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In 2026, the Mayor of London established the London AI and Jobs Taskforce, chaired by Baroness Martha Lane Fox, with IFOW Founding Director Anna Thomas MBE serving as Deputy Chair. The Greater London Authority awarded IFOW grant funding to undertake research and engagement, and to develop policy in support of the Taskforce.
The Taskforce drew on innovative socio-technical research undertaken by IFOW alongside GLA analysis, employer evidence, engagement with workers and wider stakeholder contributions. This has moved the debate beyond occupational exposure alone to consider adaptive capacity, work design, skills, progression and pathways through the labour market. This has been published in summary here and supported the Taskforce report here.
The Taskforce’s recommendations were organised around three civic capabilities: Act Early, Shape Change and Create Opportunity.
The recommendations included an early-action system to identify emerging labour-market change; partnership approaches to responsible adoption and workforce capability; and stronger routes into future opportunities for young Londoners.
On 21 July 2026, the Mayor accepted all the Taskforce’s recommendations and announced an additional £18 million to support young Londoners with careers, skills and routes into work. City Hall placed this alongside a £12 million programme to support responsible AI adoption and growth among London’s SMEs - a £30 million package around London’s emerging approach to AI, work, skills and opportunity.
The £18 million included £10.5 million to extend Support for Young Londoners, intended to help around 6,000 young people outside education, employment or training, and £7.3 million to continue and expand the London Careers Programme across around 725 secondary and post-16 institutions.
This is a strong demonstration and replicable model of research-to-impact focusing on the potential of cities and regions as act as ‘frontier’ test cases for governing technological transition to serve the public interest.
