Overview
The UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out a vision for shaping the application of AI within a modern social market economy, emphasising the development of a robust AI skills and talent base capable of creating, adopting and utilising AI technologies across the entire economy.
Since being introduced in May 2024, the AI Skills for Business Competency Framework has become an important reference point for organisations across the public, private and government sectors in the UK. The framework provides guidance to help build a diverse and highly skilled workforce equipped with the AI capabilities needed for the future. Employers, training providers and leaders are drawing on the Framework to guide upskilling efforts, helping employees at all levels from operational roles to specialist positions develop the AI competencies they need. The framework has already been operationalised at national scale through its use in a £7.5 million UK government subsidy scheme aimed at supporting AI upskilling for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Professional and Business Services sector. The fund offered a 50% subsidy for organisations seeking to enhance workforce capability both to leverage AI effectively and to mitigate associated organisational risks.
Version 3 of the AI Skills for Business Competency Framework is designed as a practical guide to understanding the competencies required for the safe, effective and responsible use of AI across the workforce. Its clear competency structure provides a practical foundation for workforce planning, training design and role development, supporting organisations of all sizes.
It brings together a set of interconnected components that together outline not only what individuals need to be able to do, but also why those skills matter, when they apply and to what level of depth:
- Personas describe how individuals interact with AI in their roles.
- Duties set out the tasks associated with those interactions. Competencies outline capabilities needed to carry out those tasks.
- Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) statements break each competency into its essential building blocks.
- AI Project Lifecycle Phases show where these competencies fit the wider process of developing and adopting AI.
- Proficiency Levels indicate the level of complexity and maturity at which they should be demonstrated.
Who is this for?
Employers and business leaders
To understand the AI Skills their workforce needs to plan strategic upskilling initiatives.
HR, people teams and organisational development leads
To support capability planning, job design and talent development aligned to emerging AI requirements.
Learning and development professionals
To design clear progression pathways and targeted training programmes that build AI capability.
Policy makers, sector bodies and professional associations
To inform national and sector-specific skills interventions and guidance
What will you gain?
The framework will help you develop:
- A clear understanding of the competencies required to deliver value from artificial intelligence and its underpinning technologies.
- Insights into identifying upskilling pathways for existing workforce, and building a pipeline of higher-skilled talent.