london, June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is expanding its free global technology education program, IBM SkillsBuild, with new artificial intelligence (AI) learning pathways designed to prepare individuals at all career stages. Free training modules will support the UK workforce from entry-level employees to senior leaders and policy makers, helping people from all communities access the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. As a founding partner of the UK Government’s AI Skills Hub, IBM will deliver IBM SkillsBuild courses to help expand access to high-quality workforce AI training at scale.
The new AI learning pathway builds on IBM’s ongoing partnership with the UK government’s AI Skills Boost initiative, which aims to upskill 10 million UK workers by 2030. Extending IBM’s offering will help deliver role-tailored AI training across different levels of the organization and strengthen the AI capabilities of the entire UK workforce through industry-developed IBM SkillsBuild courses.
Building a workforce with AI skills plays a critical role in helping organizations realize the value of emerging technologies and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy. According to the recent IBM 2025 CEO Survey, 77% of CEOs surveyed expect a positive ROI from large-scale AI growth investments, yet 30% of their employees are expected to need to be retrained or reskilled over the next three years. The new product introduces a structured, multi-level framework that ranges from basic awareness to advanced technical expertise and executive leadership capabilities. IBM is helping to democratize access to AI education by creating a clear, scalable path to workforce transformation, helping individuals, businesses, and public sector organizations build the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Kanishka Narayan, Minister of AI and Online Safety, said:
“We are on a mission to equip 10 million UK workers with AI skills by 2030, enabling everyone to thrive in an AI-powered economy. Partners like IBM are absolutely critical to making high-quality AI training available to workers at every level, from the shop floor to the boardroom. In doing so, we can build a skilled workforce and economy that works for everyone.”
AI learning pathway for every employee
Built on IBM SkillsBuild, this program provides a step-by-step progression from entry-level to the most advanced, allowing learners to gradually build skills based on their role and proficiency.
At the introductory level, learners will learn AI fundamentals such as large-scale language models, rapid engineering, and ethical considerations, enabling them to use generative AI tools effectively and responsibly from day one. As participants progress, the curriculum will focus on real-world applications such as data analysis, risk management, fraud detection, and hands-on simulations using IBM technologies such as WatsonX.
Advanced learners build expertise in areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, and AI solution development, helping organizations develop the technical capabilities needed to design, deploy, and scale AI systems. Responsible AI principles such as ethics, bias mitigation, and governance are embedded across all levels to help ensure skills are applied safely and effectively across industries.
Leon Butler, CEO of IBM UKI, said:
“AI is transforming every industry, opening up new opportunities to innovate and unlock value. With this expanded IBM SkillsBuild pathway, we are accelerating adoption and helping build a workforce that understands why digital technologies are critical to realizing the full potential of AI for business and society. This highlights IBM’s support for the Government’s ambition to extend AI skills across the UK workforce.”
New Level 6 Leadership and Policy Module
An important pillar of this announcement is the dedicated Level 6 (L6) learning pathway Designed specifically for senior leaders, policy makers, and those responsible for organizational change.
This advanced module focuses on enabling decision makers to:
- Understand the strategic impact of AI on business, government, and society
- Lead responsible AI adoption at scale
- Shape the policy, governance and risk framework
- Driving organization-wide transformation and employee responsiveness
The L6 Pathway is designed to keep leadership capabilities aligned with technological advances, enabling executives and policymakers to make informed decisions that maximize the benefits of AI while managing emerging risks.
IBM SkillsBuild focuses on hands-on learning, real-world scenarios, and scalable delivery to provide organizations with a practical framework to upskill their workforce and unlock the value of AI.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries leverage insights from data to streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporations in critical infrastructure sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to digitally transform quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting provide open and flexible options for our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, accountability, inclusion, and service. For more information, please visit www.ibm.com.
Media contact:
Imtiaz Mufti
IBM Communications UKI
Imtiaz.mufti@ibm.com
+44 (0)7909020019
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