Amazon is bringing the AWS (Amazon Web Services) Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to the UK, with the goal to provide 100,000 people with AI skills by 2030. Working in collaboration with educational institutions, government leaders, and enterprises across the country, the programme will help learners get ready for entry-level technical careers.
The programme aims to address a growing need for AI skills and tech job readiness across the UK, combining industry-validated content, hands-on experience, and direct connections to employers, to give learners both the technical competencies and practical exposure they need to succeed.
According to research from Strand Partners (commissioned by AWS), it is expected that AI literacy will be a requirement for nearly half (47%) of new UK jobs over the next three years. However, currently 41% of UK organisations say they are struggling to hire people who have the necessary digital skills.
Speaking to this, AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark commented: “We need to make sure that students and young people in every community have the skills they need to explore successful, long-lasting careers in tech - putting them in the driving seat of the UK’s digital revolution. The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will be key to that effort, with a partnership that also helps us to deliver a modern digital government fit for the future. Making sure citizens from all corners of the country can benefit from technology is how we’re putting our Plan for Change into action.”
Since the programme launched in 2023, over 990 educational institutions and 780 employers have participated globally in countries including the US, Spain, and Germany. Now arriving in the UK, further and higher educational institutions, including the University of Exeter and the University of Manchester, will be joining the Tech Alliance. Not only will they be given access to AWS resources to update their existing programmes, but employers including Accenture and Deloitte will provide industry insights on the essential technical and professional competencies needed for emerging tech careers. This collaboration will help educational institutions enrich their curricula, ensuring students graduate with industry-relevant, job-ready skills.
Accenture is one of the industry participants in the UK programme. Dal Channa, UKI Corporate Citizenship Lead at Accenture, said: “With 8.5 million adults in the UK still lacking basic digital skills, digital inclusion urgently needs to be addressed. We share in the commitment of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to improve access to digital skills training and ensure learning programmes are aligned to employers to build a pipeline of talent that can seize opportunities of today and the future.”
Students from all backgrounds will have access to these resources and be able to get hands-on experience through applied learning and industry-led challenges, futureproofing their careers. Utilising skill pathways developed with industry inputs for in demand areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and big data, it addresses current and projected industry skills gaps. These pathways are designed to align closely with employer needs across various sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing, ensuring students acquire the most relevant and in-demand competencies for the evolving job market.
“Removing barriers to accessing digital skills training is critical for helping the UK to become a digital leader," said John Davies, Managing Director UK, Germany & International Organisations, Public Sector at AWS. “We are delighted to launch the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in the UK to address the digital skills gap by creating flexible, accessible training programmes for students looking to pursue a career in technology.”
The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance is part of Amazon’s wider commitment to training and job investment. Earlier this year Amazon announced 1,000 new UK apprenticeship opportunities and in 2024, the company announced plans to invest £8 billion over the next five years (2024-2028) building, operating, and maintaining data centres in the UK. This investment is estimated to support 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs on an annual basis at local UK businesses.
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