The new academic year is now firmly in full swing. Teachers have finally nailed who’s who in their cohort, brand new jumpers are piling up in lost property and summer lie-ins feel like a distant memory.
But the start of the 2026/27 year brings some fresh challenges, too. Today, many teachers will be familiar with the AI paradox: how quickly it’s embedding itself in the rhythm of students’ daily lives versus the need for human skills and critical thinking that will ensure they use it wisely, and to best effect. Educators now have a tricky balance to strike: how to help students harness AI without letting chatbots do all their thinking for them.
In response to this, Barclays LifeSkills, supported by Atlassian Williams F1 Team has launched a new competition for schools, colleges, universities and youth groups, to inspire young people to build the skills employers need as AI transforms the world of work. Accelerate Your Skills uses practical activities to help 11- to 25-year-olds apply AI responsibly to real-world challenges while simultaneously developing the human-centric skills they’ll need to thrive in the years ahead, such as communication, creativity and critical thinking.
“AI is transforming the world of work at an incredible pace, creating exciting new opportunities but also changing the skills young people need to succeed. Which is why we’ve launched the Barclays LifeSkills Accelerate Your Skills challenge. We want to help young people build the human skills and experience that employers are saying are more important than ever to be able to confidently and practically work alongside AI,” says Kirstie Mackey, Barclays head of citizenship, UK and Europe.
Accelerate Your Skills arrives at a time when many young people face a rapidly changing world of work. In May, the number of young people considered NEET (those aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training) surpassed 1 million for the first time in a decade, with a recent report by Alan Milburn, a former cabinet minister turned social mobility adviser, warning the UK is “at risk of a lost generation”. This uncertainty is reflected in young people’s confidence about entering the workplace. Recent research from Barclays found that fewer than a third of working age people are confident they understand the skills employers are looking for as AI and technology is more widely used in the workplace.
“For many young people, taking their first steps into the world of work can feel daunting, with barriers ranging from a lack of experience to uncertainty about the opportunities available to them,” says Mackey. “By understanding the skills employers are looking for and taking opportunities to develop them, young people can break down these challenges, build their confidence, and unlock their potential. The more equipped they feel with the right skills, the more motivated and ambitious they can become about their future, helping them take positive steps towards rewarding careers and long-term success.”
What teachers can expect
Teachers needn’t worry about shoehorning Accelerate Your Skills into an already-crammed start-of-year timetable. Barclays LifeSkills has made it as easy for you as possible to enter, with a leaders’ toolkit packed with guidance and ready to use in class activities.
The challenge? To raise awareness of Atlassian Williams F1 Team and turn young people into fans. Participants will need to research and brainstorm ideas, using generative AI as a wingman while they steer towards their best creative idea. Throughout the process, students will develop their communication, creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, ethical reasoning and problem-solving skills – combining their human skills with smart use of generative AI.
James Vowles, team principal for Atlassian Williams F1 Team, says they have always been driven by innovation, teamwork and the relentless pursuit of performance. “As a team, we are constantly looking for ways to find our edge and extract even more performance on and off track. This competition challenges young people from across the UK to think in the same way, and imagine new opportunities for our organisation ahead of our 50th anniversary year. We look forward to seeing their entries.”
What students can expect
One of the most exciting things about Accelerate Your Skills is the practical, hands-on activities which mirror challenges people might face in the world of work.
Along the way, students may find AI makes a great brainstorming partner, but the most original ideas still need human imagination and collaboration.
Do well in the competition and your organisation might win up to £5,000 in national and regional cash prizes, with the winning team scooping a visit to Atlassian Williams F1 Team factory and further opportunities to collaborate with Barclays.
More importantly, the activities will show students how to combine AI literacy with human judgment – a useful mix as they take their first steps into the world of work. These skills could prove invaluable for entry-level and early-career roles, such as project assistants or junior designers, while also giving them a headstart in apprenticeships, traineeships and higher education.
With the possibility that AI will take on more technical or repetitive workplace tasks, Accelerate Your Skills aims to develop the human abilities that can’t easily be replicated by machines (if at all), which are for that reason now prized by employers.
In fact, in a recent Barclays survey, employers identified critical thinking (51%), problem-solving (46%) and adaptability (37%) as among the hardest skills to source in job applicants, ahead of AI skills (19%), data analysis (16%) or coding or programming (12%). Yet, these same bosses also feel younger generations aren’t demonstrating these qualities. About a third of businesses (32%) feel school-leavers aren’t workplace-ready, with lack of employability skills cited by 60% of employers as a key factor.
Accelerate Your Skills aims to remedy this. Support from Atlassian Williams F1 Team provides a natural fit too. As anybody who has watched its drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, whiz around a track at 230mph will know, Formula 1 drivers require more than razor-sharp reflexes. They rely on communication, teamwork and split-second judgment, using vast amounts of data to make decisions under pressure – many of the same qualities Accelerate Your Skills aims to develop.
From now until the competition’s finish line in December, teachers will get the chance to imbue these skills in their students, leaving them with a better grasp of AI, experiences worth shouting about on their LinkedIn profiles plus the confidence to take the wheel once they start their working lives.
“We hope that the Accelerate Your Skills challenge can give young people a strong foundation for the future by helping them develop the skills that matter most in an AI-enabled workplace. We’re committed to backing the future of young people and help them to gain the skills that will support their success throughout their careers,” says Mackey.
How to register
Accelerate Your Skills has everything you need to run the competition including the full challenge brief, a step-by-step competition journey and activities ready-to-use with young people. To register and download the leaders’ toolkit, head to barclayslifeskills.com. The competition is open now, and all schools, colleges, universities and community groups have until 18 December to submit their entries. Good luck!
