2026: When Preparation Meets Opportunity, Success in the New Economy Follows
As we step into a new year, moments of reflection often bring clarity and insight. Over the December break, a message shared with me alongside the World Economic Forum’s New Economy Skills report captured that clarity perfectly:
"GRIT Hub is well-positioned for what lies ahead."
Moreover, there is a quote often attributed to Dan Cathy that feels especially relevant as we enter 2026: "Success is when preparation meets opportunity". In the context of the new economy, preparation means possessing skills, fluency, and confidence, and opportunities are arriving faster than ever.
The report affirms something we have long believed and built toward at GRIT Hub: the future of economic growth will be defined not only by technology itself, but by who has access to the skills to use it meaningfully.
Across the globe, artificial intelligence, data, and digital fluency are no longer specialist capabilities. They are becoming foundational skills, as essential as literacy and numeracy, across every sector, role, and community. Yet the gap between demand and readiness continues to widen, particularly in emerging economies and outside traditional tech pipelines.
At GRIT Hub, our work has always been about closing that gap with intention.
As we enter our fifth year as GRIT Hub, this moment feels especially significant. What began as a local response to skills gaps in the Garden Route has grown into a maturing ecosystem focused on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and inclusive access to opportunity. This milestone is not just about longevity; it reflects the lessons learned, partnerships built, and clarity gained about where we can create the most meaningful impact.
From Insight to Action
The World Economic Forum’s findings are clear: economies that invest early in applied digital fluency, ethical AI understanding, and practical skills development will be better positioned for resilience and inclusive growth. Importantly, the report emphasizes that AI skills are not only for engineers and developers, but they are increasingly required across administration, entrepreneurship, creative industries, operations, education, and public service.
When we talk about the new economy, we are not referring to a distant future. We are referring to an economy already shaped by AI, data, automation, and platform work, one where digital fluency directly affects employability, productivity, and competitiveness across every sector, not just technology.
This insight strongly aligns with our direction for the year ahead.
Before announcing what’s next, it’s important to be clear about our intent. This year, our focus is not on creating more specialists alone, but on preparing more people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Announcing: A Recurring GenAI Skills Programme at GRIT Hub
In 2026, GRIT Hub will be running a 40-hour Generative AI (GenAI) skills course offered repeatedly throughout the year, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical participants at multiple entry points.
This programme is delivered in partnership with WeThinkCode, with support from Google.org, and is focused on making AI skills accessible, practical, and responsibly applied.
The course is built to serve:
- Developers, designers, and technologists seeking to integrate AI into their workflows
- Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to improve productivity and decision-making
- Students and graduates preparing for an AI-enabled job market
- Non-technical professionals, including administrators, educators, managers, and creatives, who need confidence using AI tools ethically and effectively in their daily work
Rather than treating AI as an abstract or intimidating technology, the programme focuses on real-world applications:
- Using GenAI tools to improve productivity and collaboration
- Understanding ethical and responsible AI use
- Applying AI to problem-solving, communication, and operational efficiency
- Building confidence to work with AI, not be displaced by it
What differentiates this approach is intent. Our focus is not certification for its own sake, but confidence, application, and ethical use, ensuring participants can apply AI tools responsibly in real working contexts, regardless of technical background.
Why This Matters for the Garden Route and Beyond
Our region is rich in talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial potential. What is often missing is early access to future-relevant skills, delivered in ways that are practical, inclusive, and aligned with global standards.
By offering this GenAI programme throughout the year, GRIT Hub is creating a continuous on-ramp into the AI economy, not a once-off intervention, but a sustained pathway for learning, experimentation, and growth.
This approach reflects our broader mission: to identify untapped potential and refocus it using digital technology, ensuring that opportunity is not limited by geography, background, or prior exposure.
Looking Ahead
We enter this year with a strong sense of alignment between global insight, local need, and practical action. The partnerships we are building, the programmes we are delivering, and the communities we are serving all point toward the same goal: an inclusive, human-centred digital economy.
If you are an individual, organisation, or partner interested in preparing people for opportunities in the new economy, we invite you to walk this journey with us in the year ahead.
Because in the new economy, success will belong to those who were prepared when opportunity arrived.