Lecturer Faye Manning of the Medical Imaging Department of the University of Exeter. A new UK survey shows that 85% of businesses see skills gaps as a threat — and many prefer collaborating with researchers over hiring externally. Photo by Theo Moye
A new report finds that UK businesses are increasingly eager to work with university researchers to close widening skills gaps — particularly in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis — but struggle to access the expertise they need.
The report, Equipping Researchers for Impact: Unlocking the Potential of University-Business Relationships, commissioned by the Developing Business-Aware Academics project at the University of Exeter Business School and authored by CBI Economics, warns that skills shortages are now seen as a major threat to UK competitiveness.
In a survey of 235 UK businesses across all sizes, sectors, and regions, an average of 85% identified skills gaps as a top concern — with shortages in AI among the most pressing.
BIZ WANTS AI EXPERTISE — AND IT’S TURNING TO HIGHED ED TO FIND IT
As AI continues to reshape industries and accelerate business transformation, nearly half (44%) of large companies say they would prefer to engage with academic experts in universities to address AI talent shortages rather than relying solely on external hires or outsourcing. Yet businesses often find the pathways to collaborate with academia overly complex, opaque, or poorly aligned with their immediate needs.
“Businesses are expressing a clear wish to work with universities,” says Louise Hellem, chief economist at the CBI. “At a time when the UK is seeking to go further and faster in its pursuit of economic growth, as well as address chronic skills shortages and embed cutting-edge technologies across its economy, the role of universities as connectors between academic research and business innovation has never been more vital.”
The findings fit into a broader trend emerging across business education. As Poets&Quants has reported, the 2025 Graduate Business Curriculum Summary Report shows that AI is no longer treated as a niche topic, but is being embedded deeply into MBA and master’s programs. Schools are revamping curricula to prioritize AI-driven decision-making, data analytics, and predictive modeling alongside traditional leadership training. Two years ago, in fall 2023, BGC reported that three of four surveyed B-schools had already integrated AI into their curricula.
Employers are demanding it, after all. According to the 2024 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, global employers now seek MBA graduates who possess AI and machine learning expertise — but they equally want professionals who can combine technical savvy with strategic thinking, communication skills, and leadership.