Home > Job News > Entry Level > Amazon Launches AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in the UK to Equip 100,000 People with AI Skills < Job News and Info

Amazon is expanding its AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to the UK in a bid to help 100,000 people gain vital AI and cloud computing skills by the end of the decade.

The programme, which already runs in the US, Spain and Germany, is designed to prepare learners for entry-level tech roles by offering practical experience, industry-recognised training and direct links to employers.

Now launching in the UK, the initiative will work in partnership with universities, colleges, government and leading businesses to bridge the growing digital skills gap.

With AI playing an increasingly important role in the workplace, the demand for job-ready tech talent is surging. Research from Strand Partners, commissioned by AWS, suggests that AI literacy will be essential for nearly half (47 per cent) of new UK job roles over the next three years.

Despite this, 41 per cent of UK organisations say they’re struggling to find workers with the necessary digital skills.

To tackle this challenge, the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will partner with institutions like the University of Exeter and the University of Manchester, as well as major employers including Accenture and Deloitte.

The goal is to refresh and strengthen existing curricula with input from industry, ensuring students graduate with up-to-date, practical skills that employers are actively seeking.

Learners from all backgrounds will be able to access the programme’s resources, which include hands-on learning, employer-led challenges and skills pathways tailored to high-demand areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and big data.

These pathways are specifically designed to match the needs of employers in sectors ranging from healthcare to advanced manufacturing.

Since its global launch in 2023, the Tech Alliance has already brought together over 990 educational institutions and more than 780 employers worldwide. The UK rollout is set to significantly boost access to career-relevant tech training for students and early-career job seekers alike.

Announcing the plans, the Managing Director for UK, Germany & International Organisations, Public Sector at AWS, John Davies, said: “Removing barriers to accessing digital skills training is critical for helping the UK to become a digital leader. We are delighted to launch the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in the UK to address the digital skills gap by creating flexible, accessible training programmes for students looking to pursue a career in technology.”

Feryal Clark, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government, welcomed the announcement, saying: “We need to make sure that students and young people in every community have the skills they need to explore successful, long-lasting careers in tech - putting them in the driving seat of the UK’s digital revolution.”

“The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will be key to that effort, with a partnership that also helps us to deliver a modern digital government fit for the future. Making sure citizens from all corners of the country can benefit from technology is how we’re putting our Plan for Change into action,” added Ms Clark.

This initiative is part of Amazon’s broader investment in UK talent and infrastructure. Earlier this year, the company announced 1,000 new apprenticeship roles across the UK. It also unveiled plans to invest £8 billion between 2024 and 2028 to build, operate and maintain data centres in the UK; a move expected to support 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually at local businesses.