CareerTech Challenge: How CiCi Is Transforming Careers Support for Adults in the UK
Career Chat UK’s CiCi, led by DMH Associates, has been recognised as one of 20 national finalists in the CareerTech Challenge Prize, an initiative delivered by Nesta in partnership with the Department for Education, England.
The CareerTech Challenge has shone a spotlight on some of the most exciting innovations shaping the future of work, learning, and career support in the UK. Among the finalists is CiCi, the AI-powered careers chatbot originally conceived by Dr. Deirdre Hughes OBE who developed the seed of an idea to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to provide adults at risk of job displacement with accessible, flexible, and personalised, trustworthy careers information and advice.
At a time when technological change, Covid and economic uncertainty are reshaping the job market, the CareerTech Challenge offers a vital platform for creative solutions that can help people upskill, reskill, and navigate their next steps with confidence. CiCi is a prime example of how AI can be harnessed to deliver meaningful, inclusive support for those who need it most.
What Is the CareerTech Challenge?
The CareerTech Challenge is a nationwide competition to identify and support digital solutions that can help people:
- Build career adaptability skills.
- Access personalised information and learning opportunities.
- Stay resilient in a fast-changing labour market.
The challenge was born out of the UK’s recognition that millions of workers, particularly those in sectors like retail, hospitality, and manufacturing, face disruption due to automation, the green economy, and shifting employer demands. By backing scalable innovations, Nesta and the DfE aimed to accelerate tools that could meet these challenges head-on.
CiCi: An AI Careers Chatbot for a New Era
CiCi (Careers innovation, Careers intelligence) is a major flagship innovation: an AI-powered chatbot technology designed to support flexible, self-directed career exploration. Available anytime on mobile, laptop and PC devices, CiCi allows users to explore career options in a conversational way. Whether during a commute, at home on the sofa, or even while multitasking in front of Netflix.
Key features of CiCi include:
- 24/7 personalised support – always available to answer career questions in plain language.
- Escalation to human advisers – CiCi recognises its limits and connects users to professional advisers when specialist help is needed.
- Context sharing with practitioners – advisers receive a summary of prior conversations so they can provide faster, tailored support.
- Integration with LMI for All – CiCi delivers up-to-date labour market information, ensuring advice is relevant and trustworthy.
- Accessibility – multilingual support and text-to-speech options make guidance more inclusive.
This design ensures CiCi complements, rather than replaces, human expertise, providing scalable first-line support while strengthening the role of careers professionals.
Why CiCi Matters
The CareerTech Challenge called for tools that go beyond theory and deliver measurable impact. CiCi answers this call by:
- Supporting a wide range of adults – including those often under-served in traditional careers advice systems.
- Bridging gaps in provision – many adults find it difficult to access timely, affordable guidance; CiCi meets them where they are.
- Empowering self-directed learning – users can explore options at their own pace, lowering barriers to engagement.
- Building confidence – research shows CiCi users report increased clarity and motivation in career decision-making.
For people facing redundancy, uncertain hours, or new training needs, CiCi offers reassurance and direction in a world that often feels overwhelming.
Insights from the Pilot Cities
During the CareerTech Challenge, CiCi was tested in pilot locations including Bristol, Derby, and Newcastle cities with diverse workforces and varying economic challenges.
Feedback from these pilots highlighted how CiCi’s conversational style lowered the intimidation factor of career planning. Users valued being able to “ask anything” without judgment, and advisers appreciated the efficiency of receiving pre-prepared user histories. A range of personas were developed based on real-life case studies.
The Wider CareerTech Challenge Ecosystem
CiCi’s success is part of a broader innovation wave spotlighted by the CareerTech Challenge. Other finalists explored gamified skills platforms, virtual reality training, and AI-powered learning diagnostics. Together, these tools illustrate the many ways technology can support lifelong learning and workforce resilience.
By featuring alongside this ecosystem, CiCi demonstrates not only its standalone value but also its role in a growing movement to modernise career guidance. T the end of the competition, CiCi was highly commended for its ongoing work.
Beyond the Challenge: Future of CiCi
While being a finalist in the CareerTech Challenge is a major milestone, CiCi’s journey is only beginning. CareerChat UK has continued to refine and expand the chatbot with features such as:
- Speech-to-text capabilities – making CiCi even more inclusive for people with additional needs.
- Enhanced data dashboards – giving educators and advisers real-time insights into student and client needs.
- Integration with AI advancements – ensuring conversations remain natural, accurate, and safe.
- Alignment with national strategies – supporting the UK’s industrial strategy, lifelong learning agenda, and green skills priorities.
By evolving with user feedback and technological developments, CiCi is positioned to remain a leading solution for career guidance well beyond the CareerTech Challenge.
Why Recognition Matters
Being recognised in the CareerTech Challenge validates CareerChat UK’s mission to deliver accessible, ethical, and impactful career guidance through AI. This recognition brings:
- Credibility – endorsement from Nesta and the DfE highlights CiCi as a trusted, innovative solution.
- Visibility – showcasing CiCi alongside other pioneering tools raises awareness among policymakers, educators, and employers.
- Momentum – the challenge provides a launchpad for further growth, partnerships, and adoption.
For schools, colleges, universities, careers and employability providers (including local and combined authorities considering new digital guidance tools) CiCi’s role in the CareerTech Challenge is a clear signal of quality and innovation.
The CareerTech Challenge has been more than a competition – it’s a statement of intent for the UK’s future of work and learning. By championing tools like CiCi, it highlights how technology can break down barriers, empower individuals, and strengthen the country’s workforce resilience.
For CareerChat UK, being a CareerTech Challenge finalist is a recognition of years of innovation and commitment to equitable careers support. For users, CiCi is proof that AI can be practical, ethical, and empowering when designed with people’s needs at its heart.
As the UK continues to adapt to economic shifts and technological disruption, CiCi and its peers from the CareerTech Challenge stand ready to help individuals navigate uncertainty and embrace opportunity.
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