Government Offers UK Adults Free AI Training for Work

Why It Matters

Equipping a large share of the UK labour pool with AI fluency will boost productivity and mitigate skill gaps as automation spreads. The scheme also signals government commitment to shaping a responsible, inclusive AI economy.

Key Takeaways

• Target: 10 million UK workers by 2030
• Courses co‑designed with Amazon, Google, Microsoft
• Free and subsidised options, some paywalled
• Virtual badge awarded after completion
• Critics urge broader skills beyond prompting

Pulse Analysis

The UK’s new AI training programme reflects a strategic pivot toward national digital competence. By leveraging partnerships with leading tech firms, the government aims to democratise AI literacy, offering short, modular lessons that range from 20‑minute primers to multi‑hour deep dives. The inclusion of a virtual badge creates a tangible credential, encouraging participation across sectors—from the NHS to local chambers of commerce—while the mixed free‑and‑subsidised model seeks to lower entry barriers for a diverse adult audience.

Beyond the mechanics of prompting chatbots, the curriculum has sparked debate among policy analysts. The Institute for Public Policy Research cautions that narrow technical skills may not suffice; workers also need critical thinking, ethical judgment, and leadership capabilities to harness AI responsibly. This critique underscores a broader industry trend: as AI tools become ubiquitous, organisations must cultivate holistic digital fluency that blends technical know‑how with strategic insight, ensuring that automation augments rather than displaces human expertise.

For businesses, the rollout presents both an opportunity and a mandate. Companies that proactively upskill staff can accelerate process efficiencies, reduce administrative overhead, and stay competitive in a data‑driven market. Simultaneously, board‑level awareness of AI’s implications becomes essential for governance and risk management. As the programme scales toward its 2030 target, it is poised to reshape the UK’s talent landscape, fostering a workforce capable of navigating the complexities of an AI‑enhanced economy.

Government offers UK adults free AI training for work

28 January 2026 · Laura Cress · Technology reporter

The government has launched a series of free AI training courses designed to help people learn how to use the technology at work.

The online lessons give advice on things such as how to prompt chatbots or use them to assist with admin tasks.

Many of the courses are free, with others subsidised, and the government aims to reach 10 million workers by 2030 – calling it the most ambitious training scheme since the launch of the Open University in 1971.

But the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has warned workers will need to know more than “just how to prompt a chatbot” as the workforce adapts to the growth of AI.

“Skills for the age of AI can't be reduced to short technical courses alone,” said Roa Powell, 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.”

Tech giants including Amazon, Google and Microsoft have helped design the AI‑skills training courses, with 14 courses giving those who complete them a virtual badge.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the move was designed to help people feel confident using the tech in the workplace.

“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.”

Some courses are free – but others are paywalled – and lessons, which are accessible to any adult in the UK, vary in length with some lasting 20 minutes and others several hours.

The NHS, the British Chambers of Commerce and the Local Government Association are among those who have committed to encouraging their staff and members to sign up.

Sharron Gunn, head of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, welcomed the move – but said the onus should not only be on workers to adapt to AI.

“Alongside dedicated AI professionals, with degrees in computer science or digital apprenticeships, UK businesses of all sizes need their teams to have a benchmarked level of AI skills,” she said.

“We also need to see far greater understanding of technology at board level, so those involved in governance of organisations, who are often giving their time unpaid, have the knowledge and confidence to scrutinise executive decisions.”