Barclays, supported by Atlassian Williams F1 Team, launches national competition to help young people build the human skills needed for an AI-powered future

Barclays LifeSkills, supported by Atlassian Williams F1 Team, today announced the launch of Accelerate your skills, a new UK-wide competition challenging young people aged 11–25 to develop creative solutions to a real-world business challenge while building the human skills increasingly needed in the age of AI.

Barclays has found ¹ that while over two-thirds (67%) of people believe AI will significantly change the jobs available in the future, fewer than a third (32%) 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.

Employers say they increasingly value human skills alongside technical capabilities in an increasingly AI-enabled workplace, as more than two-thirds (70%) believe communication, critical thinking (69%), creativity (68%), and problem solving (67%) are becoming more important as AI and new technologies transform the workplace ².

Yet these are also among the hardest skills for businesses to find. 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%)².

The findings highlight a gap between the skills employers increasingly value and people’s understanding of what will be needed to succeed in the workplace of the future.

This is why Barclays LifeSkills and Atlassian Williams F1 Team are inviting young people from across the UK to take part in a new competition designed to strengthen these essential human skills while encouraging the thoughtful and responsible use of AI.

Participants will develop innovative ideas that could inspire a new generation of fans to engage with the team and the sport. Their solutions could take the form of an event or experience, a social media campaign, a community initiative, or any other creative activation designed to grow awareness and engagement.

The competition is free to enter and is now open for schools, colleges, universities and youth groups to register individuals or teams via the Accelerate your skills competition website. Full terms and conditions apply.

C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer at Barclays, said: “AI is reshaping the way we learn and work. As this technology evolves, skills such as creativity, critical thinking and collaboration will become even more valuable alongside technical expertise. Success in the future workplace will come from combining the power of AI with uniquely human skills, and we all have a role to play in helping people develop them. We’re excited to launch this competition to help inspire the next generation and help them thrive in the years ahead.”

James Vowles, Team Principal at Atlassian Williams F1 Team, said: “Atlassian Williams F1 Team has 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 fiftieth anniversary year. We look forward to seeing their entries.”

Winners will be announced in January at a Barclays LifeSkills live event hosted at the Williams factory and will receive a range of prizes ³. Winning entries will be selected by a panel of judges based on how effectively they have addressed the challenge brief, demonstrated the use of core human skills and articulated how AI supported their thinking.

Accelerate your skills is delivered through Barclays LifeSkills, which has helped millions of people build the confidence, skills and knowledge they need for work and life, and forms part of Barclays’ wider commitment to back the future of young people across the UK.

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Notes

¹ Opinium survey commissioned by Barclays carried out between 4-10 Aug 2026. Conducted among 2000 respondents, providing a representative sample of UK adults by age, gender, region and income group.

² Savanta survey commissioned by Barclays. Conducted among 500 small, medium and large UK businesses with a nationally representative regional and industry sample, between 3 Aug 2026 and 7 Aug 2026.

³ There will be 30 Regional Winners and 3 National Winners selected from the pool of Regional Winners.

• Each Regional Winner will receive:

An Atlassian Williams F1 Team merchandise bundle consisting of a cap, backpack and water bottle A certificate

• Each Regional Winner’s school/organisation will receive a cash prize of £1,000

• Each National Winner will receive a prize package consisting of:

Attendance at the Winners’ Announcement Day event at the Atlassian Williams F1 Team headquarters, with return travel and accommodation for the winning individual or team and one accompanying adult educator An Atlassian Williams F1 Team merchandise bundle consisting of a mini helmet and hoodie, in addition to the regional merchandise bundle A certificate and the opportunity to collaborate on a Barclays LifeSkills resource, such as a blog or an article hosted on the Barclays LifeSkills website.

• Each National Winner’s school/organisation will receive a cash prize of £5,000 (instead of regional cash prize).
  
  

About Barclays:

Our vision is to be the UK-centred leader in global finance. We are a diversified bank with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank. Through these five divisions, we are working together for a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays

About Barclays LifeSkills

Since 2013, the Barclays LifeSkills programme has helped millions of people to build the core transferable skills, knowledge, confidence, and connections they need to get into or progress in work, whether that’s a young person preparing for their first job to someone wanting to make changes in their career or even start their own business. The programme provides free lesson plans, modules, and interactive tools to support educators with young people or adult learners, plus access to online tools and resources for independent learners and families.

For further information, please visit home.barclays/lifeskills