Why techUK is joining the Get the Nation Learning campaign

As the latest signatory to the Get the Nation Learning Charter, techUK sets out why this campaign is more important than ever

techUK is proud to be the latest signatory of the Get the Nation Learning Charter and join the Learning and Work Institute’s campaign to drive lifelong learning across the country. As the trade association for technology companies in the UK, we represent over 1100 members, from AI and frontier technology companies to universities and training providers. For a sector built on innovation, the case for lifelong learning is central to how our members grow, hire and stay competitive, as well as the country's future prosperity.

The impact of technologies like AI are not being felt solely in the tech sector, they are changing how work gets done in every industry, from manufacturing to healthcare to finance. Within workplaces across the economy, jobs are evolving and tasks are changing. The shelf-life of skills is shrinking faster than ever, and new roles and demands are emerging quickly. The World Economic Forum estimates that global job disruption could create 170 million new roles while displacing 92 million, with 39% of workers’ skills either transformed or out of date by 2030. Over 70% of the 2035 workforce are already in work, and the UK has some of the highest levels of AI exposure of any major economy.

As the Learning and Work Institute’s own research shows, adult participation in learning has fallen sharply, and investment has followed the same trajectory, just as the need to reskill intensifies. This is widening the gap between the speed at which work is changing and the rate at which people are learning and adapting. For the economy, the gap threatens productivity, growth and government ambitions on employment, and for individuals lifelong learning is what keeps people in good work and avoid being left behind.

The tech sector sits on both sides of this story. techUK members are building some of the tools rapidly reshaping the skills the economy needs but, equally, depend on a workforce that can keep pace with them. We cannot champion the technologies driving change without championing the support needed to help people adapt to it. A coordinated effort is needed to drive lifelong learning and create a system that equips people for the future, covering both technical and core human skills. That is why we are joining this campaign.

This isn’t a new priority for techUK. Lifelong learning has been a thread running through our work on skills for years. Our Making AI work for Britain report, published in 2023, put upskilling and lifelong learning at the centre of how the country should respond to AI’s impact on jobs. We are also a supporting partner of the government-industry AI Skills Boost initiative that aims to upskill 10 million workers in AI. Working with members including Sage, Google, Multiverse and Salesforce, we have been hosting upskilling events at regional tech weeks around the country as part of the programme. And many of our members offer free access to training through their own platforms, like IBM SkillsBuild and Infosys Springboard.

Government itself is taking forward relevant initiatives but challenges remain. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is intended to boost adult participation in learning, yet awareness is markedly low, there are question marks over its design, and HEPI warns of a well-intentioned policy lacking adequate investment in implementation. Similarly, reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy aiming to boost employer investment in training include new short courses (Apprenticeship Units), however these have already faced criticisms related to delivery and funding. And, more broadly, funding is caught between two priorities - upskilling the existing workforce and supporting youth employment, with recent reforms tilting decisively towards the latter.

The pace of change is only accelerating and the case for lifelong learning has never been more urgent – for employers, individuals and the wider economy. We look forward to working alongside the Learning and Work Institute and the over 200 fellow signatories to this campaign. We encourage anyone who shares this mission to reach out to discuss our work. Because getting the nation learning isn’t the job of any one organisation, it’s a shared endeavour, and one the tech sector is ready to play its part in.

“AI and new technologies are opening up new opportunities and changing demands, and the people who thrive will be those who are able to keep learning and growing alongside them. techUK is proud to join the Get the Nation Learning campaign, and to continue working with our members and government to make lifelong learning a national priority.”

Nimmi Patel

Associate Director, Policy and Skills, techUK

techUK's Skills, Talent and Diversity Programme activities

techUK work with our members to signpost the opportunity of digital jobs and ensure these opportunities are open to people of diverse backgrounds. We strive to help our members attract, recruit, and retain a diverse workforce, whilst showcasing their work on workplace innovation. Visit the programme page here.

Jobs and Skills

To make sure that the UK is a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that people have the digital skills needed for life and work. Rapid digitalisation is creating surging demand for digital skills across the economy and the current domestic skills pipeline cannot keep up. Digitalisation is also leading to rapid changes in the labour market that means some traditional roles are being displaced. There is an urgent need to better match the demand and supply.

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Future of Work

The future of work is changing. Technology is powering a growth in flexible work across the economy, whilst emerging technologies such as robotics and AI are set to become common place. techUK believes the UK must consider the implications of digital transformation in the world of work now, equipping people and businesses across the country with the skills and conditions needed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the 4IR.

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Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion sits at the heart of digital growth. The tech sector understands that innovation thrives from diversity of thought and is continually looking to attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. techUK is proud to support a number of initiatives that promote this, from doing outreach work to ensure that people regardless of their background are inspired into tech, to initiatives that help build more inclusive workplaces for those with different accessibility needs.

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Upcoming events

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Skills, Talent and Diversity updates

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Authors

Jake Wall

Policy Manager, Skills and Future of Work, techUK

Jake has been the Policy Manager for Skills and Future of Work since May 2022, supporting techUK's work to empower the UK to skill, attract and retain the brightest global talent, and prepare for the digital transformations of the future workplace.

Previously, Jake was the Programme Assistant for Policy. He joined techUK in March 2019 and has also worked across the EU Exit, International Trade, and Cloud, Data Analytics and AI programmes.

He also holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex, as well as a BA(Hons) in International Politics from Aberystwyth University. During his time at Aberystwyth University, he won the International Politics Dissertation Prize.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: www.linkedin.com/jwwuk

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Why techUK is joining the Get the Nation Learning campaign