The council has partnered with Multiverse to build its AI and data capabilities with an extended Transformation Academy.
South Gloucestershire Council is doubling down on efforts to leverage technology and drive efficiencies by training more of its team members in AI and data skills. Following a successful pilot programme, delivered by Multiverse, the council has extended the training, bringing the total number of learners to 60 in efforts to continue improving local services for South Gloucestershire residents.
The Transformation Academy builds on initial training to equip more of its people with the skills to enhance organisational performance, modernise processes and secure cost savings, extending the scope of training to feature AI programmes. Digital skills gained from these courses have already seen team members secure thousands of pounds worth of savings across the council, and hours of time through increased efficiencies.
Multiverse’s Skills Intelligence Report found that nearly 30% of local government employees’ time working with data is spent unproductively. This skills initiative marks South Gloucestershire Council’s efforts to empower its employees with the training they need to drive greater efficiency and impact, in turn benefiting local residents.
The new academy will see staff enrolled from all three of the major areas of the Council, such as the ‘People’ Directorate, including Housing, Children and Adult’s Care, Education and Public Health, as well as Resources and Business Change and the 'Place' Directorate, which includes Planning, Place Shaping, Operations and Streetcare. This demonstrates the broad-reaching efforts to upskill the organisation’s data and AI capabilities, which will ensure decision making is evidence-based and existing manual processes are streamlined.
Key to the new cohort’s training will be the inclusion of AI programmes, such as the Level 4 AI for Business Value and Level 3 AI Powered Productivity. These programmes will introduce AI fundamentals and boost engagement with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Gemini, building on the success of previous training.
Programmes also include ‘Data Insights for Business Decisions,’ which equips teams with the technical skills and knowledge to confidently navigate the data landscape, and the 13-month ‘Data Fellowship’, which is a Level 4 apprenticeship upskilling data-literate staff into high-performing analysts and data science professionals.
Nigel Riglar, Executive Director of Place at South Gloucestershire Council said: “This training is already helping us make better decisions, cut costs, and modernise how we work. By adding AI skills, we’ll go even further in delivering the best service for our residents.”
Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse said: “Our research shows that many councils struggle with a data skills gap. Through this Data & Business Academy, South Gloucestershire Council will give its team members boosted confidence in data, ultimately enabling them to deliver better service outcomes for local residents.”
Multiverse is the upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption, which delivers personalised, on-the-job learning. Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016.
Over 1,500 companies work with Multiverse to deliver a new kind of learning that’s transforming the workforce at scale. Programmes are targeted at people of any age or career stage.
