI-powered growth "and cementing the UK's position as an AI leader". The government was also to sign two Memorandums of Understanding with semiconductor firm NVIDIA, "supporting the development of a nationwide AI talent pipeline", according to the UK government.

UK to boost 'homegrown talent' in new AI skills drive

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills through a government-industry partnership with tech giants like Nvidia and Google. With £187 million funding, the initiative aims to boost homegrown talent, digital infrastructure, and position the UK as a global AI leader.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged to boost "homegrown talent for the AI age" by teaming up with tech giants to train 7.5 million workers in artificial intelligence skills. Speaking at the start of London's Tech Week, with a line-up of speakers including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Starmer said: "In this global race, we can be an AI maker and not an AI taker." Starmer was due to have a one-on-one conversation with the chief of the star Silicon Valley semiconductor firm whose chips are critical for artificial intelligence applications and research. Ahead of the event bringing together industry giants, Starmer announced a government-industry partnership to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills, including in using chatbots and large language models to boost productivity. Tech firms including Nvidia, Google, Microsoft and Amazon committed to make training materials freely available to businesses over the next five years. Google EMEA region President Debbie Weinstein called it a "crucial initiative" essential for developing AI skills, unlocking AI-powered growth "and cementing the UK's position as an AI leader". In his opening speech, Starmer said Britain must build "the digital infrastructure that we need to make sure AI improves our public services". The UK has a "responsibility" to "harness this unprecedented opportunity and to use it to improve the lives of working people", Starmer added. "We are going to build more homes, more labs, more data centres, and we're going to do it much, much more quickly." Economic growth His government has pledged to fire up the UK's flagging economy, including with "pro-growth" AI regulations to attract tech investment and turn Britain into an "AI superpower". "We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation -- so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it," Starmer said in a press release before the event. The British leader unveiled £187 million ($253 million) in funding to help develop tech abilities including training for one million secondary school students, as part of its "TechFirst" programme. He called it a "step change in how we train homegrown talent for the AI age". The investment will "embed AI right through our education system", he said, announcing nearly £150 million in undergraduate and PhD research scholarships in AI and tech. Starmer also announced a "commitment from Nvidia to partner on a new AI talent pipeline", including through expanding a Nvidia lab in Bristol, southwest England. The UK's AI sector is valued at £72 billion, employing over 64,000 people, and is projected to exceed £800 billion by 2035. It was growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, according to government figures from 2023 -- an "incredible" rate, according to Starmer. Other speakers at the tech conference include the CEO of Mistral AI, Arthur Mensch, the UK's Science Secretary Peter Kyle and Markus Villig, founder of ride-hailing app Bolt.

UK to boost 'homegrown talent' in new AI skills drive

(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged to boost "homegrown talent for the AI age" by teaming up with tech giants to train 7.5 million workers in artificial intelligence skills. Speaking at the start of London's Tech Week, with a line-up of speakers including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Starmer said: "In this global race, we can be an AI maker and not an AI taker." Starmer was due to have a one-on-one conversation with the chief of the star Silicon Valley semiconductor firm whose chips are critical for artificial intelligence applications and research. Ahead of the event bringing together industry giants, Starmer announced a government-industry partnership to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills, including in using chatbots and large language models to boost productivity. Tech firms including Nvidia, Google, Microsoft and Amazon committed to make training materials freely available to businesses over the next five years. Google EMEA region President Debbie Weinstein called it a "crucial initiative" essential for developing AI skills, unlocking AI-powered growth "and cementing the UK's position as an AI leader". In his opening speech, Starmer said Britain must build "the digital infrastructure that we need to make sure AI improves our public services". The UK has a "responsibility" to "harness this unprecedented opportunity and to use it to improve the lives of working people", Starmer added. "We are going to build more homes, more labs, more data centres, and we're going to do it much, much more quickly." His government has pledged to fire up the UK's flagging economy, including with "pro-growth" AI regulations to attract tech investment and turn Britain into an "AI superpower". "We are putting the power of AI into the hands of the next generation - so they can shape the future, not be shaped by it," Starmer said in a press release before the event. The British leader unveiled GBP187 million ($253 million) in funding to help develop tech abilities including training for one million secondary school students, as part of its "TechFirst" programme. He called it a "step change in how we train homegrown talent for the AI age". The investment will "embed AI right through our education system", he said, announcing nearly GBP150 million in undergraduate and PhD research scholarships in AI and tech. Starmer also announced a "commitment from Nvidia to partner on a new AI talent pipeline", including through expanding a Nvidia lab in Bristol, southwest England. The UK's AI sector is valued at GBP72 billion, employing over 64,000 people, and is projected to exceed GBP800 billion by 2035. It was growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, according to government figures from 2023 - an "incredible" rate, according to Starmer. Other speakers at the tech conference include the CEO of Mistral AI, Arthur Mensch, the UK's Science Secretary Peter Kyle and Markus Villig, founder of ride-hailing app Bolt. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.