UK Government AI Skills Hub

Free AI Training for Everyone: The Complete Guide to the UK Government’s AI Skills Hub

Introduction

On 28 January 2026, the UK Government launched an expanded, free AI training programme through its upgraded AI Skills Hub—a landmark initiative designed to ensure every adult in Britain can access practical artificial intelligence skills without paying a penny. With the ambitious goal of upskilling 10 million workers by 2030, this government-industry partnership represents the UK’s largest targeted training effort since the establishment of the Open University in the 1970s.

If you’re a business owner, employee, freelancer, or anyone curious about AI’s role in the modern workplace, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about accessing, completing, and benefiting from free AI training in 2026.

The UK’s New £27 Million AI Training Push

The UK Government’s Science, Innovation and Technology Department has committed unprecedented resources to preparing the British workforce for the AI revolution. The expansion encompasses far more than just short courses—it’s a comprehensive strategy involving 23 major tech partners, the NHS, local government, and small business organisations.

Key Figures and Targets

The scale of this initiative is remarkable:

10 million workers to be upskilled in AI by 2030 (equivalent to nearly one-third of the UK’s entire workforce)
1 million+ courses already completed since the initial launch in June 2025
£27 million in additional funding to connect people to tech jobs through the TechLocal scheme
2 million SME employees targeted as part of the upskilling drive.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall declared the government’s ambition succinctly: “We want AI to work for Britain, and that means ensuring Britons can work with AI.

Why This Matters Now

The timing isn’t coincidental. Research accompanying the programme launch reveals a significant skills gap:

Only 21% of UK workers feel confident using AI at work
Just 1 in 6 businesses currently use artificial intelligence
Yet improved AI adoption could unlock £140+ billion in annual economic growth

This gap between awareness and capability is where the AI Skills Hub steps in.

What Is the AI Skills Hub?

The AI Skills Hub is a free, government-backed online learning platform where UK adults can access practical AI training courses. It’s not a university degree programme—it’s designed for working people who need to build real, job-applicable AI competencies quickly.

Key Features of the Platform

Accessibility

Completely free to all UK adults
100% online—learn at your own pace
Some courses take as little as 20 minutes to complete
Mobile-friendly for learning on your commute

Course Quality

All courses available through the platform have been benchmarked against Skills England’s official “AI Foundation Skills for Work” standard, ensuring quality and relevance. This means employers recognise what you’ve learned.

Recognition

Upon completing selected foundational courses, you’ll earn a government-backed AI foundations badge—a digital credential you can add to your LinkedIn profile and CV to demonstrate your competency to employers

Tailored Learning Pathways

You can create a personalised learning profile and follow recommended course sequences based on your role, industry, or goals

Who Can Access the AI Skills Hub?

Eligibility is straightforward: if you’re an adult living in the UK, you can access these courses for free.

The programme is deliberately inclusive, with no educational background or prior experience required. Whether you’re:

An established professional looking to stay current
A small business owner wanting to understand AI for your organisation
An NHS or local government employee
A self-employed freelancer
Someone considering a career change
A curious learner wanting foundational knowledge

…you’re welcome to sign up and start learning.

The one-million-plus courses already delivered prove the demand is real: real business owners have credited the training with improving operational efficiency, and employees have gained confidence using AI tools in their daily work

What Will You Learn?

The AI Skills Hub focuses on practical, immediately applicable skills rather than theoretical computer science. Course content includes:

Typical Course Topics

Using AI for text generation: How to draft emails, reports, and other documents using AI tools
Content creation: Leveraging AI to create marketing copy, social media posts, and visual concepts
Administrative automation: Using AI to streamline routine tasks and free up time for higher-value work
Understanding AI limitations and risks: Responsible AI use, including recognising when AI output may be inaccurate or biased
AI ethics and safety: Learning about responsible AI principles and ethical considerations
Hands-on tool training: Practical experience with widely-used AI platforms

Course Duration

Most courses are designed to be completed in small, manageable chunks:

Some can be finished in under 20 minutes
Typical foundational courses take 1-3 hours
Learners can pause and resume at their convenience
No rigid timetables or deadlines (though some employers may set their own)

This bite-sized approach is intentional—the government recognises that busy professionals can’t dedicate weeks to training.

How to Access Free AI Training

Getting started is simple and requires just three steps:

Step 1: Visit the AI Skills Hub

Go to the official UK AI Skills Hub website. Alternatively, you can search for “AI Skills Hub UK” on Google or access it through the government’s TechFirst portal.

