The UK Government has announced a landmark partnership to modernise public services, cut costs, and bring cutting-edge technology into everyday government operations.
Unveiled by the Technology Secretary, the partnership is a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change, aiming to create a more agile, efficient, and digitally empowered state.
The collaboration will help replace outdated legacy systems — which still power over 25% of public sector services, and up to 70% in some NHS trusts and police forces — with secure, cloud-based alternatives. These upgrades are expected to unlock up to £45 billion in efficiency savings.
The move will also help departments escape restrictive “ball and chain” tech contracts that have made data migration costly and difficult for years.
Google DeepMind will work with government technical teams to deploy emerging technologies, including:
- AI for service delivery and scientific discovery
- Secure-by-design cloud infrastructure
- Exploration of quantum computing for future public sector applications
This will help transform services millions rely on — from NHS appointments to council tax, bin collections, and passport renewals — making them faster, simpler, and more user-friendly.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology:
“Without deals like this in place, we had hundreds of public sector organisations going it alone in negotiations with big tech companies - leaving them without the market clout they need to get the best deal.
“When I negotiate with tech companies, I am negotiating on behalf of the British taxpayer.
“Britain will be using more technology, in more areas and more than ever before. So, my message to the big technology companies is clear: bring us your best ideas, your best tech, and your best price.”
A new Google Cloud training programme will run alongside the partnership, aiming to upskill tens of thousands of public sector workers in AI and digital skills by 2030. This supports the Prime Minister’s ambition for 1 in 10 civil servants to work in tech roles by the same year.
The partnership supports the delivery of the government’s “blueprint for a modern digital government”, which seeks to improve public service delivery, reduce taxpayer costs, and derive economy growth through innovation.
By negotiating on behalf of the entire public sector, the government also aims to strengthen its bargaining power with tech providers and ensure better value for money.
Image credit: iStock
