Government and industry run a joint programme of free AI courses, and DSIT and Skills England have surveyed employers about AI skills. Their published figures are quoted below.
This page quotes 6 findings from four official records by DSIT, DWP and Skills England, published between January 2026 and July 2026. The most recent comes from DWP and Skills England in July 2026 and covers organisations. Three of them carry the source's own note on how the figures were gathered, shown under the quote.
Courses delivered
1 million+
free AI courses delivered to UK workers by January 2026 (DSIT) · see the record
Courses delivered
1.7 million+
AI skills courses completed by June 2026 (DSIT) · see the record
Employers
58%
of employers planning around AI see it as a productivity opportunity (DSIT) · see the record
Courses delivered
DSIT reported in January 2026 that, with industry partners, it had delivered over 1 million free AI courses to workers across the UK and launched the AI Skills Boost platform.
“We have worked with industry partners to deliver over 1 million free AI courses to workers across the UK in partnership with leading AI companies, and launched the AI Skills Boost platform to provide free AI learning nationwide”
DSIT reports that it launched the Spärck AI scholarship, providing full tuition and stipends for hundreds of master's students across 9 leading UK universities.
“launched the flagship Spärck AI scholarship to attract and retain world-leading talent, providing full tuition and stipends for hundreds of exceptional master’s students across 9 leading UK universities.”
DSIT reports that among employers expecting their business model to use or rely on AI in 3 to 5 years, 58% said their senior leadership sees AI as an opportunity for increasing productivity, and 53% as an opportunity for increasing sales and growing their customer base.
“Figure 5.10 shows that senior leadership views AI as an opportunity. 58% see it as an opportunity for increasing productivity, and 53% see it as an opportunity for increasing sales and growing their customer base.”
The source notes: Survey fieldwork took place from 19 March to 7 June 2024, with 801 UK employers.
DSIT reports that 11% of all employers had undertaken AI training in the previous 12 months, rising to 48% of businesses with AI specialists or implementers.
“Figure 5.6 shows that 11% of all employers have undertaken AI training in the last 12 months. This figure rises to 48% for businesses that have AI specialists or implementers.”
The source notes: Survey fieldwork took place from 19 March to 7 June 2024, with 801 UK employers.
DSIT reported in June 2026 that the government and industry AI Skills Boost programme had passed 1.7 million AI skills courses completed. See the record.
Do employers see AI as an opportunity?
DSIT reports that among employers expecting their business model to use or rely on AI in 3 to 5 years, 58% said their senior leadership sees AI as an opportunity for increasing productivity, and 53% as an opportunity for increasing sales and growing their customer base. Survey fieldwork took place from 19 March to 7 June 2024, with 801 UK employers. See the record.
What we left out
We only publish results that an official source reports as having happened. We leave out forecasts, targets, estimates of what AI could or may do, announced investment that has not yet happened, and findings from bodies that are not on our official sources list. How we choose what to include.