Leading the Future: Developing the UK's AI-ready Workforce
Exclusive Report for UKAI Members
UKAI invited businesses, third-sector organisations, academia and policymakers to join a roundtable discussion chaired by Matt Warman. The objective was to identify what the UK needs in order to remain globally competitive in the future.
Large and small businesses set out their needs and requirements and shared some of the challenges they have faced in finding talent and developing the skills that they need to grow. A recurring theme was the importance of everyday AI literacy – this enables the workforce but also empowers consumers. Attendees shared a sense of urgency to avoid the UK being left behind and overtaken by countries that are investing in their children’s future.
Large and small businesses set out their needs and requirements and shared some of the challenges they have faced in finding talent and developing the skills that they need to grow. A recurring theme was the importance of everyday AI literacy – this enables the workforce but also empowers consumers. Attendees shared a sense of urgency to avoid the UK being left behind and overtaken by countries that are investing in their children’s future.
The first section of this report summarises the key topics discussed in the roundtable. Topics ranged from practical points around how to increase AI literacy and improve AI education in schools to broader societal concerns such as workforce displacement and addressing the digital divide. Attendees also covered the important role of leadership in building AI-ready workforces, and they looked at why public trust in AI is essential to increase adoption and productivity.
The second section sets out some principles to build an AI-ready workforce. These include: broader, earlier, better, faster.
The third section presents UKAI’s recommendations. These recommendations are informed by the roundtable and UKAI’s policies, reflecting the interests of its members across the AI sector in the UK. Recommendations include reiterating the importance of maths education, building more partnerships between businesses and schools, and how we can create regional areas of expertise to on-shore skills around the UK. Further recommendations included setting out industry standards that reflect the skills that businesses actually need. Alongside this, UKAI recommends developing an industry-led campaign to increase public understanding and trust in AI, increasing consumer and employee adoption.
UKAI concludes that basic AI literacy is the essential catalyst for growth – not just for the AI sector but for productivity across the entire UK economy. The skills required are constantly evolving and are often very specific to industry sectors and individuals. This report sets out a starting position and an approach for a nationwide campaign to measure and improve AI literacy across the workforce. UKAI looks forward to working with our members and partners to further develop this campaign.
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