AN AMBITIOUS plan to make the West Midlands the UK’s number one place for Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills training has been set out by the region’s Mayor.
As part of his Growth Plan, Richard Parker, wants to give every adult in the region free training in how to use AI in their everyday lives at home, work or in the community.
He also wants to offer opportunities for thousands more to develop the technical skills needed to land jobs in an increasingly technology dominated workplace.
The Growth Plan’s AI training package, backed by £10million, also includes proposals for a pioneering, regionwide AI Academy to be set up under a joint project between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), leading tech companies, colleges, universities, specialist providers and community groups.
The Academy would provide local people with clear career routes into AI, digital and data jobs as well as upskilling existing workers so they can help drive economic growth and higher productivity.
The Growth Plan was launched by the Mayor last month to provide a blueprint to reboot the regional economy, raise living standards, and put an extra £8,600 back into the pockets of working people.
The Mayor announced his AI training plans during a visit to Tyseley, Birmingham, at the global headquarters of SCC, Europe’s largest independent IT service provider.
SCC uses cutting edge AI and other computer technologies to help companies innovate and become more productive.
Mr Parker 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 has dozens of companies actively developing and applying AI across sectors like manufacturing, healthtech, fintech, creative industries, retail and public services.
The University of Birmingham applies AI in health and robotics and is a Turing Institute member. Coventry and the Digital Futures Institute at Aston University are leading in areas like cybersecurity, fintech and supply chains, and the University of Wolverhampton has launched the Centre for Cyber Resilience and AI, while pioneering sustainable computing to reduce the power needed to train and run large AI models.
