Firms Scramble for AI Talent as Digital Transformation Accelerates
UK businesses are on a fast track to AI adoption, yet a major roadblock threatens to slow their progress: a shortage of skilled AI professionals. According to the latest Supercharging Growth with AI in the UK report, while 92 percent of UK organisations rank AI adoption as a high or medium priority in the coming year, 34 percent are struggling to attract the talent necessary to drive this transformation.
With AI’s potential to revolutionise industries, UK firms are rapidly investing in cutting-edge solutions. A staggering 91 percent of companies are delving into emerging AI technologies like generative AI, while 39 percent are leveraging AI for business automation. Meanwhile, half of UK firms are directing investments into advanced analytics to sharpen decision-making capabilities.
AI’s Growing Role in Business Efficiency
Beyond digital innovation, AI is becoming a critical tool for tackling operational challenges. Supply chain resilience, a top concern for 91 percent of high-growth businesses, is seeing increasing AI-driven intervention. More than a third (37%) are deploying AI and automation to bolster operational strength amid global uncertainties.
Simon Duckett, Chief Digital Officer at renewable energy producer Sonnedix, underscored AI’s transformative power: “AI is revolutionising the renewable energy sector, driving smarter decisions and operational efficiency to support growth and resilience. In a rapidly evolving market, AI’s predictive models and advanced analytics help us strengthen our supply chain, adapt to economic uncertainty, and seize new opportunities.”
However, businesses remain hamstrung by digital obstacles. Legacy technology is proving a major hurdle, with 27 percent of high-growth UK firms identifying outdated systems as a key impediment to AI integration.
The Talent and Data Roadblocks
One of the biggest barriers to AI success is the scarcity of skilled professionals. Many businesses are struggling to attract and retain AI specialists, prompting 40 percent of firms to prioritise internal skills development.
Beyond talent shortages, data-related issues also hinder AI progress. A third of businesses cite insufficient datasets as a significant limitation in training AI models, while 34 percent report poor data quality and inadequate planning tools as barriers to adoption.
Top AI Jobs in Demand
- Machine Learning Engineer
- AI Research Scientist
- Data Scientist
- AI Ethics Specialist
- Robotics Engineer
- Computer Vision Engineer
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer
- AI Product Manager
- AI Software Developer
- Business Intelligence Developer
Wesley Doyle, Head of New Business, Corporate, SAP UKI, highlighted the urgency of overcoming these hurdles: “Addressing barriers to growth, like digital immaturity, must be a priority for the UK’s high-growth organisations if they wish to reach their potential. Many have identified AI as the key that unlocks business agility, resilience, and efficiency. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, organisations that make bold moves in AI will position themselves to flourish in today’s data-driven economy and lead the way in shaping the UK’s growth agenda.”
With AI poised to be a game-changer, UK firms are at a crossroads: those who solve the talent and data challenges will gain a competitive edge, while those who lag behind risk being left in the dust of the digital revolution.
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