PM launches £187M drive to arm 1 million students with tech and AI skills

The programme, ‘TechFirst’, will bring digital skills and AI learning into classrooms and communities and help people of all ages and backgrounds upskill to prepare them for the AI powered jobs of the future. One million secondary school students will have the opportunity to learn and enhance their skills in tech and AI to prepare them to enter an increasingly digital workforce.

In parallel, through government and industry partnerships with major tech players including NVIDIA, Google, and Microsoft, 7.5 million UK workers will gain essential AI skills by 2030 to help close critical skills gaps across the sectors and further develop a strong tech workforce in the UK.

Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, commented: "It’s encouraging to see the government prioritising skills development to help young people unlock opportunities in the tech sector. As technology continues to evolve at pace, equipping individuals with the right training is crucial to ensure they can thrive in emerging fields such as AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

There must be a continued focus on building accessible pathways into these careers, such as apprenticeships which play a vital role in this, supporting lifelong learning and upskilling to meet the needs of a dynamic workforce. By investing in high-quality training and promoting greater diversity in tech, we can empower the next generation to drive innovation and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in digital industries."

The launch of an online platform brings together learning tools and training opportunities to educate students about the potential of computing and tech careers, which already has over 100,000 students registered. In each of the UK’s regions and nations, a local delivery partner will be selected by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to facilitate programme delivery.

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “Focusing on digital skills in schools is much needed and welcomed. Most young people in the UK are self-taught when it comes to tech however this must be underpinned by three essentials: a government commitment to ensure every child has access to a laptop; confident, well-trained teachers; and a focus on basic digital skills, not just AI.

One in five children are in digital poverty, and government action is needed to guarantee laptops for use at school and home. Research shows one in four teachers lack confidence in their digital skills, and new teachers receive no formal training so the programme must include sustained, practical training. Finally, many excluded children struggle with basics like changing passwords or verifying information so core skills, from using security features to critical online literacy, must be central.”

With the UK’s AI sector already valued at £72.3 billion and projected to surpass £800 billion by 2035, growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy, addressing the nation’s AI skills gap has never been more urgent. Now is the time to back young people and invest in AI and tech skills as an engine of economic growth to ensure the UK remains globally competitive and that opportunities in this incredibly fast moving sector are open to all.