A pilot scheme of AI bootcamps is currently running in Preston, as part of a UK government trial in the north-west. The initiative aims to address youth unemployment by providing AI training to 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment, or training (Neets).
The three-week programme, open to 70 individuals, focuses on teaching participants how to build AI tools, understand business applications of AI, and use the technology responsibly. Retailer JD Sports, food company Heinz, and IT firm Agilysys are among the partners offering AI apprenticeships specifically for attendees after the course.
These apprenticeships include roles for aspiring content creators to become AI marketing specialists and positions within IT helpdesks requiring AI expertise. Lauren Monks, an executive at IN4 Group, which runs the programme, stated it is an "opportunity to bridge a gap, to improve productivity and bring AI into organisations."
Youth unemployment is a significant issue in the UK, with nearly a million young people in the Neet category. While some experts suggest AI is not the primary driver of the increase in Neet numbers since the Covid pandemic, they acknowledge its growing impact on jobs and the importance of equipping young people with AI skills for the future.