Amazon Web Services (AWS) aims to equip 100,000 people in the UK with artificial intelligence (AI) skills by 2030. A recent study shows that at least one business adopts AI every minute. This initiative expands AWS’s Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, which launched in 2023 to support 380,000 students in the US, Egypt, and Spain in securing entry-level jobs in cloud computing and AI.
The UK extension was announced during the AWS Summit in London on April 30, 2025. This aligns with the UK government’s mission to position the nation as a leader in AI. John Davies, AWS’s managing director for the public sector, noted that the government recognizes AI’s potential to generate £45 billion in operational efficiency savings, but emphasized the importance of addressing the skills gap.
The AWS Summit also highlighted the latest report, “Unlocking the UK’s AI Potential,” which reveals that nearly half of new jobs in the UK will require AI skills in the next three years. Despite this, only 27% of businesses feel their workforce is ready for AI integration.
The report calls for businesses to adopt a more comprehensive AI strategy, pointing out that only 15% of large companies have one in place. While 55% of large enterprises use AI, many are only reaping basic efficiency benefits. In contrast, startups are fully embracing AI, with 59% having adopted it and 36% focused on developing new products.
Davies explained that startups are often quicker to integrate new AI technologies due to their digital native orientation, making it harder for larger, legacy-driven companies to keep pace. He stressed that the current rate of AI adoption is unprecedented, surpassing earlier technological shifts like mobile telecoms.
This initiative targets not just tech positions but a wider range of roles. Davies mentioned the interest in using consumer-grade AI apps for everyday tasks and the need to equip professionals from various fields, including law and healthcare, with AI skills. AWS plans to partner with educational institutions to integrate AI coursework into non-IT programs.
At the summit, Alison Kay, vice-president for UK and Ireland at AWS, emphasized the rapid advancements in AI from last year to today. She highlighted Sonrai Analytics, a UK startup revolutionizing the life sciences sector by slashing research timelines and costs significantly.
Gerard Loughran from Sonrai noted that while biotech firms may be slower to adopt new technologies, they still have the expertise to excel with the right tech support. Opportunities exist to bridge the skills gap in these sectors.
Scott Marcar, CIO of NatWest Bank, pointed out that many enterprises, particularly in banking, have been utilizing AI for years. He reported that NatWest has hundreds of AI use cases and has rolled out tools like Microsoft Copilot and its own version of ChatGPT, called AI-Den, to its staff.
Marcar firmly believes that AI will transform every role and create new opportunities. He underlined the UK’s potential to lead in AI development, leveraging its strong foundation in the field. NatWest is actively teaching its staff about AI, acknowledging its crucial role in the future job landscape.