The UK Government has launched a new £187 million national initiative, called TechFirst. This scheme is aimed at developing digital skills and offering artificial intelligence (AI) training in adults and young people in the country. It has been designed specifically to upskill over a million students and 7.5 million adult workers, preparing them for the growing demands of the technology-driven economy. 

The programme is backed by the Prime Minister and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It aims to include AI, cybersecurity, and computer science education into classrooms, communities, and local training providers across the country. The flagship component of TechFirst is called TechYouth and will support secondary school students, while funding has also been earmarked for undergraduates, post-grads, PhD students, and regional partnerships under TechGrad, TechExpert, and Tech Local. 

National Push For Digital Literacy

Projections are showing that by 2035, there will be more than 10 million jobs in the UK that will involve AI-related tasks. The TechFirst scheme is therefore very timely. The AI sector is already valued at £72.3 billion and employs 64,000 people, and is growing 30 times faster than the wider economy.

However, there is a significant shortage of skills. In 2024, nearly a third of UK cybersecurity firms cited technical skills gaps. Around 637,000 businesses reported lacking digital confidence. The TechFirst program is trying to close these gaps by giving the workforce and students the tools they require to understand, use, and regulate new technologies. 

Also, millions of common people who didn’t grow up with the Internet and smartphones have started using them in the last decade. Many of them have started paying their bills or playing games online. Making payments on the Internet or registering to various gaming platforms are exactly those situations in which they might need more awareness and knowledge about potential cybersec risks. 

This is especially true when it comes to online gambling and betting; a plethora of websites are launched as we speak, but not all of them are equally secure. Some details players should look for are a secure HTTPS connection, a visible privacy policy, and verified contact information. These are common checks users must make when accessing both domestic platforms and international services like non gamstop casinos UK players can access, which have a strong focus on platform reliability and player safety. These specific sites also operate outside of the UK, meaning that they don’t need to follow Gamstop restrictions. 

Industry Partnerships And Addressing Workforce Needs

Big names in the tech industry are backing TechFirst, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and IBM. These companies are contributing to curriculum development and training resources. Microsoft is committed to training one million UK citizens in AI skills this year.

There will also be sector-specific training in various fields, like finance, healthcare and manufacturing. This is an attempt to meet the growing demands for digital skills across industries. 

The scheme will be closely aligned with other government efforts to future-proof the local workforce. A new partnership between government and industry is attempting to upskill 7.5 million working adults by 2030, roughly 20% of the current workforce in the nation. This training will help individuals interact with AI-powered tools like chatbots and language models with more confidence. 

Cybersecurity is also one of the main focus areas of the program. According to Conor O’Neill, CEO of OnSecurity, the UK has a lack of skilled cybersecurity professionals. “The most effective way to address the shortage in the current job market is through government-funded, large-scale, short-term online IT training programmes,” he said. “These should be accessible to school and university leavers, career-changers, those returning from career breaks, and even retired individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce.”

Looking To The Future

The TechFirst initiative was launched in early June and is still in the early stages, but it is set to play a big role in shaping the future of the UK’s workforce. AI and digital tech are becoming increasingly central to the economy and daily life. Early access to technology education and national upskilling programmes will make a difference and help the UK lead the global tech race.