Building a digitally confident, AI-ready workforce
The recent Digital Skills & AI Focus webinar, hosted by Innovate UK, convened policy makers, educators, and industry leaders to explore how the UK can build a digitally confident, AI-ready workforce. As part of Innovate UK’s Talent & Skills Connect series, this session spotlighted national initiatives, evolving challenges, and collaborative solutions to help close the digital skills gap and embed artificial intelligence into everyday business practice.
Key insights from the Digital Skills & AI Focus event
1. AI opportunities action plan: Building infrastructure & talent pipelines
Jack Watson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) presented the UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, highlighting its focus on both safety and opportunity. Key developments include AI growth zones (starting in Culham), a 20-fold increase in compute power by 2030, and targeted investments in AI infrastructure. The plan identifies two priorities for skills: strengthening domestic training pipelines and attracting global talent through new scholarships and fellowships.
2. Industry’s role in developing AI talent
Phil Smith, Chair of the Digital Skills Council, emphasised the urgent need to connect the innovation and skills ecosystems. He underlined industry’s responsibility to play an active role – not just by hiring graduates, but by upskilling current employees, embracing apprenticeships, and collaborating on curriculum design. While government has a convening role, businesses must lead on training and development to ensure AI adoption and digital capability reach all sectors.
3. Bridging the gap through collaboration & navigation
The speakers stressed the importance of creating clearer pathways into AI careers. While higher education remains the dominant entry point, the need to expand non-traditional routes – such as bootcamps, conversion courses, and workplace training, is growing. Navigation remains a key challenge, particularly for SMEs and underserved communities. A fragmented system hinders access to opportunity.
4. BridgeAI & the national AI skills hub
Sara El-Hanfy from Innovate UK introduced the BridgeAI programme, a £100m initiative supporting responsible AI adoption in key sectors. A major part of this work is the AI Skills Hub (launched at London Tech Week), which will act as a central ecosystem for curated training, mapped to industry needs. The AI Skills Hub links businesses, training providers, and tech partners to tackle barriers and build AI capabilities across the UK.
5. The AI competency framework
Matt Forshaw of The Alan Turing Institute unveiled the AI Business Competency Framework – designed to help organisations assess skills need across technical and non-technical roles. The framework supports tailored learning pathways, job design, and training development, ensuring relevance and accessibility for UK businesses at all stages of their AI journey.
Next steps: Turning insights into action
Recommendations that emerged from the session include:
- Boosting awareness and accessibility to training opportunities such as bootcamps and apprenticeships
- Developing frameworks and programmes that remove barriers for underrepresented groups
- Embedding digital and innovation skills across lifelong learning pathways
- Encouraging collaboration and alignment with global standards
- Promoting consistency in training materials and measurement via national platforms
- Fostering shared resources and knowledge exchange across sectors
As the UK continues to embrace AI and advanced digital technologies, building a resilient, inclusive innovation workforce is essential. These collective insights will shape the future direction of Talent & Skills Connect and wider government-industry collaboration.
Stay tuned for updates from Talent & Skills Connect on upcoming events and partnership opportunities.
Webinar recording
Watch the full Talent & Skills Connect: Digital Skills & AI Focus webinar recording.
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