The UK government has launched nine new AI training courses for civil servants, aiming to boost digital skills and improve efficiency in the public sector.
These courses, led by the Cabinet Office and Government Skills, aim to prepare civil servants for the increasing impact of AI on government operations.
The training covers key areas including AI ethics, generative AI tools, large language models, machine learning, and natural language processing, equipping employees with the skills to use AI technologies effectively within government departments. Among the practical applications highlighted was the use of Redbox Copilot, an AI-powered chatbot that assists civil servants by summarizing the content of messages, briefings, and speech transcripts, helping them manage their daily tasks more efficiently.
Michael Thornton, Senior Director, Public Sector at Investigo, praised the initiative, saying: “AI can be a huge driver of efficiency across the public sector, saving civil servants dozens of hours a week each. So it’s encouraging to see the government launching new AI courses for civil servants, covering key areas such as ethics and generative AI tools that can significantly boost productivity.”
Thornton also stressed the importance of bridging skills gaps, noting that the public sector must take a strategic approach to managing temporary and consultant staff to support AI integration. “By bringing in specialist talent alongside AI skills training, the public sector can ensure a smooth rollout of AI technologies while transferring critical knowledge to civil servants to maintain these systems.”
The new AI courses replace seven old modules in the government’s Generative AI suite and offer a mix of video, interactive and written content to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Tristan Wilkinson, Head of Public Sector at AND Digital, emphasised the importance of integrating data management into the curriculum. He said: “Improving public sector efficiency should be a top priority to improve the delivery of key public services. Equipping civil servants with AI skills to improve productivity is welcome.”
Wilkinson highlighted the importance of a strong focus on data in AI training, covering areas such as data quality, governance and ethics. “Data is at the heart of any AI model, so it’s important that training covers these topics, especially in the wake of the EU AI Act. By adopting a data and ethics approach, employees will be able to operate systems in a safe and trustworthy way and truly maximise the benefits that AI delivers.”
The nine courses available to civil service employees include:
– Artificial Intelligence: The Basics
– Artificial Intelligence: Understanding the Ethics of AI
– Artificial Intelligence: The Business Value of AI
– Artificial Intelligence: AI Tools and Applications
– Artificial Intelligence: Working with Large Language Models
– Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning and Deep Learning
– Artificial Intelligence: Natural Language Processing and Speech Recognition
– Artificial Intelligence: Computer Vision
– Artificial Intelligence: The Technical Approach
These courses aim not only to enhance civil servants’ knowledge of AI, but also to support the UK Government’s wider strategy to boost public sector productivity and deliver better services to the public through the strategic use of AI.