Regional technology network techSPARK and digital training organisation Taught by Humans have launched the AI Talent Pipeline South West, aiming to place 50 people into entry-level roles with South West employers by March 2027.
The UK Government-funded initiative specifies that at least half of the participants placed through the scheme will be women.
The programme was created following an industry roundtable held in Bath in association with university incubator SETsquared. The meeting identified a shortage of entry-level hiring across regional businesses and found that anticipated junior artificial intelligence roles had failed to emerge in practice.
Participating businesses are not required to hire for dedicated artificial intelligence titles, with placements spanning technology, data, product management, operations, marketing, and customer success divisions.
Laura Gemmell, founder of Taught by Humans, said:
“Most entry-level AI work isn’t building AI – it’s using it, or building things with it. Those roles are accessible, they exist right now, and the barrier to entry is lower than it’s ever been. The problem is that nobody – employers, candidates, job boards – has caught up with that yet. That’s what this programme is trying to fix.”
Ben Shorrock, chief executive of techSPARK, said:
“Some of the best ideas in a business come from the people who’ve just walked through the door. Juniors see things differently, pick up new technology quickly and ask the questions everyone else has stopped asking. They’re also tomorrow’s senior talent. If we stop creating entry-level roles, we’re storing up a skills gap for the future. This project helps employers make that investment with confidence.”
The training and placement initiative builds on the recently launched tech talent programme by Sussex Innovation and TechNative Digital, aimed at helping recruit early-career technology workers across the South East and West of England.
Image source: Pixabay
