Sir Keir Starmer is likely addressing the tech industry’s hopes with his major commitment at London Tech Week to instruct one million students in AI. Yet, new information reveals a pronounced existing regional disparity. London is rapidly surpassing other parts of the UK in generating AI job opportunities, investment, and education. This prompts concerns that, without a more equitable approach, the UK’s goal to be an “AI producer, not just an AI user” may be jeopardized.
Released alongside London Tech Week, Accenture’s UK tech talent tracker disclosed that 80 percent of AI job listings are located in London, which also accounts for 65 percent of all tech job openings. Although the demand for AI professionals has surged by nearly 200 percent year over year nationwide, only a select few regions—such as Glasgow, Liverpool, and Leeds—are witnessing similar growth.
The report illustrates a concerning scenario for the UK’s AI preparedness beyond the M25. Businesses in London are projected to dedicate 19 percent of their tech budgets to AI by 2025, a notable lead over other UK areas, where this number falls to 13 percent. Similarly, 58 percent of firms in London are making investments in generative AI training, compared to only 40 percent elsewhere.
Emma Kendrew, Accenture’s UK tech lead, pointed out that the UK has a “golden opportunity to lead globally in AI,” but cautioned about the widening digital gap. “To fully harness AI’s economic potential, regions outside London must also vie for talent and resources. The unevenness in AI upskilling poses significant issues for the UK’s long-term competitiveness.”
Government research reinforces this urgency, indicating that by 2035, over 13 million jobs in the UK are expected to involve AI either directly or indirectly. This renders bridging the skills gap not merely a regional concern, but an economic imperative.
At the commencement of London Tech Week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that skills are the foundation of the UK’s future economic framework. By introducing a £187 million ‘tech first’ initiative and aiming to educate 7.6 million workers in AI by 2030, he framed AI as a catalyst for economic progress.
“We’re empowering the next generation with AI,” he declared at the event. Nvidia’s chief Jensen Huang stood beside him, highlighting that AI should be seen as “essential infrastructure” and that the UK must pledge to long-term investments in education, computing, and security.
This commitment entails financing for one million secondary school students to receive AI and digital education, along with new master’s scholarships that position top UK talent in AI research at nine leading universities. Additionally, a new government-supported platform will centralize AI learning resources for educational institutions.
Minister for AI Feryal Clark noted that the government’s ‘AI opportunities action plan‘ aims to ensure “every region participates in the growth’s advantages.” However, even as the demand for AI professionals aids a recovery in tech hiring within the UK, which has increased by 21 percent in the past year, the foundational infrastructure for equitable growth remains unevenly allocated.
