In a youth centre opposite Preston bus station, the UK government is running a three-week "AI bootcamp" designed to tackle two national challenges at once: artificial intelligence and youth unemployment. The pilot, reported by The Guardian and covered by Chinese tech outlet IThome, is one of several in northwest England, training 70 young people aged 16 to 24 who are NEET — not in education, employment or training.
The course teaches participants how to build AI tools, how businesses use the technology, and how to use it responsibly. In one classroom exercise, an instructor guides five learners through a task demonstrating why error-free data is critical to AI models. Partners including retailer JD Sports, food company Heinz and IT firm Agilysys have pledged AI apprenticeships for graduates, either in marketing roles for content creators or in IT service desks requiring AI skills.
Why AI skills matter for young jobseekers
Youth unemployment is a pressing issue in the UK, with nearly one million young people classified as NEET — just over one in ten of that age group. The arrival of AI is seen by some as a threat to entry-level jobs, but for those seeking their first position, mastering the technology could provide a competitive edge. Khudeja Rafiq, an 18-year-old from Burnley, said: "Whatever job I want to do in the future, knowing AI will help."
Lauren Monks, an executive at IN4 Group, which operates the project, said it "aims to fill the talent gap, increase business productivity and help organisations implement AI applications." The apprenticeships are designed so that the employers taking on trainees actually need these skills and have open AI-related positions.
Experts note that much of the public debate about AI and jobs has focused on university graduates, in fields like banking, consulting and law, where repetitive tasks may be automated. But Dr. Booke Klein Tisserin of King's College London, who studies AI and future employment, said the impact on non-graduate roles is less understood. "We don't have as deep research on how AI affects the non-graduate job market as we do for the graduate market," he said, adding that the pilot could offer insights into helping more young people enter the workforce.
Can training solve the NEET crisis?
Chris Goulden, deputy chief executive of Youth Futures, a non-profit researching youth employment support, cautioned that the rise in NEET numbers is not caused by AI. "We've seen an increase since the pandemic, driven more by mental health issues and a weak economy," he said. "But we can't be complacent — AI applications are expanding every day and will hit many jobs." If AI is removing the "first rung" of the career ladder, teaching young people to use it is a sensible response, he added.
The pilot is part of a broader debate. Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn warned in a recent report that without government action, the UK could face a "lost generation." His proposals go beyond AI bootcamps, including welfare reform, and he noted that past employment programmes have failed to fix the problem.
For participants like 17-year-old Remy Sims, who plans to apply for a content-creation apprenticeship, the course has changed his view of AI. "It made me realise people can work with AI, not against it," he said. "Now I understand AI better and how it works." The ultimate test, experts say, will be whether the training quality and the apprentices' impact on employer productivity justify the investment.
