While national headlines warn that AI will replace workers, businesses across the East of England are reporting a different experience. Six in ten regional firms using AI say it has already created new jobs, according to the Lloyds Business Barometer.
Now 30 new entry-level AI-related jobs are being created with small and medium-sized businesses across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, through a government-funded project confirmed on GOV.UK last month. At least half of the positions are intended for women, helping open up opportunities in a growing area of the jobs market.
AI is changing jobs, not just replacing them
National figures support what local businesses are reporting. The use of AI by business has tripled since 2023, yet ONS data shows fewer than one in 15 businesses adopting AI have reduced their workforce as a result. Most are retraining their existing team members.
Skills England reports that around 44% of workplaces now use AI every day. For smaller businesses, the challenge is increasingly about finding people with the skills to use AI effectively and make it work for their organisation.
The missing ingredient is skills
That is where businesses across the East of England are facing difficulties. The same Lloyds research found four in ten regional firms say their employees lack the AI skills they need, with access to skilled workers identified as the biggest barrier among firms already using AI.
The issue was also raised by business leaders at this year’s Norfolk Chambers Big Debate, where members called for a trusted and practical way for smaller businesses to adopt AI and automation.
There is also the risk that women could miss out on the new opportunities. Women currently hold just 22% of UK IT specialist roles. Without action to widen access, the new jobs being created through AI could reinforce the existing gender imbalance in the technology sector.
Supporting job creation, with investment from government
Each position must offer at least 25 hours of work a week and last for a minimum of six months. Recruitment will begin once the training programme has finished.
Participating employers can create a completely new position or develop an existing employee into a new role. The job does not have to include ‘AI’ in its title. Examples include AI implementation assistants, data analysts, marketing coordinators and business process automation specialists.
The project will prioritise opportunities for women, parents returning to work, graduates who have not yet found work using their degree, and people at risk of redundancy.
Training will take place one day a week across two intakes, with each participant receiving three months of mentoring once they start their new role.
James Adams, Founder and CEO of Tech Educators, said:
“The story everyone expects is AI replacing people. What we are actually seeing in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex is small businesses that want to hire people with AI skills but can’t find them. Most firms here are already using AI. What they are missing is someone whose job it is to make it work.
“This is not about training people and hoping they find a job afterwards. It is about creating real jobs in real local businesses, with a commitment to making those positions last. If we say 30 jobs, it has to be 30, and we want at least half of them filled by women.”
Part of a national drive to create tech jobs
The project is one of 39 funded through TechLocal, a £27 million programme within the government’s TechFirst skills drive. The programme aims to create up to t1,000 tech jobs across the UK.
It also supports the new Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan, which targets 20,000 entry-level digital and tech jobs a year.