We are upskilling teens in AI for Blackpool's future, says council leader
“AI can play a vital role to create jobs of the present and the future for our young people.”
AI innovations are helping to provide a vital opportunity to lift young people in Blackpool out of the NEET depths of potential unemployability and into jobs of the future.
Young recruits have undertaken training at a summer boot camp as part of the Government’s new Tech First AI Apprenticeship Pathway.
And the scheme has already created a number of apprenticeship positions for some of those involved in the three week course.
The numbers and rates of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) young people in Blackpool are among the highest and most severe in England.
Recent studies and official data show that the town faces an acute crisis regarding youth engagement and education dropout rates.
The NEET rates for 16 to 17 year olds in Blackpool stand at between 7.6 per cent and 8.9 per cent, more then double the national average of 3.4 percent to 5.6 percent.
However, real efforts are being made to help upskill young people in the resort with AI qualifications so they will be in a position to take opportunities for modern jobs.
Young people from the town took part in a first-of-its-kind AI summer bootcamp last month designed to help prevent young people falling into unemployment after leaving school.
SKILLS TO MATCH OPPORTUNITIES
The project has been hailed by Blackpool Council for pointing to real opportunities for young people.Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “It’s all very well to try and create new opportunities for young people in our town.
“But if they don’t have the skills to take advantage of them, those opportunities will be wasted.“
“One of the key things the council is trying to achieve is to create genuine possibilities to help our young people make the most of their potential.
“We’ve heard that from this course, four young people have gained apprentice position with local employers in the AI field, while the rest ill be able to continue with education and training opportunities locally.
“AI can play a vital role to create jobs of the present and the future for our young people.”
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The AI Apprenticeship Pathway brought together government, industry and public sector organisations to provide three weeks of AI and workplace skills training.
Young recruits undertook training which saw the IN4 Group-led pilot course teaching young people about AI technology.
Participants also learnt how to use AI responsibly alongside human oversight and quality control, while developing workplace skills including professional communication, teamwork, timekeeping, organisation and problem-solving.
At the end of the programme, businesses and public sector organisations across the region, including JD Sports, Heinz and local SMEs, will have apprenticeships available to help participants move into employment.
The scheme will also test how AI training and career development can best support young people, with its findings intended to inform an England-wide AI skills and early careers programme due to roll out next summer. The pilot builds on the £200m TechFirst skills programme, announced in summer 2025, which has already reached more than 100,000 young people.
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.”