Flexible AI Upskilling Fund pilot: Expression of Interest

The Flexible AI Upskilling Fund pilot scheme will support small and medium-sized enterprises in the Professional and Business Services sector by match-funding AI skills training for their employees.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) recently announced a £7.4 million pilot scheme to subsidise the cost of AI skills training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Professional Business Services (PBS) sector. 

£6.4 million of grant funding is available in the financial year 2024-2025.

Through this pilot programme, eligible business can apply for funding for up to 50% of the cost of AI skills training. This is training which supports employees to develop their technical skills and/or understanding of AI to be able to develop, deploy, or use AI in their role.

Eligibility: The funding competition will be open to applicants who are:

• registered and operate in the UK
• employ between 1-249 employees in the UK
• defined as an SME per the SME Action Plan
• have been operating for at least 1 year
• able to match-fund 50% of the cost of the training
• operate in the Professional and Business Services (PBS) sector (see the guidance attached for definition)

Additional eligibility and full application criteria will be set out when the funding competition opens in May.