Tens of thousands of young people and workers in the North East are set to benefit from new skills and career opportunities as a result of investment unlocked by the region’s AI Growth Zone.

The announcement follows the second meeting of the North East AI Growth Zone Taskforce.

The North East mayor Kim McGuinness will back the effort with a new £750,000 investment in the government’s TechFirst programme, that will specifically ensure 30,000 primary school children benefit from early AI and digital skills. This will be spent on ‘discovery days’ and local businesses engaging with schools to outline career paths and explain the wider benefits of AI.

The mayor and government have also agreed a regional target, with 80,000 local students in the North East to benefit from the training until 2029.
 

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "The North East is already showing how AI can deliver for working people, with billions of pounds invested and thousands of new jobs on the way, as businesses and government work together to make the region a leader in Britain’s AI future.

"We’re investing in that progress for the long term. By giving young people the AI skills they need, supporting start-ups and acting to bring more women into tech we can keep talent and opportunity in the North East."

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "The North East is the one to watch when it comes to cutting-edge tech and AI as we work to make sure everyone benefits from our AI growth zone.    

"We’re already working closely with local employers, training providers and schools to make the North East the best place to live, work and thrive when it comes to tech.

"But we know we need to go further to make sure local people really benefit from more opportunities than ever before. That’s why we’re investing in training so our young people can make the most of the exciting opportunities around AI and working with some of the region’s brightest companies to support more women and girls in the tech sector."