Accenture has launched a new scheme to address the UK’s AI skills gap, aiming to educate over a million individuals.
- The ‘Regenerative AI’ scheme offers free education and mentorship nationwide, focusing on youth and job seekers.
- Open University’s collaboration will provide practical AI skills for job applications.
- Significant numbers of UK adults lack essential digital skills, risking socio-economic opportunities.
- Demographic disparities exist in the tech workforce, with women and lower socioeconomic groups underrepresented.
Accenture has introduced a forward-looking initiative to tackle the pressing issue of the AI skills gap in the UK. The consulting firm’s ‘Regenerative AI’ scheme is set to deliver comprehensive education and mentorship programmes, free of charge, aiming to reach over a million individuals across the nation.
This initiative particularly targets young people in educational settings and those actively seeking employment. A collaboration with the Open University has been established to offer a new course designed to equip job seekers with practical skills in Generative AI, ultimately assisting them in their pursuit of employment opportunities.
According to the Lloyds Banking Group’s ‘Essential Digital Skills’ survey, approximately 8.5 million adults in the UK still lack basic digital skills. This deficiency puts them at a disadvantage, potentially missing out on the educational, social, and economic benefits that AI advancements can offer.
The tech workforce faces demographic challenges, with women comprising less than 30% and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds constituting less than 10% of the sector. Addressing these disparities is crucial for creating a more inclusive and representative tech industry.
Shaheen Sayed, Head of Accenture in the UK, Ireland & Africa, emphasised the importance of people as the true accelerators of AI, underlining the necessity for equipping both the current and future workforce—as well as the wider community—with the essential skills to use AI effectively. Minister Sir Chris Bryant also highlighted AI’s transformative potential and stressed the importance of making digital skills training widely accessible, to ensure a future-ready workforce.
This initiative marks a significant step towards bridging the AI skills gap and fostering a more inclusive digital future in the UK.