A new initiative by Accenture aims to bridge the AI skills gap in the UK, focusing on inclusivity.
- The scheme promises free education and mentorship for individuals across the UK to enhance AI skills.
- 8.5 million UK adults currently lack basic digital skills, risking exclusion from technological advancements.
- Women and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in the tech workforce.
- Industry leaders stress the critical need for digital skills to seize AI opportunities and future-proof the workforce.
Accenture has recently introduced an ambitious initiative named ‘Regenerative AI‘ to address the longstanding skills gap in artificial intelligence within the United Kingdom. This programme intends to provide free education and mentorship opportunities, targeting a diverse group of individuals, including both young students and job seekers from various backgrounds. The ultimate goal is to equip over a million individuals with the necessary AI skills to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.
A key component of the initiative is its partnership with the Open University, through which a novel course has been developed. This course aims to provide thousands of prospective job seekers with practical skills necessary to utilise Generative AI effectively in their job search. This effort is particularly timely given the stark data revealing that approximately 8.5 million adults in the UK lack basic digital skills, which could significantly hinder their ability to engage with emerging educational, social, and economic opportunities.
The programme also draws attention to pervasive disparities within the technology sector. Data highlights a worrying underrepresentation of women, who constitute less than 30% of the tech workforce, while individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds account for less than 10% of those employed in this field. Such statistics underscore the importance of initiatives like Accenture’s in promoting equitable access to digital skills, thereby ensuring a more inclusive and representative future workforce.
Shaheen Sayed, Head of Accenture in the UK, Ireland & Africa, emphasises the importance of human potential in the adoption of AI technologies, stating: “The true accelerator for AI will be people and equipping the UK’s current and future workforce as well as the wider community with the skills to use it.” This sentiment echoes the urgency for addressing digital skill deficits, which could otherwise impede the nation’s competitiveness in a globally tech-driven economy.
Endorsing this programme, Minister Sir Chris Bryant remarked on AI’s transformative potential, noting the necessity of digital competence to fully harness these opportunities. He stated: “AI is poised to be a transformative force and ensuring people have the digital skills to match these opportunities is key to unlocking its potential and creating a workforce fit for the future.”
This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing critical skill shortages, fostering an inclusive technological future in the UK.
