Skills England launches tools to help businesses upskill for the AI era

A new report from Skills England has indicated that many employers are struggling to keep pace with AI-related changes. Their ‘AI skills for the UK workforce’ report introduces three new tools that could help businesses build confidence and capability in using AI responsibly.

Sector-specific challenges

The report identifies sectors that face particular challenges. For instance:

• In Construction, opportunities such as drone surveying and augmented-reality training are emerging, but low digital literacy remains a barrier.

• Within the Creative Industries, freelancers and small firms are adopting AI tools for content creation but often without formal training, raising concerns about quality and originality.

• Advanced Manufacturing is already seeing benefits from automation and predictive maintenance but faces a growing skills gap as its workforce ages.

A consistent theme across all business sectors seems to be uncertainty over what is meant by “AI skills” and what staff need to learn. 

Three new tools for employers

The three new tools are as follows:

• The AI Skills Framework – identifies the technical, responsible and non-technical skills needed across different job roles and levels.

• The AI Skills Adoption Pathway Model – shows how businesses typically progress from early awareness to strategic adoption of AI.

• The Employer AI Adoption Checklist – a practical tool to help businesses assess their AI skills readiness, identify workforce gaps and plan training.

These tools are designed to make AI more accessible to employers, particularly smaller businesses that often lack the dedicated HR or training teams of larger organisations.

Dr Ameen said, “AI is reshaping the world of work across sectors, but without the right skills, too many people and businesses risk being left behind.”

To find out more, the full AI Skills for the UK Workforce report and supporting tools are available through Skills England.