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ScottishPower has hosted an industry-leading 'AI for Schools' pilot scheme at its Glasgow headquarters, welcoming 24 S4-S6 students for an interactive week focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace.
The programme was established in partnership with Skills Development Scotland to better prepare students for an evolving professional landscape where AI plays an increasingly vital role. The scheme aims to grow the understanding and use of AI across different sectors, including education.
Adam Pollock, Head of Digital Transformation & Innovation at ScottishPower, emphasised the importance of collaboration. He said: "Partnership between industry and education will be key to helping young people to enter the workplace with the best possible understanding of AI and digital technology."
The project included a broad range of activities designed to broaden the students' knowledge, showing how the technology is integrated into the company's complex operations. This included demonstrating how AI is used in the customer business, in the recruitment process, and in complex areas such as digital transformation, data centres, and the maintenance of substations. Students were also shown how to use AI to help them with key life skills, such as structuring a CV.
Like many other businesses, ScottishPower has embraced AI to streamline services and functionality across its operations and has taken a leading role in driving change in how young people are taught about the technology's application.
Robert Ray, Chief Executive at Horizons Research, praised the initiative: "ScottishPower's AI for Schools has been invaluable in letting students experience how AI is being used in the workplace then encouraging them to take that knowledge back into school."
Mr Ray concluded that the programme has made "great strides in knowledge gap between education and the workplace in the use of AI and ScottishPower has played a key role in starting these conversations and establishing a road map for the future."
