UK AI minister urged to prioritise skills & adoption

La Fosse has urged the UK's first Cabinet-level AI Minister to put workforce skills and business adoption at the centre of national AI policy. Chief Executive Officer Ollie Whiting set out five priorities for the Government's approach.

He said ministers should judge success by whether organisations become more productive, workers gain relevant skills and AI delivers economic value across businesses and public services.

The intervention comes as the Government expands its AI agenda through a dedicated ministerial role and a taskforce intended to support adoption in the public sector. La Fosse, which advises employers on workforce and technology change, argued that Britain should focus less on counting new AI companies and more on how widely the technology is used in established organisations.

"The appointment of a dedicated AI Minister shows that the Government recognises AI is much bigger than a technology conversation. It is a conversation about productivity, skills, businesses and the future of work.

Success should not be measured by the number of AI announcements or strategies published. It should be measured by whether organisations become more productive, employees develop the skills they need and AI creates meaningful economic value.

From speaking to employers across the UK, we know the biggest challenges are rarely about accessing AI tools. They are about knowing where to start, building the right skills and creating the right conditions for adoption," said Ollie Whiting, Chief Executive Officer of La Fosse.

Adoption first

At the top of Whiting's list is a call to make AI adoption a national competitive advantage. He said the bigger opportunity lies in helping existing organisations use AI in day-to-day work, rather than treating progress mainly as a question of how many AI developers or start-ups Britain can produce.

He pointed to practical gains in sectors such as recruitment, manufacturing and healthcare, where AI could cut repetitive work, improve quality control and reduce administration. In his view, small gains across thousands of organisations would have a bigger effect on the economy than the success of any single AI company.

"I'd like to see the Government focus on helping existing organisations adopt AI successfully, rather than measuring progress by the number of AI companies we create.

Too much of the conversation still centres on the technology itself. The bigger opportunity is helping businesses use AI to become more productive, reduce repetitive tasks and give people more time to focus on higher-value work.

A recruiter finding talent faster, a manufacturer improving quality control or a healthcare worker spending less time on administration might seem like small improvements individually. But collectively, they could have a significant impact on the UK economy.

If thousands of organisations each become a little more productive, the impact will be far greater than the success of any single AI business," Whiting said.

People and skills

A second priority is workforce capability. Whiting argued that investment in people should carry the same weight as investment in AI tools because many of the hardest questions raised by adoption are about changing roles, leadership and confidence in using the technology.

La Fosse's research found that 69% of workers believe their organisation needs a dedicated AI specialist at the most senior level. It also found that 80% of existing C-suite leaders agree such expertise is needed.

Those figures suggest many employers accept the need for AI leadership but are still defining what it should look like. Whiting said the organisations most likely to benefit will be those that build AI understanding across leadership teams and among employees using the systems every day.

"Investment in people should be treated with the same importance as investment in AI.

One of the biggest mistakes organisations make is assuming AI is purely a technology challenge. In reality, the hardest questions are about people. Which skills will matter most? How will roles change? How do leaders help employees use AI with confidence?

Our AI in the Workforce research found that 69% of workers believe their organisation needs a dedicated AI specialist at the most senior level, while 80% of existing C-suite leaders agree there is a need for this expertise.

This shows that businesses are recognising the importance of AI leadership, but many are still working out what that should look like in practice.

The organisations that succeed will be those that build AI capability across the business, from leadership teams to employees using these tools every day. I hope that we see this supported by Government," Whiting said.

Access and trust

Whiting also called for more support for smaller businesses, arguing that AI should not be treated as something only large companies with substantial technology budgets can use. Smaller organisations make up a large share of the UK economy, and he said they need practical guidance on where AI can create value and how to adopt it with confidence.

His final priority is for government departments to set an example in their own operations. Public sector use of AI, he said, could help reduce administrative work and give employees more time for tasks that require human judgement.

La Fosse's research also highlighted concerns around governance and training. It found that 73% of C-suite executives have uploaded confidential company data into AI tools, while 78% have used AI for work they are not trained to do.

Those findings point to the risks of rapid adoption without clear guardrails. For Whiting, government has an opportunity to show businesses what more disciplined use of AI looks like across large, complex organisations.

"Britain does not need to create every AI breakthrough to benefit from this technology.

We have a real opportunity to become one of the best places in the world for organisations to adopt AI successfully and turn new technology into long-term economic growth.

If, five years from now, businesses are more productive, employees feel better equipped for the future and public services are working better because of AI, that will be the measure of success," Whiting said.