Innovate UK TechLocal: AI and Cyber Talent Programme
Build additional Cyber security and Artificial intelligence skills within your workforce through completely funded, flexible training.
The Innovate UK TechLocal: AI and Cyber Talent Programme is a multiskilled initiative for Yorkshire businesses that want to create new roles, recruit new talent or upskill existing employees with additional Cyber and AI responsibilities.
The programme is open to businesses of any size. Each participating organisation must demonstrate the creation of a genuine new or enhanced role within its workforce. This cybersecurity and AI training is designed flexibly around work commitments and aligned to the skills and responsibilities required by the business.
Upskill your workforce in cybersecurity and AI
Cyber security and artificial intelligence are changing how organisations operate, manage risk and create value. Businesses increasingly need people who can apply these skills confidently within real workplace roles.
The Innovate UK TechLocal programme gives Yorkshire businesses a fully funded opportunity to build additional capability within their workforce by building digital skills through a combination of cybersecurity and AI training.
Rather than delivering generic training in isolation, the programme starts with the needs of the business. We work with employers to understand their capability gaps and identify where new Cyber or AI responsibilities can strengthen the organisation.
Businesses can create a new role by recruiting new talent or enhance an existing position by giving a current employee meaningful additional duties supported by relevant training.
The programme is delivered by Optimise Cyber Solutions and Tech Educators through Innovate UK, on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Key points
How it works
Getting started is simple. Register your business, define the new or enhanced role you want to create, and work with our team to align flexible Cyber and AI training to your workforce needs.
Register your business
Complete the enquiry form and our team will contact you to discuss your organisation, confirm Yorkshire eligibility and understand the additional Cyber or AI capability you want to create.
Define the new or enhanced role
We will work with you to identify the new responsibilities, skills requirements and intended business outcomes. This can involve recruiting new talent or upskilling an existing employee with additional duties.
Access flexible, funded training
The selected employee or new recruit will complete employer-aligned Cyber and AI training delivered flexibly around work commitments, with practical support to apply the learning within the role.
Why take part in the programme?
This is more than a standard training course. It is a fully funded workforce-development initiative designed to help businesses create sustainable Cyber and AI capability linked to genuine roles and responsibilities.
Completely funded for eligible businesses
Participating Yorkshire businesses can access the programme without a training fee, helping organisations build valuable capability without adding pressure to existing training budgets.
Open to businesses of any size
There is no restriction on business size. Small businesses, growing organisations and larger employers can all register their interest, provided they can demonstrate the creation of a new or enhanced role.
Flexible around work commitments
Cyber security and AI training is designed to work around operational requirements and employee availability, helping businesses develop skills without unnecessary disruption to day-to-day activity.
Cybersecurity and AI skills together
The programme develops complementary Cyber security and AI skills, helping employees understand secure digital working, responsible technology use, data and risk, and the practical application of AI within business.
Training shaped around business needs
Role requirements are identified before training begins, ensuring the learning is connected to genuine workplace responsibilities rather than delivered as a standalone academic exercise.
Recruit new talent or develop existing employees
Businesses can use the opportunity to bring new talent into the organisation or develop an existing employee with additional cybersecurity and AI security skills.
Practical workplace development
Participants build skills they can apply within real business situations, supporting stronger decision-making, safer digital working and more confident adoption of new technologies.
30 funded opportunities available
The programme will support 30 new or enhanced opportunities across Cyber and AI. Places are limited and businesses will be considered against the programme requirements.
What it can support
Who this programme is ideal for
This programme is available to businesses across Yorkshire that want to strengthen their cyber resilience in the age of AI by recruiting new talent or developing the skills of existing employees.
Not sure if your business is suitable?
You do not need an existing Cybersecurity and AI security department. The opportunity can support a wide range of business functions, including operations, administration, compliance, customer service, finance, marketing, leadership and IT.
You simply need a genuine business requirement and the commitment to create a new role or add meaningful Cyber or AI duties to an existing position.
Why flexible, employer-led training makes the difference
Generic training can be difficult to translate into workplace change when it is not connected to a defined role or organisational need. This initiative begins with the capability the business wants to create.
Training is then aligned to those responsibilities and delivered flexibly around work commitments. This helps participants remain engaged, apply their learning and create measurable value within the organisation.
Everything you need to build additional Cyber and AI capability
Participation includes employer-engagement support, role discovery, learner or employee matching where applicable, flexible expert-led training, practical activities, progress support and assistance in applying new skills within the workplace.
The delivery model is designed around business requirements and work commitments, helping employees develop at a manageable pace while organisations continue to meet their operational priorities.
The programme is completely funded for eligible Yorkshire businesses. There is no restriction on business size, but each participating employer must demonstrate the creation of a genuine new or enhanced role. Our team will discuss your requirements, confirm eligibility and explain the next steps before your organisation is accepted onto the programme.
Register your interest
Complete the enquiry form and our team will contact you to discuss eligibility, your workforce-development needs and the proposed new or enhanced role.
Whether you want to recruit new talent or upskill an existing employee, the programme provides a practical, fully funded route to building Cyber and AI capability within your business.
Frequently asked questions
Build new Cyber and AI capability within your workforce
Cyber security and artificial intelligence are becoming essential capabilities across every sector. Businesses need people who can apply these skills responsibly, improve resilience and help organisations gain value from digital technology.
The Innovate UK TechLocal: AI and Cyber Talent Programme gives Yorkshire businesses a completely funded opportunity to create new roles, recruit new talent or upskill existing employees with additional responsibilities. With flexible delivery designed around work commitments, the initiative helps businesses build practical capability while continuing to meet operational needs.
Register your interest to be considered for one of 30 funded Cyber and AI workforce-development opportunities.