The UK government is piloting AI bootcamps in Preston as part of a broader effort to address youth unemployment, a pressing issue affecting nearly a million young people classified as Neets—those not in education, employment, or training. The initiative, launched in a youth centre opposite Preston bus station, aims to equip 16- to 24-year-olds with AI skills through a three-week programme. The pilot, open to 70 participants, is designed to prepare them for apprenticeships with companies like JD Sports, Heinz, and Agilysys, which have partnered to offer AI-focused roles.

The bootcamp, run by IN4 Group, focuses on teaching participants how to build AI tools, understand business applications of AI, and use the technology responsibly. Attendees, including 18-year-old Khudeija Rafique from Burnley, see potential in the skills for future employment. "It would be really helpful with whatever job I would like to go into," Rafique said. The programme also includes two apprenticeship pathways: one for content creators to become AI marketing specialists and another for IT helpdesk roles requiring AI expertise.

Experts remain divided on the role of AI in the youth unemployment crisis. Dr Bouke Klein Teeselink of King’s College London noted that while AI’s impact on graduate jobs is well-documented, its effect on non-graduate work remains unclear. "We don’t have really good insights into how AI affects the non-graduate market compared to the graduate market," Teeselink said. However, he suggested the bootcamp could help address this gap by providing practical training and assessing its impact on productivity.

Chris Goulden of the Youth Futures Organisation argued that AI is not the primary driver of the Neet crisis, attributing it more to mental health issues and economic slowdowns. "Our sense is that AI is not driving the increase in Neets since the [Covid] pandemic," Goulden said. Still, he acknowledged that preparing young people for an AI-driven future is essential. "Teaching young people to use AI is part of how we prepare them for the future," he added.

Alan Milburn, a former Labour cabinet minister, warned in a recent report that the UK is "at risk of a lost generation" without comprehensive action on the Neet crisis. His report highlighted the failure of past government work programmes to address the issue, calling for broader reforms, including welfare system changes. The bootcamp initiative, while a step in the right direction, is seen by some as a narrow approach to a complex problem.

Participants in the Preston bootcamp, such as 17-year-old Remy Simms, expressed optimism about the programme’s potential to change their perspectives on AI. "It shows that you can work with AI and you don’t have to work against it," Simms said. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Hamid Muhammad-Asif from Blackburn said he was open to both apprenticeship paths, indicating a willingness to embrace the opportunities the programme offers.

What remains unknown is whether the bootcamp will significantly reduce Neet numbers or if the broader economic and mental health factors will continue to shape the landscape. While the initiative represents a targeted effort to integrate young people into the workforce, experts caution that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to address the root causes of youth unemployment.