South Gloucestershire Council is intensifying its focus on leveraging technology by expanding its AI and data training initiatives. Following a successful pilot programme, the council has extended the training to a total of 60 learners, aiming to enhance local services for residents.
The Transformation Academy continues to build on initial training efforts, equipping employees with skills to modernise processes and achieve cost savings. These digital skills have already yielded significant fiscal benefits and increased operational efficiencies for the council.
A report by Multiverse reveals that nearly 30% of local government employees' time working with data is unproductive. This initiative underscores the council's commitment to empower its workforce with the required training, thereby enhancing service delivery to the local community.
The new academy will engage staff from all major council areas, including Housing, Education, Public Health, and Operations. This broad scope facilitates upskilling across the organisation, ensuring data expertise pervades all decision-making processes, streamlining manual procedures.
Central to the training are AI programmes like Level 4 AI for Business Value and Level 3 AI Powered Productivity, aimed at enhancing engagement with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Gemini. Additionally, 'Data Insights for Business Decisions' supports teams in navigating the data landscape confidently.
The 13-month 'Data Fellowship' is designed as a Level 4 apprenticeship, fostering data proficiency among staff and transforming them into high-performing analysts and data science experts.
Multiverse, the platform behind this initiative, has trained over 20,000 apprentices in AI, data, and digital skills since 2016, heralding a new era of on-the-job learning. Over 1,500 companies collaborate with Multiverse to foster workforce transformation, delivering inclusive programmes that cater to varied career stages and life stages.
