Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing how people work across the public sector. However, making the most of AI is not just about having access to new technology. It is also about having the confidence and practical skills to understand where AI can add value and how it can be used responsibly in day-to-day work.
That is the focus of this year’s annual Civil Service initiative One Big Thing 2026: AI in Action.
What is One Big Thing?
One Big Thing is an annual Civil Service programme that brings civil servants together to focus on a shared area of learning. In 2026, AI in Action is focused on putting AI into practice.
This means helping people identify where AI could be useful, from saving time on everyday tasks to finding simpler ways to get work done. It also aims to build confidence in trying new AI tools and exploring how they could be applied to different tasks and ways of working.
What we are doing for local government
As part of the One Big Thing programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has developed workshop materials for civil servant colleagues across the department, and the Local AI team is making those materials available to local government teams to use, so that they can run those workshops within their own teams.
What do the workshops involve?
The workshops help teams explore how AI could support their own work.
They cover 3 areas:
- Thinking critically: checking AI-generated information and deciding whether it can be trusted and used
- Creating value: exploring where AI could help, such as making information easier to find or processes clearer for people to follow
- Redesigning work: considering how AI could change the way work is done and where people still need to check outputs, make decisions and use their judgement
Workshops can be run within existing teams by team leaders or colleagues with an interest in AI. Facilitators do not need to be AI specialists, and supporting materials and guidance are provided to help them run the sessions.
Why this matters: supporting local government to make the most of AI
Across local government, councils are already exploring how AI can help improve services, support staff and tackle some of the practical challenges they face every day.
Through Local AI, MHCLG is working alongside councils to support the responsible and effective adoption of AI across the sector. Our focus is on helping local government move from interest and experimentation towards practical use, building the confidence, capability and connections needed to apply AI to real problems and deliver better outcomes for communities.
A key part of this is making sure councils can benefit from useful tools, learning and approaches being developed across government, rather than having to solve the same challenges separately. That is why, this year, we are making One Big Thing 2026: AI in Action available to colleagues in local government.
Interested in using the workshop materials?
Local government teams interested in using the AI in Action workshop materials can register by providing their name, organisation and email address through our short form:
Expression of Interest : AI in Action workshop materials – fill in the form.
Materials will be sent directly to registered contacts for use within their teams.
Making One Big Thing available to local government is just one of the ways MHCLG is supporting councils with responsible adoption of AI.
Read our other blog posts to find out more about Local AI, and email us at LocalAI@communities.gov.uk if you work in local government and would like to collaborate with us.
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