Step 2: Create Your Learning Profile

Your current role or industry
Your experience level with AI (beginner, intermediate, or advanced)
Your learning goals or interests

This information helps the platform recommend relevant courses.

Step 3: Choose and Complete Courses

Browse available courses, select ones that match your interests or job role, and start learning immediately. Courses are self-paced—learn whenever suits you.

The 23 Partner Organisations Behind the Programme

The AI Skills Hub succeeds because of an unprecedented alliance between government and industry. Original founding partners included major tech firms:

Founding Partners (from June 2025):

Amazon
Accenture
Barclays
BT
Google
IBM
Intuit
Microsoft
Sage
SAS
Salesforce

Expanded Partners (January 2026 announcement):

British Chambers of Commerce
Cisco
Cognizant
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Department for Education
Department for Work and Pensions
Federation of Small Businesses
Institute of Directors
Local Government Association
Multiverse
NHS
Pax8
TechUK

Each partner contributes industry expertise, course development, and employer connections—ensuring training reflects real workplace demands.

AI Foundation Skills for Work Benchmark

The UK Government has published an official framework called “AI Foundation Skills for Work”—a benchmark of the basic technical, non-technical, responsible, and ethical skills people need to use simple AI tools effectively at work

This framework covers:

Technical Skills

Understanding what AI can and can’t do
Knowing how to interact with AI tools
Recognising AI limitations and potential errors

Non-Technical Skills

Critical thinking about AI outputs
Problem-solving approaches using AI assistance
Productivity and workflow optimisation

Responsible and Ethical Skills

Understanding bias and fairness in AI systems
Knowing when to use (and not use) AI
Data privacy and security awareness
Recognising AI hallucinations and inaccuracies

Courses benchmarked against this standard signal to employers that learners have genuinely useful competencies.

Who Is Already Benefiting?

Real-world success stories demonstrate the programme’s impact:

Tracey Kasongo, Founder of 20 MGMT (management consultancy, video production, sound recording):

“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. It helped us use the systems to create more efficient workflows and processes.”

Zunera Diwan, Founder of Money Circuit (financial decision-making consultancy):

She credits learning proper AI usage techniques with transforming how she runs her business

These aren’t isolated cases—across the million-plus courses already delivered, participants report increased confidence, improved workflows, and competitive advantages in their roles.

The Bigger Picture: AI and Future Work

Alongside the AI Skills Hub expansion, the government announced the creation of a new AI and the Future of Work Unit. This dedicated team will:

Research and monitor AI’s impact on the economy and job market
Provide timely policy advice as AI evolves
Ensure UK workers benefit from—rather than suffer from—rapid technological change
Prepare communities for AI-driven labour market transitions

The unit recognises that while upskilling is crucial, it’s only part of the solution. Workers also need policy protection, support for career transitions, and a vision of a future where AI augments human work rather than simply replacing it.

The £140 Billion Opportunity

Research suggests that widespread AI adoption could add more than £140 billion annually to the UK economy. However, this benefit only materialises if:

Workers gain the skills to use AI effectively
Businesses invest in AI adoption
Appropriate safeguards protect workers from displacement
Communities are supported through transitions

The AI Skills Hub addresses the first point. The AI and Future of Work Unit addresses the others.

For SMEs: Specific Support and Resources

Small and medium-sized enterprises are a focus of the programme. The government recognises that SME employees often lack access to corporate training budgets, yet small businesses increasingly need to compete using AI.

SME-Specific Benefits:

Free courses reduce training costs to zero
Short course duration suits busy SME employees
Industry partners often provide SME-focused content
The British Chambers of Commerce partnership ensures relevance to small business challenges
Government funding targets reaching 2 million SME employees by 2030

For SME owners, the free training programme offers a competitive advantage: upskilled staff who can implement AI tools, automate processes, and improve efficiency without the cost of external consulting.

For NHS and Public Sector Workers

The NHS is Britain’s largest employer, and NHS staff—along with local government employees—are prioritised in the expansion announcement

Why Public Sector Focus?

NHS and local government handle sensitive data and critical services
Responsible AI use is particularly important in these contexts
Public sector workers face the same AI-driven role transformations as private sector employees
Upskilling public sector staff improves service efficiency and quality

NHS trusts and local authorities can encourage their workforces to use the hub, with many courses directly relevant to healthcare administration, patient communication, and service delivery.

