Showcasing the impact of AI with local government staff nationwide
Around 100 people attended an event hosted by Lancashire County Council on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is benefitting services including adult and children's social care.
Local authority directors, senior leaders and other professionals were welcomed to the AI Expo at County Hall in Preston which showcased how AI is being used across different services to enhance quality, boost productivity and support better outcomes for residents.
To date, the council's Digital and learning development team have supported more than six and a half thousand staff – approximately 68% of our workforce - to use tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot to speed up everyday tasks.
Early estimations indicate that the targeted use of AI will free up 235,000 staff hours per year on routine tasks.
Attendees heard directly from Lancashire’s Director of Digital, Peter Lloyd, Director of Children’s Social Care Louise Anderson and Mairead Gill-Mullarkey who is Director of Adults Services Operations alongside other experts in the field.
Councillor David Dwyer, cabinet member for Resources, Digital and Efficiency, said:
"Artificial Intelligence is helping us to work smarter, it's saving hundreds of thousands of hours for our staff, so they can spend more time supporting residents.
"We have created a culture where AI is helping people in their jobs, but it does not take away from professional judgment.
"It’s fantastic to see Lancashire leading the way, sharing what works and helping other councils do the same. This is all about improving services and delivering better outcomes for our communities."