BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT supports the central aim of the AI Opportunities Action Plan: ‘training tens of thousands of AI professionals by 2030’ to ensure the UK remains globally competitive.
We need a diverse and highly skilled workforce that drives AI innovation while meeting the highest standards of ethics and accountability. Based on the government-commissioned AI Skills for Business Competency Framework, we estimate that at least 60% of the UK workforce currently lacks the skills to use AI responsibly.
The UK boasts world-class AI degree programmes and outstanding digital apprenticeships, but both need support to meet the growing annual demand for skilled AI practitioners.
There are large untapped markets for the AI profession - including women, who are strongly under-represented in tech; careers changers of all ages; over-50’s who could upskill and transition into this growing sector; and those with disabilities or who are neurodivergent.
The government should recognise the role of professional bodies in growing grassroots AI communities of practice, in driving continuous professional development and in ensuring the UK’s AI workforce is accountable to independent standards to win the trust of the public.
Five recommendations to support the Action Plan to grow a world class AI profession in the UK:
ONE: AI Literacy should begin in school
Most students stop their digital education at age 14; at minimum we believe this presents a four-year skills gap before entering the workforce.
The computing curriculum and its qualifications must provide pathways for both the tech specialists and for all careers where computing and AI are big components. All young people should leave education with the essential digital and AI literacy needed to make confident, effective use of the technology.
They should also be able to make well[1]informed judgements about the implications of how it is used; for example thinking critically about deepfakes and disinformation.
TWO: Nurture Digital and AI Apprenticeships
While digital apprenticeships have been popular at Levels 3 and 4 for several years, there has been increasing demand for higher level apprenticeships, for example the Level 7 AI Data Specialist. Crucially, these standards have been developed by employers to address their future skills needs.
Skills England will want to ensure all apprenticeship and skills funding is appropriate to the economic priorities and the levels required to deliver on the AI Action Plan.
THREE: AI professionals should be Chartered to build public trust
62% of UK adults believe someone who develops computer software that can significantly affect people's lives should be qualified as a government-approved Chartered professional (BCS-commissioned YouGov poll of 2000 UK adults, 2020) The AI Action Plan presents the government with the evidence base to take a positive view of AI and high stakes technologies, making sure they transform the lives of everyone in the UK.
Government should support Chartered status for technology professionals in high stakes roles like AI, setting the same expectations of competence and ethics as regulated fields like accountancy and medicine. As the professional body, BCS is developing its established Chartered IT Professional (CITP) standard to include an AI specialism option, that meets the highest standards under our Royal Charter.
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This standard will recognise individuals who demonstrate advanced expertise in both IT and AI, setting a new benchmark for professionals in the rapidly evolving AI field. BCS President Alastair Revell said: “I would like to see the government make Chartered status a licence to practice in key areas of computing, like AI. This effectively turns removal from the register into an act of being ‘struck off’ for good.
"Unlike a driving licence, we also need that registration to be renewed regularly to ensure competence in a rapidly evolving profession.”
FOUR: Find the missing half a million women to close the AI gap
Only 20% of the IT sector is female – in fact over 500,000 women are ‘missing’ from the UK’s IT workforce who should be there, if tech matched the workplace norm. And 94% of girls drop computing in school as soon as they are allowed to, as shown in our analysis of government data.
What can we do?
Challenge the 'Tech Bro' Culture: The AI profession should move away from the 'tech bro' culture, which often excludes women. Companies should promote inclusive leadership and male leaders should actively demonstrate allyship.
Support Black Women in Tech: With black women making up less than 1% of tech specialists, there’s a clear need for targeted career development programs, including mentorship and leadership training.
Activate Flexible Work Policies: To retain women, carers, and those with disabilities, tech employers must offer flexible work options like remote work, adaptable hours, and job[1]sharing.
Expand Part-Time Roles: Only 5% of tech jobs are part-time, compared to 23% in other sectors.
Improve gender equity in computing education: Increasing the number of girls pursuing computing and digital qualifications is a route to solving this endemic problem, long-term.
But - the gap between men and women in tech is far from the only diversity challenge for AI and technology. Over 50s and those with disabilities are currently better represented in the workforce as a whole, than they are in technology. Encouraging and funding these groups to upskill and change paths with a range of qualifications and courses is critical:
FIVE: Upskill adults in AI with CPD and career change options
New entrants to the AI profession will need a wide range of training and assurance routes, from workplace CPD, to professional registrations, to apprenticeships, to broader pathways into HE. We recommend organisations use the internationally recognised Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) to understand the skills blend they require, and to target upskilling and reskilling programmes.
BCS is ready to work with a range of partners across the training and qualifications landscape to scale up and assure the skilled AI profession that will deliver the UK’s ambitions.
