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Guidance

Pro-Worker AI Adoption Prize

The Pro-Worker AI Adoption Prize recognises organisations using artificial intelligence (AI) that benefits workers.

Updates to this page

From:
Cabinet Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Published:
8 June 2026
Last updated:
8 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. Guidance updated following closure of nomination programme. Application link removed from page, and judging panel confirmed.

  2. 'How to nominate' section amended to extend the nomination deadline to 7 October 2026.

  3. Changed the number Nominated organisations must employ.

  4. First published.

Overview

The Pro-Worker AI Adoption Prize closed at 11:55pm on 7 October 2026. We are no longer accepting nominations. After a period of assessment by our expert judging panel, we will announce a shortlist of top innovators before declaring 3 overall prize-winners.

The prize recognises and promotes UK organisations that adopt AI in ways that increase productivity, provide workers with new capabilities and create new jobs.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) has invited Milena Mondini, CEO of Admiral Group, and Mike Clancy, General Secretary of the Prospect trade union to join its judging panel for the prize and shortlist the top organisations.

The panel will be chaired by Nobel laureate Professor Simon Johnson. Between them, they will bring a wealth of experience across AI, business and worker representation to the assessment process.

Leading UK business school professors will write detailed case studies on the 3 winning organisations to show how AI can benefit businesses and their workers. This work will be funded by grants from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

What we were looking for

We wanted to hear about organisations using AI that benefits workers. This could include AI that:

  • increases productivity
  • provides workers with new capabilities
  • creates new roles or jobs
  • creates new products or services in a way that boosts demand for human expertise
  • puts workers’ voices at the centre of AI adoption

The nomination form asked for details about your organisation, followed by more detailed questions about your AI use case. These included how it enabled your business objectives, how it benefitted workers, and how you can evidence the pro-worker impacts. The form also asked about the steps you took to ensure worker participation.

Why this matters

AI is advancing rapidly and will have a transformative impact on the UK economy, businesses and workers. Research shows that awareness of AI use cases is one of the top 3 barriers to AI adoption in the UK, alongside skills and trust.

Contact

If you have any questions, email aiadoptionprize@dsit.gov.uk.

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