Young people at risk of unemployment after leaving school are being offered a new route into the world of artificial intelligence through a pioneering summer bootcamp launched across the North West.
The Government's new TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway is designed to equip young people with practical AI and workplace skills while supporting the Prime Minister’s ambition to expand technical education opportunities across every part of England.
The first cohort of participants, drawn from communities including Wigan, Blackburn, Blackpool and other towns across the region, has now begun training.
Delivered by IN4 Group, the programme brings together employers, public sector organisations and training providers to explore how AI-focused education can help young people secure meaningful employment while meeting growing demand for digital skills.
Over a three-week period, participants will learn how AI is being used across modern workplaces, including how to build AI-powered tools, create draft documentation and guidance, and apply AI responsibly with appropriate human oversight and quality assurance.
The pilot programme will support up to 70 young people aged between 16 and 21, helping them develop not only technical capabilities but also essential workplace competencies. Training will cover professional communication, business software, teamwork, time management, organisation, problem-solving and performing effectively under pressure.
Following completion of the programme, participants will have the opportunity to apply for apprenticeships with employers across the North West, including major organisations such as JD Sports, Heinz and a range of local SMEs.
The initiative forms part of a wider Government strategy aimed at providing clearer pathways into skilled employment for young people. It follows recent commitments by National Grid, which announced a £5 million annual Power Within Employability Fund intended to help 5,000 young people move into work.
AI Minister Kaniskha Narayan said:
“AI is already transforming the world of work, from time-saving tools that cut out admin through to high-end tech that’s boosting vital fields like medical research.
“This is a huge opportunity that will directly benefit young people across the country. This new scheme is about giving them the skills they need to thrive in the AI workplace, and build careers in some of our most exciting industries.”
The pilot will also serve as a testing ground for future policy development. Lessons learned from the North West programme will be used to shape a national AI skills and early careers scheme scheduled for rollout across England next summer.
The latest initiative builds on the Government’s £200 million TechFirst programme, which since its launch in summer 2025 has reached more than 100,000 young people, provided financial support to 500 UK PhD students undertaking critical technology research, and is preparing for expansion into schools from September.
For public sector leaders, the pilot represents a significant opportunity to address skills shortages, boost social mobility and create a stronger pipeline of digitally skilled talent capable of supporting future AI adoption across both public and private sector organisations.
Image credit: iStock
