UK rolls out free AI training, but will it save your job?

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 | UK News

The UK government has launched a nationwide programme offering free artificial intelligence (AI) training to adults, as part of efforts to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change.

From today, people across the country can access short, practical AI courses through the government’s upgraded AI Skills Hub. The initiative is designed to help workers and businesses adapt to the growing use of AI in the workplace, although ministers acknowledge its success will depend on whether employers and individuals choose to engage with it.

The courses focus on everyday workplace tasks such as drafting text, creating content and automating administrative processes, with some modules taking less than 20 minutes to complete. The programme is a collaboration between the government and major technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and IBM, and has already delivered more than one million courses since last summer.

Some small business owners say the training is already making a difference. Tracey Kasongo, founder of UK-based firm 20 MGMT, said the courses helped her gain confidence in using AI tools quickly.

“Doing a programme like that fast-tracked my learning and helped me apply AI directly to the business,” she said. “It allowed us to create more efficient workflows and processes.”

Similarly, Zunera Diwan, founder of financial consultancy Money Circuit, said learning how to use AI properly transformed her approach to running her business.

“I was initially sceptical and only used it like a search engine,” she said. “Now I use AI for invoicing, contracts and policy creation. It saves me four or five hours a week, which I can reinvest in growing the business or improving my wellbeing.”

Despite these examples, adoption remains limited. Research released alongside the announcement shows that only 21% of UK workers feel confident using AI at work, while just one in six businesses currently make use of the technology.

Ministers argue that wider adoption and improved skills could unlock up to £140bn in economic growth annually, reduce time spent on routine tasks and create more high-skilled jobs.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the government’s goal is to ensure people benefit from AI rather than being left behind by it.

“We want to make AI work for Britain, and that means Britons who can work with AI,” she said. “Our aim is to upskill 10 million workers in AI skills by 2030. We’re working with businesses, the NHS and local authorities to make sure people from all backgrounds have the skills they need.”

Participants who complete the courses will receive a government-backed AI foundations badge, intended to give employers confidence that staff possess recognised basic AI skills.

While ministers insist AI should support workers rather than replace them, concerns remain about the pace of technological change and the risk of job displacement. The key challenge ahead is whether businesses will invest in staff training and whether workers will take advantage of the opportunity.