TL;DR

Brentwood Borough and Rochford District Councils are training 33 employees in AI and data skills through a partnership with Multiverse, as part of their new Digital Strategy for 2025-2028 aimed at building a digital-first culture in local government.

Practical AI for Local Government

The two Essex councils have partnered with apprenticeship and training company Multiverse — founded by Euan Blair, son of former Prime Minister Tony Blair — to deliver courses in data literacy and AI adoption. Staff will take part in Data & Insights for Business Decisions and AI-Powered Productivity programmes, with a focus on turning data into actionable insights using tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Google Gemini.

Jonathan Stephenson, chief executive of both councils, said: “We want to equip staff with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage resources. Our partnership with Multiverse will support us in embracing new technologies to better understand our residents’ needs and target support more effectively.”

The courses are designed to be accessible regardless of age or career stage, aiming to reduce administrative bottlenecks and free up staff time for frontline public services.

Why It Matters

Sarah Bennett, director of customer and digital at Rochford District Council, said: “It’s vital that we begin embracing digital technologies to deliver more sustainable services and protect our staff from increasing demands.”

The initiative reflects a growing pattern of UK local authorities investing in AI literacy as a route to managing resource pressures. Rather than deploying complex bespoke systems, smaller councils are starting with widely available tools and structured training to build internal capability.

Looking Forward

With 33 staff across two councils, this is a modest programme — but it represents the kind of ground-level AI skills investment that could become common across local government as authorities look to do more with less. The practical focus on established tools rather than experimental technology suggests an approach designed for immediate productivity gains.