The Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance launches in the UK to address the growing need for AI skills and tech job readiness
Amazon is launching the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in the UK in collaboration with education institutions, government leaders, and enterprises, with a goal to provide 100,000 people with emerging technology skills by 2030.
According to research conducted by Strand Partners and commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS), UK businesses expect that AI literacy will be required in nearly half (47 percent) of new UK jobs in the next three years. Yet, only a quarter (27 percent) of UK businesses feel adequately prepared, and nearly half (46 percent) state that a lack of digital skills has slowed down their business, up from 32 percent of businesses surveyed last year.
The lack of digital skills continues to hamper recruitment and businesses’ ability to attract talent. UK businesses reported that it takes them, on average, 5.5 months to hire an employee with the sufficient level of digital skills, while 41 percent of UK businesses said they are struggling to hire people equipped with the necessary digital skills.
Driving AI and digital skills development
Shaped to meet the needs of UK industries including healthcare, defense, financial services, and manufacturing, learners will develop skills in AI, generative AI, cybersecurity, and big data. Building a collaborative ecosystem of government, education, and industry provides a holistic approach, ensuring learners are ready for entry-level technical careers. This integrated approach combines industry-validated content, hands-on experience, and direct connections to employers, giving learners both the technical competencies and practical exposure needed to succeed in an AI-driven workplace.
Speaking to this, AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark commented: “We need to make sure that students and young people in every community have the skills they need to explore successful, long-lasting careers in tech—putting them in the driving seat of the UK’s digital revolution. The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will be key to that effort, with a partnership that also helps us to deliver a modern digital government fit for the future. Making sure citizens from all corners of the country can benefit from technology is how we’re putting our Plan for Change into action.”
“With 8.5 million adults in the UK still lacking basic digital skills, digital inclusion urgently needs to be addressed. We share in the commitment of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to improve access to digital skills training and ensure learning programs are aligned to employers to build a pipeline of talent that can seize opportunities of today, and the future,” said Dal Channa, Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship lead in the UK, an industry participant in the new program.
Accelerating learners’ path to tech careers
Participating education providers such as the University of Exeter, the University of Manchester, and institutions across further and higher education will have access to AWS and employer-supported resources, such as AWS Academy, to update existing degree and certificate programs. AWS, together with its partners and customers, will collaborate with education institutions to enhance curricula based on industry-demanded technical and professional competencies. Through this program, students from diverse backgrounds will gain access to cloud and AI technologies, enabling them to learn, experiment, innovate, and develop practical, job-ready skills through hands-on projects and real-world industry challenges.
“Removing barriers to accessing digital skills training is critical for helping the UK to become a digital leader,” said John Davies, Managing Director UK, Germany & International Organizations, Public Sector at AWS. “We are delighted to launch the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in the UK to address the digital skills gap by creating flexible, accessible training programs for students looking to pursue a career in technology.”
The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance (STJ TA) is a coalition of industry, educational, and government partners that addresses cloud technology skills gap and prepares learners for in-demand, entry-level technical jobs. The Tech Alliance helps educators embed cloud and emerging technology training, such as AI, into existing curriculum, and offers learners the opportunity to participate in applied learning activities to showcase their skills. As learners become more proficient in cloud and new technologies, they are provided with job coaching to engage with employers to explore career opportunities. Employers are AWS customers and partners with a need for entry-level tech talent and committed to creating career pathways for such talent. Globally, more than 990 educational institutions and over 780 employers are participating in the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance.
Visit the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance website for more information.