Beyond 2026: The Bigger Upskilling Strategy

The AI Skills Hub is part of a broader government strategy called TechFirst, which comprises:

TechFirst Pillars

1. AI Skills Hub and AI Skills Boost

Free foundational AI training for workers (what we’ve discussed above)

2. TechLocal Scheme (£27 million funding)

Supports people in transitioning to tech careers
Creates up to 1,000 new tech jobs in communities across the UK
Funds graduate traineeships and work experience

3. Professional Practice Courses

For those wanting to go beyond foundations and pursue deeper technical or professional qualifications

4. Doctoral and Research Support

For researchers and academics wanting to advance AI capabilities

5. Global AI Fellowships

Attracting world-class AI researchers to the UK

This multi-layered approach recognises that upskilling works best when entry-level training is accompanied by pathways to deeper expertise and genuine career opportunities.

Potential Concerns and Realistic Perspectives

While the AI Skills Hub represents genuine progress, experts acknowledge realistic challenges:

Skills Adoption Requires Employer Buy-In

The government can provide free training, but businesses must choose to support their staff taking courses and then actively using new AI skills in work. Initial data shows only 1 in 6 businesses currently use AI—not because of cost, but because of limited understanding and uncertainty.

Job Displacement Risks Remain

Upskilling helps workers adapt, but it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of AI-driven job losses in some sectors. The new AI and Future of Work Unit exists partly to monitor and address these risks through policy adaptation

Training Is Just the Start

Completing a course doesn’t guarantee immediate career advancement or wage increases. However, it does provide:

Genuine skills applicable to current roles
Credible credentials employers recognise
Confidence to experiment with and adopt AI tools
A foundation for further learning if desired

Barriers to Completion

Not everyone will complete training due to:

Limited time availability (despite short course formats)
Digital access issues (though most UK adults have internet)
Varying motivation levels
Language barriers (courses are in English)

The government will need ongoing evaluation and potential adjustments to reach its 10-million-person target.

Practical Next Steps: How to Get Started Today

If you’re ready to upskill, here’s a practical action plan:

Week 1: Explore and Assess

Visit the AI Skills Hub website
Create your learning profile
Browse available courses
Identify 2-3 courses relevant to your role or interests
Read course descriptions to understand what you’ll learn

Week 2-4: Complete Foundational Courses

Start with short foundational courses (20-60 minutes)
Complete the “AI foundations for work” badge-qualifying course
Take brief notes on concepts or tools that surprise you
Discuss what you’ve learned with colleagues

Month 2: Apply Learning

Identify one real task in your job where you could use AI
Try using an AI tool (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, etc.) for that task
Note what works well and what doesn’t
Reflect on how AI might improve your workflow

Ongoing: Deepen Knowledge

Move beyond foundation courses to specialist topics
Share your learning with your employer or colleagues
Seek feedback on how AI adoption could benefit your team
Stay updated as new courses are added to the Hub

Conclusion: An Opportunity Not to Miss

The UK Government’s free AI Skills Hub represents a rare opportunity: genuine, high-quality professional development at zero cost. Whether you’re worried about AI replacing your job, curious about how to use AI more effectively, or simply wanting to stay competitive in an AI-driven economy, the training is available and accessible now.

The ambition is clear: a British workforce that doesn’t just observe AI’s impact but actively shapes it. That ambition starts with every individual—whether working in an NHS hospital, a city law firm, a rural SME, or a local government office—gaining foundational AI competency.

The question isn’t “Should I upskill in AI?” The question is “When will I start?”

Key Takeaways

✓ Free for everyone: Every UK adult can access AI training at no cost
✓ Practical, not theoretical: Learn skills you’ll use immediately at work
✓ Government-backed credentials: Earn AI foundations badges employers recognise
✓ Short courses: Some take under 20 minutes; all are self-paced
✓ Large-scale ambition: 10 million workers by 2030 across all sectors
✓ Industry partnership: Courses developed by tech giants and delivered through multiple partners
✓ Starting now: The expanded Hub launched 28 January 2026—access it today

References

^[1] UK Government. (2026, January 27). Free AI training for all, as government and industry programme expands to provide 10 million workers with key AI skills by 2030. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-ai-training-for-all…

^[2] ITPro. (2026, January 26). The UK government wants to upskill 10 million Brits in AI by 2030. https://www.itpro.com/business/we-want-ai-to-work-for-britain-the-uk-government-wants-to-upskill-10-million-people-in-ai-by-2030

^[3] Sky News. (2026, January 28). UK rolls out free AI training, but will it save your job? https://news.sky.com/story/uk-rolls-out-free-ai-training-but-will-it-save-your-job-13499866

^[4] UK Government. (2026, January 27). AI foundation skills for work—A benchmark for the basic technical, non-technical, responsible and ethical skills people need to use simple AI tools at work. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-foundation-skills-for-work