The UK's AI Opportunities Action Plan marks a pivotal step toward making the country a global AI leader. In this article, Sue Daley OBE, director of tech and innovation, techUK, explores how government-industry collaboration, infrastructure investment, skills development, and widespread AI adaption can turn ambition into impact
The UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, published in January of this year, represents a crucial moment in our national approach to artificial intelligence. By accepting the recommendations made by Matt Clifford, the UK Government has signalled its intent to put AI at the heart of its vision for public services reform and economic growth.
The success of the AI Opportunities Action Plan will ultimately depend on putting the plan into action and a close partnership with businesses, particularly those working in the technology industry.
techUK, as the technology trade association representing the sector, strongly supports the intentions of the government’s plans and we have set out the actions that we believe are critical to its success.
Building the foundations for AI success
The emphasis on upgrading the UK’s compute and data infrastructure in the Action Plan is particularly welcome. The commitment to set out a long-term plan for the UK’s AI infrastructure needs, backed by a 10-year investment commitment, demonstrates the seriousness with which the government is approaching this challenge. Similarly, the plans to increase compute capacity, expand data centre availability, and create AI Growth Zones represent significant steps forward.
However, to make progress at the pace required, industry involvement from the outset is critical. Close collaboration between government and industry will be essential to ensuring that the UK has an effective compute strategy. To that end, the tech sector stands ready to contribute its expertise to help maximise the impact of available resources. The UK must leverage current resources to their maximum potential by removing barriers to access through initiatives such as AI Research Resource Federation Demonstrator (AIRRFED), a UK initiative launched in March 2024 to streamline access to national AI and high-performance computing resources.
The concept of AI Growth Zones has generated considerable excitement from both industry and local authorities. Secretary of State Peter Kyle’s wish to see physical infrastructure work begin before the end of 2025 is a welcome signal of the government’s commitment. To contribute to the lifespan and long-term success of AI Growth Zones, both local and national governments should consider how it can grow a thriving business cluster once the necessary infrastructure has been built. This will require taking into account the skills and training needs of local people and employers.
Accelerating AI adoption across the economy
If we are to see the true benefits of AI deployment, such as higher productivity, GDP growth, and greater public services transformation, then widespread AI adoption across both the public and private sectors is vital. The “scan, pilot, scale” approach outlined in the AI Action Plan is a welcome move that can help to achieve this.
Too often, promising technology projects are stranded at the pilot stage and fail to scale. For this to change, strong leadership from the government to drive adoption by all public sector departments, bodies, and agencies is needed. Given industry’s view of what is not only possible but achievable, particularly in scaling up AI pilots and trials, the tech sector is keen to work with the government to help shape the development of its plans and to create incentives for greater AI adoption in the public sector.
For private sector AI adoption, business leaders must be supported to fully realise the opportunities and tangible value that AI can bring to their organisations. Businesses must be listened to and their concerns understood, for them to overcome adoption barriers. This is where the role of the proposed AI Champions could be impactful, but only if designed and aligned with what private sector users need right now.
Unlocking the potential of data
The value of data is undeniable. According to the UK Data-Driven Market Report, published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in March 2024, data-driven companies generated an estimated £343 billion in annual turnover (6 per cent of UK turnover) in 2023 and contributed £84.9 billion (3.8 per cent of GVA) to the UK economy. (The UK Driven Market, 2024.)
The AI Action Plan introduces a more strategic approach to data, aiming to improve data quality and accessibility—which are both important drivers for the development of AI technologies. The UK Government has announced that it will establish a National Data Library, featuring five high-impact datasets, guidelines for AI training, and incentives for collecting clean, well-structured data. Other initiatives include identifying high-value datasets and aligning public data collection with strategic goals to drive innovation.
Additionally, the government plans to couple compute access with proprietary data to attract researchers. As a result, it will explore the possibility of establishing a copyright-cleared British media asset training set using resources like the BBC and National Archives.
Developing skills and talent for the future workforce
None of this is possible if we don’t have the people with the right skills in the right places. We are not going to develop AI skills by reinventing the wheel, but by leveraging the vast but sometimes fragmented learning resources that are often free, and supporting more people to take up these opportunities. Businesses already offer a wide variety of online and in-person training, from basic digital skills right through to courses on the latest technological developments. We need to find a way to bring these initiatives together and increase the confidence people have investing their time in training opportunities.
We have long maintained that the government should create a second iteration of the Skills Toolkit launched in Spring 2020, enabling people across all areas of society to understand digital job opportunities and access training. Why not build on the great signposting tool that government already has? Many techUK members have courses that have been spotlighted but now the content needs to move beyond basic digital skills towards more advanced, stackable qualifications that lead to workplace-ready capabilities.
To support businesses to offer training, the delivery of a reformed Growth and Skills Levy that prioritises flexibility will be crucial. Employers need to be able to address their workforce skill needs by allowing them to choose the eligible provision most appropriate to them. Equally, people will need to have confidence that these new skills are worth learning, spending time and energy outside of work to upskill and retrain. Skills England should ensure that courses on digital skills and AI funded by the Levy are tied to independently verified accreditation frameworks so that both employers and learners alike know they are getting value for money.
Charting a path forward
The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out an ambitious vision for the UK’s AI future. To realise this vision, close partnership between government and industry is essential. techUK and our members stand ready to support the UK Government in delivering on these commitments.
With the right approach to implementation, the UK can indeed maintain and build on its status as a global AI leader through AI-driven job creation, economic growth, and improvements to the lives and living standards of citizens across all nations and regions. As the representative of the UK’s vibrant tech sector, techUK can play a vital role in this journey, doing our part to help turn this ambitious plan into transformative action.
