In an effort to tackle youth unemployment while addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the labor market, a pilot “AI bootcamp” is underway in Preston, Lancashire. The initiative, funded by the UK government, targets young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (Neet), offering specialized AI skills training with pathways into AI-focused apprenticeships.
Hosted at a newly opened community hub known as the Vault, the three-week program provides 70 participants with hands-on instruction in building AI tools, understanding AI's business applications, and promoting responsible usage of the technology. The pilot aims to equip a demographic facing significant barriers to employment with skills in an area seen as both a challenge and an opportunity for the future job market.
The bootcamp collaborates with several businesses, including retailer JD Sports, food manufacturer Heinz, and IT firm Agilysys, to offer apprenticeships following course completion. Two main apprenticeship tracks have been developed: one for aspiring AI marketing specialists focusing on content creation, and another for IT helpdesk roles requiring AI expertise. Placement in these apprenticeships guarantees direct roles within companies requiring AI skills.
Participants have expressed optimism about the program. Eighteen-year-old Khudeija Rafique of Burnley described the training as valuable for her future career prospects, while 17-year-old Remy Simms said the course “changed my opinion” of AI, emphasizing that it need not be viewed as a threat to employment. Another attendee, 16-year-old Hamid Muhammad-Asif from Blackburn, expressed openness to both apprenticeship paths offered.
Experts acknowledge the complexity of the challenges facing young people outside traditional education or employment routes. Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn has warned of the risk of a “lost generation” if comprehensive government action is not taken to address youth joblessness, advocating for broader reforms beyond targeted programs such as AI bootcamps.
Research on AI's impact on the non-graduate labor market remains limited, though some scholars, including Dr. Bouke Klein Teeselink of King’s College London, view the trial as a valuable opportunity to better understand how AI skills training can influence youth employment outcomes and employer productivity.
Meanwhile, organizations focused on youth employment urge caution in viewing AI as the primary factor behind rising Neet numbers. Chris Goulden, deputy chief executive of the Youth Futures Organisation, noted that the pandemic, mental health challenges, and economic slowdown have played more significant roles in pushing young people out of education and work than AI technology itself.
Nonetheless, Goulden emphasized the importance of familiarizing young people with AI competencies, stating that preparing them to engage with emerging technologies is essential, particularly if AI alters the availability of entry-level jobs. As such, initiatives like the Preston bootcamp are seen as part of a multifaceted approach to improving youth employment prospects in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.