UK government offers adults free AI training

Adults across the UK can now sign up to free AI training courses as the government ramps up efforts to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change.

The expanded programme, delivered through the government’s upgraded AI Skills Hub, is open to anyone and includes practical lessons on using AI tools at work. Some courses take less than 20 minutes and focus on everyday tasks such as drafting text, creating content and automating admin, with the aim of freeing up time for higher-value work.

Ministers say the ambition is to upskill 10 million workers (nearly a third of the UK workforce) by 2030 in what the government is calling the biggest targeted training push since the Open University was launched in the 1970s. The scheme is backed by major tech firms including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM, and has already delivered more than one million courses since last summer.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the goal was to make sure people feel confident using AI rather than feeling threatened by it. “We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI,” she said. “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.”

Those who complete approved courses will receive a government-backed AI foundations badge, designed to give employers confidence that staff have a recognised baseline of AI skills. NHS workers, local government staff and employees at small and medium-sized businesses are among those being actively encouraged to take part.

Alongside the training rollout, the government is setting up a new AI and the Future of Work Unit to study how the technology is reshaping jobs and to advise on when new policies may be needed. Ministers say the aim is to avoid repeating the mistakes of past industrial change and to ensure AI adoption leads to better jobs and higher productivity.

The push comes as new research highlights how far the UK still has to go. Only 21% of workers say they feel confident using AI at work, and just one in six businesses currently use the technology. The adoption of AI is particularly low among smaller firms, with microbusinesses far less likely to use AI than large companies.

Some business owners say the courses are already making a difference. Tracey Kasongo, founder of consultancy firm 20 MGMT, said: “Being able to do a programme like that really fast-tracked me to learning and building skills in AI, and then applying it to the business.” She added: “It helped us use the systems to create more efficient workflows and processes.”

Zunera Diwan, who runs financial consultancy Money Circuit, said her attitude shifted after learning how to use AI properly. “Before, I was sceptical and only really used it like a search engine,” she said. “Now I use AI for invoicing, contracts and creating policies. It's saved me four or five hours a week, which I can put back into growing the business or looking after my wellbeing.”

Not everyone is convinced short courses alone are enough. The Institute for Public Policy Research warned workers need broader support as AI becomes more widespread. “Skills for the age of AI can't be reduced to short technical courses alone,” said Roa Powell, a senior research fellow at the IPPR. “Workers also need support to build judgement, critical thinking, physical skills, leadership and the confidence to use these tools safely.”

Ministers argue that improving skills and uptake could unlock up to £140bn a year in economic growth, while helping workers move away from repetitive tasks. But they also acknowledge the programme will only succeed if employers and workers choose to engage with it.