Mayor sets out plan to offer every West Midlands adult free AI skills training

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has announced plans to make the region the UK’s top location for artificial intelligence (AI) skills training as part of his Growth Plan.

The proposal aims to provide every adult in the West Midlands with free training in how to use AI in their daily lives at home, at work, or in the community. In addition, thousands more people would have the opportunity to develop technical skills to help secure jobs in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

The Growth Plan’s £10 million AI training package includes proposals for a regionwide AI Academy, to be developed jointly by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), technology companies, universities, colleges, specialist training providers and community groups. The Academy would offer pathways into careers in AI, digital and data, as well as upskilling existing workers to support economic growth and productivity.

The West Midlands is home to more than 140 AI companies employing 69,500 people and contributing £5.5 billion annually to the economy. The three-year training programme set out in the Growth Plan seeks to build on this base. The wider Growth Plan, launched last month, sets out to create 100,000 jobs in sectors including digital technology, advanced manufacturing, finance, health and medical technology.

The Mayor announced the AI training plan during a visit to SCC’s global headquarters in Tyseley, Birmingham. SCC is Europe’s largest independent IT service provider and applies AI and other technologies to support innovation and productivity.

The Mayor said:
“In an age where artificial intelligence is revolutionising industries, the need to give all our communities the AI skills to secure high quality jobs is economically imperative.

“As jobs become increasingly digital and data-driven, AI will become a core skill just like English or maths. So, if we don’t make AI skills training a priority and readily available to all, then lots of people risk being left behind.

“That’s why I want to make the West Midlands the number one place in the UK for AI skills training. Avoiding an AI skills divide isn’t just a matter of fairness – it’s crucial to our Growth Plan.”

The region’s universities and research institutions are already applying AI in areas including health, robotics, cybersecurity, fintech, and supply chain management. Examples include the University of Birmingham, Aston University’s Digital Futures Institute, and the University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for Cyber Resilience and AI.

During his visit, the Mayor met SCC AI and innovation consultants Rose Palacios and Callum Woodford. Palacios, originally from Peru, completed a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at Aston University before joining SCC.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about AI,” she said. “But it’s simply a tool that can be used for anything that is knowledge related.

“I use it to help companies be more productive. I’ve just been working with an engineering firm which previously took 12 days to produce a quotation for their customers. Using AI we cut this to just six seconds and that time savings has transformed their efficiency and productivity. That’s the power of AI.

“But I also use AI in my everyday life to help maximise my time and make tasks easier. It’s a case of getting familiar with AI and making it your friend.”

Dan Cartter, SCC’s director of innovation, said:
“Around 65% of young people coming through education right now will have job roles that don’t even exist today.

“These will be new jobs and many of them will involve cutting edge technologies including AI.”

According to the World Economic Forum, more than half of all employees will need reskilling or upskilling in the next few years due to rapid AI adoption. The £10 million earmarked for AI training is part of a £30 million Growth Plan package to boost skills and job opportunities across the region.

Image source: WMCA, Mayor-Richard-Parker-second-right-and-Dan-Cartter-SCCs-director-of-innovation-left-with-Rose-Palacios-and-Callum-Woodford-who-are-AI-and-innovation-consultants-at-SCC