Primary school children in the North East are set to benefit from early AI and digital skills, following a £750,000 investment in the government’s TechFirst programme by the North East Combined Authority.

This will include ‘discovery days’ and local businesses engaging with schools to outline career paths and explain the wider benefits of AI.

This follows £1.5 million invested by the government in the North East through the programme, as part of a wider ambition to help one million young people from across the UK to benefit directly from the growth of AI, rather than being left behind.

For the first time, the North East mayor and government have also agreed a regional target – with 80,000 local students in the North East to benefit from the training until 2029.

This will be further complemented by commitments to support 1,000 local teachers to confidently teach AI while the Authority will deliver 150 local work placements, giving young people real experience and reasons to stay and work in the North East.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the AI Growth Zone is about more than technology – it is about ensuring growth reaches every part of the region. She praised the ‘stronger partnerships, new opportunities for local communities, and shared sense of purpose’ developing in the area since the Taskforce’s launch in September.

Meanwhile the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has published the North East AI Growth Zone Prospectus for consultation, which sets out how it will build on the AI Growth Zone to support skills, adoption and innovation.