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UK AI Council
Philip Blake, CEO of the UK AI Council, speaking at the launch event

Policy

UK AI Council on the Autumn Budget

The commitments on compute, the £100m advance market commitment and the AI Growth Zones in Wales give the sector clear direction. Whether that direction turns into anything depends on whether the people around it are trained to use it.

Philip Blake
1 min read
29 October 2026
UK AI Council on the Autumn Budget

This Budget represents a welcome starting point. Its commitments on compute, a £100m advance market commitment for UK start-ups, and AI Growth Zones in Wales provide the sector with clear direction. However, a starting point is only meaningful if subsequent action builds upon it, and the decisive factor in how far we progress will be people.

Compute without the skills to use it effectively remains underused, and growth zones without a trained local workforce deliver investment without opportunity. The Government has acknowledged part of this challenge, with funding intended to boost business adoption and upskill workers in each zone. We would urge that this ambition be expanded considerably.

UKAIC believes that training and development are essential to securing lasting results from this Budget. This requires action in three areas:

  1. Practical, accessible AI training for those already in employment, not solely for graduates and specialists.
  2. Support for small and medium-sized businesses, where the potential gains from adoption are greatest and the capacity to invest in skills is most limited.
  3. A clear pathway from learning to application, enabling researchers, founders and public servants to use new compute with confidence from the outset.

UKAIC will continue to extend its reach and its network of training providers around the new Growth Zones, and to develop clear pathways for professional development.