BETT 2026: Ufi Ventures flags widening skills gap as investors question readiness for AI-era work
Ufi Ventures used an investor breakfast held during BETT week in London to surface shared concerns about the future of skills, work, and learning, pointing to mounting strain across skills systems in the UK, Europe, and the United States.
In a LinkedIn post following the event, Ufi Ventures said discussions focused on “the gap between learning pathways and workplace reality,” alongside reduced early-career opportunities and rising expectations around practical capability and AI fluency. The firm said these pressures are forcing investors and employers to reassess how effectively education and training systems are preparing people for work.
Ufi Ventures is a UK specialist investor in VocTech, backing early-stage companies building digital technologies to help adults progress in work and support employers to improve workforce skills.
Proof of capability moves ahead of credentials
According to Ufi Ventures, attendees at the BETT week breakfast agreed that proof of capability is becoming more important than traditional qualifications alone. The firm pointed to international examples where skills-first hiring models prioritize project work and portfolio-based evidence over formal credentials.
Ufi Ventures said it has seen similar signals across its portfolio, particularly as employers seek evidence of applied skills rather than course completion. In its post, the investor noted that “clear bridges between learning and improvement” are becoming more valuable as young people and NEET groups move away from traditional education-to-work pathways.
The breakfast was co-hosted with Tyton Partners.
Investors warn education systems are not adapting fast enough
Amanda Nolen, an advisor to enterprises, startups, and private equity firms on the future of work, learning, and technology, also reflected on the themes raised during the breakfast on LinkedIn. Nolen works closely with EdTech and HR tech companies and investment firms across Europe and the United States, advising on how AI is reshaping skills demand, workforce entry points, and education-to-employment pathways.
She described the breakfast as “an insightful conversation about the market for work and learning technology.” Nolen wrote that participants discussed how entry-level jobs are being “decimated because of AI,” contributing to a growing group of young people disengaged from education and work. She added that “adding more traditional learning and certification is not the solution, especially when not aligned with the tasks companies need people (and not agents) to perform.”
She also highlighted concern that “many educators do not seem so interested in their own future of work and are reluctant to learn or adopt new technologies,” describing this as a barrier to system-level change.
Ufi Ventures said these conversations underline why it brings investors and sector leaders together during moments like BETT week to assess market signals and test assumptions about where learning and work are heading, particularly as AI accelerates changes in hiring, skills demand, and workforce entry points.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
