Morning, Wednesday, 3rd September 2025
Online
This conference will explore the future direction for artificial intelligence in employment in the UK.
Sessions in the agenda will consider priorities for policy, regulation, and industry practice in maximising AI’s potential to support job creation, enhance workforce productivity, and foster inclusive economic growth, whilst addressing potential issues and concerns around its use. There will also be a focus on how the UK’s AI sector and infrastructure can be further developed, alongside priorities for education and training, and addressing national skills gaps.
Following the recent publication of the Professional Business Services Sector Plan as part of the Industrial Strategy, delegates will assess what will be needed if a highly skilled and digitally literate workforce is to be developed, next steps for accelerating technology adoption for high-growth SMEs, and priorities for the incoming PBS AI Champion. It will be an opportunity to look at the way forward for the expanded AI Skills Hub, if digital skills gaps are to be addressed, as well as priorities for collaboration between industry, Skills England, and higher education institutions in delivering AI skills courses.
Policy, investment and strategy
It is bringing together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss latest proposals, including the UK Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, as well as recent commitment to invest £1bn to scale up the UK’s compute capacity and develop partnerships with 11 major companies with the aim of training 7.5 million workers in AI by 2030, as well as the Industrial Strategy announcing £275m investment in training, including for courses in AI and digital manufacturing.
Delegates will consider practicalities of increasing the speed of adoption in sectors such as finance, health, logistics, and education, with research commissioned by the DSIT finding that by 2035 around 10 million workers will be in positions where AI plays a role in some form of their daily responsibilities. It will be an opportunity to examine strategic initiatives such as the establishment of new AI Growth Zones, what will be needed to expand computing infrastructure, and the way forward for public funding and private sector investment to encourage further growth across the UK’s AI sector.
Ethics, governance and regulation
Transparency in data governance will be discussed, including in the context of the proposed National Data Library, considering key issues around maintaining ethical standards and safety against the backdrop of rapid technological adoption.
Delegates will also discuss concerns raised by stakeholders about maintaining job quality, safeguards and the role of human oversight, as well as addressing issues around workplace fairness, transparency, and inclusivity as AI becomes increasingly integrated into public services and industry. Sessions will consider the impact on the employment market, including strategic options for effectively managing workforce transitions, addressing the AI skills gap, and ensuring equitable access to AI-generated employment opportunities.
Stakeholders will also consider potential legislative developments, including the forthcoming consultation on binding regulations for high-powered AI systems.
AI adoption and skills development
Further sessions will consider what can be learned from emerging best practice for the labour market when adapting to AI, such as frameworks for effective public-private collaboration, the role of education and training in supporting workforce adaptation, and priorities for maintaining employee trust and addressing concerns. Discussion will also centre on strategic considerations for supporting employees and employers moving to AI-enhanced roles, especially the resources and funding available to SMEs.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- policy and regulation:
- examining the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Government’s recent commitments to scaling-up the UK’s compute capacity and improving training - issues for implementation
- expansion of computing infrastructure - priorities for AI Growth Zones
- AI adoption:
- practicalities of increasing the speed of adoption in sectors such as finance, health, logistics and education
- data governance:
- priorities for the National Data Library - transparency and accountability - protecting public data from misuse - mechanisms for inclusive decision-making and governance
- ethical development:
- achieving productivity gains and job quality improvements whilst addressing concerns - addressing potential risks such as AI-driven surveillance and bias
- strategies for ensuring worker and public protections
- environmental responsibility:
- approaches to managing intensive AI energy demands - aligning AI infrastructure expansion with the UK's net zero commitments
- addressing local concerns about impacts of data centres
- AI skills:
- addressing gaps in workforce capabilities - strategic priorities for enhancing AI education and training
- the roles of schools, higher education institutions, apprenticeships and careers guidance
- diversity and inclusion:
- tackling disparities within the AI workforce - advancing participation of underrepresented groups - strategies for access to AI opportunities across regions and sectors
- workforce transition:
- strategic considerations for supporting employees moving to AI-enhanced roles - priorities for reskilling and upskilling - capabilities and collaborative structures for implementation
- implications of potential job displacement - evaluating the forms of support required with increased AI adoption and how they can be delivered
- public services:
- developments, opportunities and options for AI deployment - achieving efficiency improvements whilst maintaining service quality
- setting guidelines, safeguards and operational processes for human oversight - priorities for public trust and engagement
- SMEs:
- supporting smaller organisations in leveraging AI opportunities - securing equitable access to computing resources and funding
- training, mentoring and consultancy - fostering collaboration between SMEs, large corporations and public institutions
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from Defra; DESNZ; DWP; DBT; Dstl; MHCLG; DHSC; DSIT; DfE; DfT; Department for the Economy, NI; DoH, NI; DAERA, NI; HMRC; NCA; NCSC; MCA; MOD; FSS; HSE; MHRA; Home Office; DoH, ROI; ICO; NAO; Ofcom; POST; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
