Today, AI is revolutionising every industry, creating new opportunities for economic growth and employment across various sectors including technology, healthcare, education, and public services. As we are at the cusp of this transformation, it remains uncertain which specific jobs and opportunities will emerge in the coming years.
AI serves as a tool that enhances human potential, but its advantages can only be fully realised when both individuals and organisations are adequately prepared to utilise it effectively. For the UK to grow and successfully compete in capturing the AI opportunity, collaboration among industry, academia, civil society, and government is essential. This collaboration should aim to develop:
- Technical AI expertise to lead the innovation, development, and adoption of generative AI.
- Workforce digital and AI literacy to facilitate adoption and achieve productivity gains.
- Executive/Leadership understanding of generative AI to encourage business adoption.
According to the latest Microsoft and LinkedIn Work Trends Index report from 2024, 79% of business leaders acknowledge the necessity of adopting AI to remain competitive, and 66% of business leaders indicate they would prefer not to hire individuals lacking AI skills. However, only 25% of companies globally are providing training on generative AI this year.
Over the past five years, through Microsoft’s Get On initiative, more than 1.5 million people in the UK have acquired digital skills. In November 2023, Microsoft announced a commitment to provide an additional 1 million people with AI skills by the end of 2025. This goal will be achieved through partnerships across the public and private sectors to ensure everyone has the opportunity to prosper in the new AI economy. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will be a key focus, as they constitute 99.2% of the total business population and employ over 13 million people. It is crucial for these organisations to adopt AI; however, despite 76% of SMB employees expressing a desire to learn more about AI’s benefits, only 25% of SMBs currently utilise AI, though 91% of those that do report a revenue boost.
Through Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator a range of free AI fluency courses are available for organisation leaders, employees, and developers. These courses unlock new opportunities with AI skills that are currently in demand and will continue to be relevant in the future, using the power of AI to help individuals find the appropriate learning paths.
Recognising the specific needs and opportunities of growing businesses, Microsoft has developed training tailored specifically for SMB leaders and their employees. In partnership with a leading global Business School, Microsoft has created a new training course for SMBs featuring experts from Microsoft. The course covers:
- the foundations of AI
- AI-powered business transformation
- cultivating an innovative culture
- responsible AI
- cybersecurity
- advanced AI capabilities such as agents.
This free course is now available to all SMBs in the UK to enhance their AI skills and can be accessed now here.
