Free AI training you can take as big employers seek professionals who understand clever tech

WHICHEVER industry you work in, the use of AI is on the rise.

From scheduling and invoicing for small businesses, to improved planning making building work safer, understanding how to use this clever tech is the big skill employers are now looking for.

Fifty-eight per cent of professionals plan to improve their AI skills in 2026, according to new research from LinkedIn.

But you don’t have to be a manager to use it.

This week the Government announced that every adult in the UK is eligible for free training to gain practical AI skills for work.

Called AI Skills Boost, the scheme aims to help ten million people and make Britain the fastest-adopting AI country in the G7.

It will also help to create more higher-skilled jobs by freeing staff from routine tasks.

Each course takes as little as 20 minutes and covers AI basics from drafting text to creating content and completing administrative tasks.

Once you complete a course, you’ll receive a virtual AI foundations badge to prove to employers that you have the latest knowledge.

Training is available on the free AI Skills Hub site, where you can create a personalised profile and choose the right courses for you.

Zunera Diwan, 33, used the AI courses to help launch MoneyCircuit.co.uk, which trains people in financial education.

The Londoner said: “I’m a chartered accountant and my husband and I have worked in the finance sector for ten years.

“We began sharing our financial know-how with friends and family, but quickly found a growing number of people in their network were keen to learn more about personal finance, such as mortgages, pensions, investing and debt.

“To help, we began by delivering workshops to communities around London, covering the core areas of personal finance and helping thousands of people better their relationship with money.

“On launching MoneyCircuit, I needed to understand legal and compliance requirements such as contracts and safeguarding, and areas I hadn’t been trained in, like marketing and operations.

“At first, it felt like there were not enough hours in the day to build the platform, but after taking the AI courses, I realised AI could improve my productivity and help achieve MoneyCircuit’s mission more efficiently.

“Since taking the training, I use AI to cut the time spent drafting contracts, writing policies, promoting the organisation on social media and doing administration tasks to keep the wheels turning.”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “We will protect people from the risks of AI while ensuring everyone can share in its benefits.

“That starts with giving people the skills and confidence they need to seize the opportunities AI brings, putting the power and control in their hands.”

Currently only 21 per cent of UK workers feel confident about using AI, and just one in six businesses are using it effectively.

However, the new courses have been benchmarked by training body Skills England, meaning they are simple to follow.

Companies supporting the new rollout include Google, Barclays, Microsoft, the NHS, BT and Amazon — and experts predict upskilling the UK workforce could unlock a productivity boost worth over £400bn by 2030.

Darren Hardman, Microsoft UK CEO, said: “AI is such a transformative technology that all of us, no matter our age or job, will need the skills to benefit from it.

“Not in five years’ time, but now, to become better creators, better thinkers, better entrepreneurs and better competing internationally.”

To see the courses on offer or to sign up, visit aiskillshub.org.uk.

Top tips to help your CV impress

AS well as training in AI, you can use it in your job hunt, too.

With increasing numbers of companies using AI to screen applicants, knowing how to present your CV to pass the tech’s test is essential.

Hannah Cornish is a recruitment expert at CV-Library.

She said: “Brits search for AI-checking CV advice more than 50,000 times a year. Jobseekers are struggling to navigate AI-led hiring.”

Here are Hannah’s eight insider tips.

1. AI-proof your CV to stand out: Don’t turn your CV into a keyword bingo card to match the job description. Instead, focus on how your skills and experience genuinely align with the role.

2. Keep formatting simple: Avoid designs that use text boxes, images, graphics and tables. AI tools can struggle to read them.

3. Be specific: Avoid generic claims such as “improved”, “led”, and “managed”. Instead include data and context. AI systems spot quantifiable outcomes.

4. Stick to basic styling: Don’t use overly decorative or script fonts, which can be hard for AI scanners. Choose simple fonts like Arial or Calibri, ideally in size 10-11 for readability.

5. Apply early: AI-powered systems often prioritise early submissions to manage application volumes. Getting your application in quickly can help boost your visibility, as some employers even interview before applications officially close.

6. Standardise job titles: Creative job titles may sound fun but AI tools may not recognise them. Translate quirky titles into clear, universal ones.

7. List your education, certifications and training in reverse chronological order. Emphasise recent or relevant achievements that boost your credibility for the role.

8. Use clear headers: Organise your CV into distinct, well-labelled sections like Professional Summary, Key Skills and Education. Clear structure helps AI systems as well as human recruiters.

Job dream team

THE creators behind YouTube careers show My Duvet Flip are branching out with three initiatives to help young people navigate the world of work.

Duvet duo Jackson Parsons and Leon Juice reach three in five UK secondary schools with their videos but new campaign Make The Flip aims to help teens and twenty-somethings worldwide.

It includes Mentor Me, a digital platform to connect young people with mentors, plus a career centre called Youth Space opening in East London’s Shoreditch in the spring.

Jackson said: “It shouldn’t matter where you start – everyone deserves access to honest advice and real support.

“We’re breaking down those barriers and opening doors for everyone.”

Trolley good

SEE your new career take off with EmPower Flight.

The specialist cabin crew training firm is offering four fully funded training places for its new Cabin Crew Attestation course.

Delivered at Oxford Ruskin University, the seven-day course prepares trainees for life as a flight attendant.

It also looks at future technologies and new industry developments. Andrew Perkins, CEO at EmPower Flight, said: “We’re removing financial barriers for talented individuals who might otherwise be unable to access aviation careers, helping us widen participation and build a more diverse, representative cabin crew workforce.”

Apply at empowerflight.aero/crew-training.