The UK has a lot of room to grow when it comes to automation. The International Federation of Robotics found the UK used only 101 robots per 10,000 workers in 2020, which substantially lags international peers the government's Smart Machines Strategy 2035. We also rank just 24th in the world for robotics density, and closing that gap through targeted innovation and digital investment could add £150 billion to UK GDP by 2035 Make UK's Making it Smarter report.
The sticking point is people, not machines. Over 50% of manufacturers cite skills shortages as the main barrier to AI adoption, and only 2% say AI is widely embedded across their operations a 2026 analysis from The Manufacturer and Make UK. That is where a robotics hub earns its place: it gives firms a shared space to test technology and, just as importantly, to train the people who will run it.
Automation is reshaping the work, not just removing it. Six in ten (59%) manufacturers cited automation and half (50%) cited wider digitalisation as trends changing jobs and skills needs, and 74% expect demand for cognitive and meta-cognitive skills to increase by 2030 Make UK's 2030 Skills: Closing the Gap report. In plain terms, that means problem-solving, data literacy and the ability to work alongside machines.
Many firms are responding by growing their own talent. 40% of manufacturers are looking to upskill their existing workforce specifically for redeployment as a result of automation and digitalisation, a figure that rises for firms with more than 1,000 employees the Make UK Executive Survey 2026. Nationally, the government announced a partnership to upskill 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030, equivalent to around 20% of the workforce techUK, reporting from London Tech Week 2025.
Start with the problem, not the robot. Skills shortages sit at the top of manufacturers' barriers to growth (75%), ahead of recruitment (36%) and talent retention (32%) Barclays Corporate's 2024 analysis of UK manufacturing. So the smartest hiring plans blend two moves: bring in the specialist skills you cannot build quickly, and retrain the people who already know your processes.
The cost of standing still is real. In 2025 there were 55,000 unfilled long-term vacancies in UK manufacturing, costing the economy £6bn in lost output every year the Make UK Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Report 2025. To hire well, write job descriptions around outcomes and adaptability rather than a fixed tool, shortlist for people who learn fast, and partner with local hubs and training providers so your pipeline keeps refilling.
When you have found the right robot but still need the right people, we can help you move quickly. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost, through Reed.ai. If you are hiring for automation and AI skills, start a role today and see your shortlist.
