Morning, Friday, 20th November 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for AI in employment. It will consider how policy, regulation, skills provision and workplace practice should respond as adoption becomes more established across the economy, including priorities for workforce transition, responsible implementation and employee protection,, as well as latest thinking on what is considered good practice as AI adoption becomes more established across the economy.
Implementation & responsibilities
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess immediate priorities following publication of Skills England’s AI skills for the UK workforce report and the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan. Delegates will consider approaches that may be needed - in terms of skills policy, labour market regulation and workplace practice - to support implementation that is responsible and coordinated. This will include priorities, roles and responsibilities for government, regulators, employers and training providers, as well as considerations for protecting the interests of employees.
Skills & training
Discussion is expected on the rollout of new skills and training initiatives, including the AI Skills tools package, the £187 million TechFirst programme, including place-based delivery through TechFirst Local, and the new Level 4 AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship. Attendees will consider what is needed for these measures to effectively expand access to upskilling in a way that is practical across different sectors, regions and workforce groups. Priorities for supporting SMEs, economically disadvantaged areas and workers at risk of displacement will also be considered, alongside approaches to setting standards for accessible and effective AI training.
Governance, workforce impact & protections
Sessions will also look at how policy and practice might develop as AI becomes more embedded in workforce organisation, recruitment and progression pathways. Delegates will discuss the role of the new AI and the Future of Work Unit, findings from Skills England’s Assessment of priority skills to 2030 report, and options for addressing wider issues around digital literacy, data protection, ethics, enforcement and employment protections - as well as implications of the Government’s March 2026 Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence report and impact assessment for workers and employers, including in the creative industries.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy:
- implications of the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and Skills England’s AI skills for the UK workforce report
- coordination of skills policy, labour market regulation and workplace practice - roles for government, regulators and industry
- skills investment:
- funding and delivery of AI upskilling initiatives - rollout of the AI Skills tools package and the TechFirst programme, including place-based delivery through TechFirst Local - approaches for aligning national investment with regional and sector needs
- employer readiness:
- addressing digital literacy gaps among employers and employees - practical challenges for SMEs adopting AI tools - organisational and financial implications of workforce transformation
- training pathways:
- inclusive and accessible AI training routes - flexible provision and expanded free courses - collaboration between government, employers, local authorities and training providers
- inclusion:
- tackling regional inequities in access to AI skills - support for disadvantaged areas and sectors - supporting apprentices, women in tech, older workers and other underrepresented groups
- recruitment and progression:
- use of AI in hiring and promotion processes - impacts on entry-level opportunities and progression pathways - fairness, transparency, accountability and routes to challenge decisions
- oversight and coordination:
- role and remit of the new AI and the Future of Work Unit - analysis of labour market developments and next steps for policy
- engagement with employers, workers and trade unions on workforce change
- future workforce demand:
- sectoral variation in AI adoption and projected changes in job demand - findings from Skills England’s Assessment of priority skills to 2030 report - priorities for workforce planning and reskilling
- AI governance and protections:
- responsible AI use in employment and training - worker involvement, data protection, workplace monitoring, ethics and enforcement
- implications of the Government’s Report and impact assessment on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, particularly for employment in the creative industries
