Every adult in the UK will be eligible for free online AI courses as part of an expanded government and industry programme aimed at upskilling 10 million workers this decade…reports Asian Lite News
Every adult in the UK is now eligible to take free online courses to gain practical artificial intelligence skills for work, as the government and industry-backed AI Skills Boost programme is expanded to reach 10 million workers by 2030.
The courses, hosted on the government’s AI Skills Hub, have been benchmarked against Skills England’s AI foundation skills for work framework. Participants who complete them receive a virtual AI foundations badge, intended to signal a basic standard of workplace competence in using AI tools.
The programme is open to all UK adults and is designed to be accessible, with some courses taking under 20 minutes to complete. The training focuses on using simple AI tools for tasks such as drafting text, creating content and completing administrative work, with the aim of freeing up time for higher-value activities. The government says the initiative is intended to give both workers and employers greater confidence in using AI responsibly and effectively.
Ministers say the expansion is part of a broader effort to make Britain the fastest-adopting AI country in the G7. The government argues that wider use of AI could support economic growth, create more higher-skilled jobs and reduce routine workloads. It has previously estimated that increasing AI adoption could unlock up to £140 billion in annual economic output.
The scheme has already delivered one million courses since its launch in June, and the latest phase is intended to scale up participation significantly. NHS staff and local government employees are among those expected to benefit, with the NHS, the UK’s largest employer, playing a central role in the programme.
The government says the target of 10 million workers is equivalent to nearly a third of the UK workforce and includes a goal of reaching at least two million employees in small and medium-sized enterprises. Ministers describe it as the largest targeted training programme since the creation of the Open University under Harold Wilson.
Alongside the expansion, the Technology Secretary has launched a new AI and the Future of Work Unit to analyse the impact of AI on jobs and the labour market. The unit will be supported by a panel of experts from business and trade unions and is intended to provide evidence and advice on when new policies may be needed. The government says it will focus on ensuring that AI-driven change supports workers, protects communities and leads to a fair transition in the labour market.
Speaking about the programme, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall said: “We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI. Change is inevitable, but the consequences of change are not. We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone can share in its benefits. That starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities AI brings, putting the power and control into their hands.”
Research published by the government suggests that only 21 per cent of UK workers currently feel confident using AI at work, while adoption remains limited, with only one in six UK businesses using AI as of mid-2025. Small and medium-sized enterprises report lower rates of adoption, with micro businesses said to be 45 per cent less likely to use AI than large firms.
New partners joining the programme include the British Chambers of Commerce, Cisco, Cognizant, the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Local Government Association, Multiverse, the NHS and techUK. They join founding partners such as Accenture, Amazon, Barclays, BT, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Salesforce.
The government has also announced £27 million in funding for its TechLocal scheme, part of the wider £187 million TechFirst programme, aimed at supporting up to 1,000 tech jobs through training and work placements. In addition, applications have opened for the Spärck AI Scholarship at nine UK universities, offering up to 100 AI and STEM Master’s students support with fees, living costs and industry placements.
