UK Trials AI Bootcamp to Help Jobless Youth Find Work

The UK government is testing an AI bootcamp in Preston for young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). It aims to use AI skills training to ease youth unemployment. Nearly one million young people in the UK are NEET, just over one in ten of that age group.

The bootcamp is funded by taxpayers and has 70 places. It runs for three weeks, teaching students to build AI tools, understand how businesses use AI, and use the technology responsibly. Companies like JD Sports, Heinz, and Agilysys offer AI apprenticeship roles to graduates, covering AI marketing and IT service desk work.

Experts say AI's impact on non-graduate jobs is still unclear. The project's success depends on training quality and whether new hires can boost productivity. Youth Futures says the rise in NEET youth is mostly due to mental health issues and a weak economy, but teaching AI is a reasonable response.