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On 13 January, prime minister Keir Starmer unveiled the AI Opportunities Action Plan, aiming to position the UK as “one of the great AI superpowers”. The plan is designed to boost economic growth, create future jobs and improve people’s everyday lives.
However, significant skills shortages persist in data science, machine learning, and AI ethics, with 72% of UK businesses lacking the necessary skills. A recent survey shows that 81% of IT professionals believe they can use AI, but only 12% have the actual skills.
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To ensure the AI Action Plan’s success, the UK government emphasises the need to train tens of thousands of AI professionals by 2030. This raises the question: how can the UK develop its workforce to capitalise on AI opportunities while ensuring access to AI-driven economic growth?
Embracing AI within the UK economy
The AI Opportunities Action Plan highlights the urgent need to develop AI capabilities at all levels of education and professional development. Embracing AI requires not only technical expertise but also adaptability and continuous upskilling to keep up with its rapid evolution.
However, in 2022, there were only 46,000 AI-relevant graduates, making AI adoption challenging for UK employers. According to the professional services firm Accenture, only 27% of UK business leaders believe their non-technical workforce is prepared to leverage new technology. As AI becomes central to global competitiveness, UK businesses must address this gap.
The government must work with businesses to ensure that all employees gain a foundational understanding of AI, while offering role-specific, specialised training. For jobs where AI plays a critical role, apprenticeships focused on essential AI competencies present a promising solution.
The value of apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine classroom learning with real-world experience, fast-tracking AI skills development for new workers and those seeking to upskill. The UK government has already promoted digital apprenticeships, but the AI Opportunities Action Plan provides an opportunity to expand these efforts. Collaboration between tech companies, educational institutions, and policymakers is vital to keep apprenticeship standards aligned with the fast-evolving AI landscape.
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As the Action Plan aims to increase diversity of the talent pool, expand education pathways into AI and create a lifelong upskilling platform, apprenticeships are essential. They encourage underrepresented communities to participate, and can also be used as an upskilling tool for all seniority levels, widening the talent net and hands-on experience with AI.
As businesses focus on developing skills, AI competencies should be part of a broader plan that includes technological literacy, data analysis, curiosity, and creative thinking, as highlighted in the WEF Future of Jobs 2025 Report.
Businesses embracing AI training and upskilling can experience long-term cost savings, improved competitiveness, operational efficiency, more accurate decision-making, and higher employee satisfaction and retention.
To maximise impact, apprenticeships must be adequately funded, widely promoted, and tailored to the AI skill sets required various industries. Clear progression pathways from basic digital literacy to advanced AI roles will be essential to ensuring long-term workforce readiness.
Final thoughts
The UK’s AI Action Plan sets a promising direction, but preparing a workforce for an AI-driven economy requires more than just addressing current skills gaps. By using multiple pathways – including apprenticeships, higher education, and professional development – the UK can build a more resilient workforce.
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This approach is not only about creating AI specialists, but also promoting AI literacy across all sectors, updating qualifications to include AI awareness, and adapting traditional subjects to support AI understanding.
The government’s commitment to education, industry collaboration, and skills development indicates a genuine understanding of the challenges ahead. The focus now must be on effective implementation and coordination among education providers, employers, and policymakers to deliver the UK’s AI-enabled future.
By Emma O’Dell, director of client capability at BPP