TECHNOLOGY

The UK government has announced a major expansion of its AI Skills Boost programme , making free, practical AI training available to every adult in the country. The aim is ambitious: to help upskill 10 million workers by 2030 and make the UK the fastest adopter of AI in the G7. BPCA is encouraging pest professionals to explore the programme.

Led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the programme brings together government, major employers and industry bodies to give people the confidence to use AI tools safely and effectively at work.

What’s on offer?

The free courses are hosted on the government’s revamped AI Skills Hub and are open to all UK adults . They are short, practical and designed to fit around work, with some taking less than 20 minutes to complete.

Topics focus on everyday workplace use, including drafting text, creating content and handling routine admin tasks. Anyone completing a benchmarked course receives a government-backed virtual AI foundations badge, setting a clear standard for what good AI upskilling looks like.

The programme has already delivered over one million courses since June last year, and the latest expansion brings in new partners from across the public and private sectors, including the NHS, techUK and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Why it matters for pest management

AI adoption is still low across UK businesses, particularly among small and micro companies. For many pest control firms, time and resources are tight, and new technology can feel like a risk rather than an opportunity.

Scott Johnstone, BPCA Communications Manager, said:

AI doesn’t have to mean big systems or big spend. For pest control businesses, especially smaller firms, these free courses are a great way to explore how AI can save time on admin, reporting or customer communications, without the pressure. It’s about building confidence and understanding what’s useful, and what isn’t.

Scott Johnstone, BPCA Communications Manager

Looking ahead

Alongside the training offer, the government is also launching a new AI and the Future of Work Unit to monitor how AI is changing jobs and skills needs, helping shape future policy.

Speaking about the programme, Liz Kendall said the focus is on making sure AI works for people, not the other way round, by giving workers the skills and confidence to benefit from the technology.

For pest professionals, this is a chance to dip a toe in the water, learn at your own pace and decide how AI might support your business, now and in the years ahead.

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