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AI bootcamp launches in North West to tackle youth unemployment

The TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway will provide three weeks of training to people aged 16 to 21 who are out of work or at risk of entering unemployment after leaving school.

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AI bootcamp launches in North West to tackle youth unemployment
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Up to 70 young people in the North West are set to receive artificial intelligence (AI) and workplace skills training through a new Government pilot aimed at creating routes into apprenticeships and employment.

The TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway will provide three weeks of training to people aged 16 to 21 who are out of work or at risk of entering unemployment after leaving school.

Young people from communities including Wigan, Blackburn and Blackpool have started the programme, which is being delivered by IN4 Group in partnership with businesses and public sector organisations across the region.

Participants will learn how to build AI tools, understand how businesses use the technology and use AI responsibly alongside human oversight and quality control.

The programme will also cover workplace skills including professional communication, teamwork, timekeeping, organisation, problem-solving and working under pressure.

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At the end of the bootcamp, businesses and public sector organisations across the North West, including JD Sports and Heinz, will have apprenticeships available to help participants move into employment.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said: “Young people in every postcode deserve the opportunity to a great start to their adult life, and we are tackling the youth unemployment crisis head on.

“This first of its kind AI bootcamp will support young people at a crucial juncture in their lives, connecting them with great training and career opportunities at the heart of their local communities.”

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The pilot forms part of the Government’s TechFirst skills programme and will be used to test approaches to AI skills and early-career training ahead of a planned England-wide scheme next summer.

The £200m TechFirst programme, announced in summer 2025, has so far reached more than 100,000 young people and provided financial support to 500 domestic PhD students undertaking research in critical technologies.

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It is also due to roll out to schools from September.

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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.”

Mo Isap OBE, CEO of IN4 Group, said: “Too many young people are leaving school without a clear route into the opportunities AI is creating. If we’re serious about tackling youth unemployment, we have to rethink how young people move from education into work by creating pathways that connect talent with paid careers.

“We’ve spent years building trusted partnerships with schools, local authorities and employers across the North West through our MEGA Hubs, and with the support of Government we now have the opportunity to demonstrate what’s possible.

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“We have created a model that gives more young people a genuine route into high-value careers where AI skills are increasingly essential, while helping employers develop the talent they need for the future.”

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