AI + THE FUTURE OF WORK
AI is rewriting the way we work. Our goal is to get ahead of it, so people experiencing disadvantage aren’t left behind.
The future of work should be shaped, not simply observed
Artificial intelligence and robotics are beginning to change not only how we work, but what work is available, how it is valued and who gets the opportunity to participate.
The future is uncertain. These technologies could make work safer, improve productivity, remove barriers and help people do things that were previously out of reach. They could also remove many of the entry level positions that people with complex barriers have traditionally relied upon to build skills, confidence and a working life.
For us, the AI transition is less about technology, and more about people, opportunity and the kind of economy we want to create.
The future of work should be shaped, not simply observed
For a long time, employment strategies have focused on how many jobs are created. That will no longer be enough.
We must also ask what kind of work is being created. Is it secure? Is it meaningful? Does it provide sufficient income? Does it build capability and lead somewhere? Does it give people dignity, connection and agency? And are people who already face barriers to employment able to access it? As technology changes work, there is a real risk that the first rungs of the employment ladder become harder to reach. People already experiencing disadvantage may face higher expectations, fewer accessible roles and greater competition for the opportunities that remain.
If that happens, disadvantage will not simply continue. It may compound.
From waiting and seeing to testing and learning
We do not pretend to know exactly how quickly change will occur or what every consequence will be. But waiting until the answers are obvious is not a strategy.
We believe we need to begin testing the future now. That means working alongside people with lived experience, social enterprises, employers, technology partners, researchers and governments to run practical pilots and trials. We want to explore how AI and robotics can improve safety, strengthen human capability, redesign jobs and create new pathways into meaningful work.
We also need to understand where technology may unintentionally exclude people, reduce job quality or concentrate its benefits in too few hands.
The aim is not to resist progress, it’s to create more opportunities, particularly for people who already face barriers to work.
Taking an active role
We have always worked at the intersection of social enterprise, employment, investment, government and social impact. We believe that gives us an important role in the future of work.
Over the coming year, we will deepen our research, run internal and external pilots, develop new partnerships and contribute to a policy agenda that ensures people facing disadvantage share in the benefits of technological change.
If you are thinking about these questions, developing relevant technology, designing new approaches to work or interested in partnering on a pilot, we would love to hear from you.
The future of work is still being written. Let’s make sure everyone has a place in it.
Partner With Us
We love to collaborate. If you share in our belief that employment can change lives and the solution lies is jobs-focused social enterprise, get in touch.
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