The government has struck a headline agreement with big tech to help shift departments off ageing systems and speed digital change across the public sector.
The arrangement names google cloud as a strategic technology partner to deliver migration, a cross‑government cyber platform and training for civil servants to 2030. DSIT insists the deal fits procurement rules since no money changes hands, while leaving room for future commercial terms.
Officials stress strict controls over data and overseas hosting, and say sensitive information will not be used to train models. Early evidence from a Copilot pilot across 20,000 civil servants showed gains in productivity, suggesting measurable value for taxpayers.
For further context on reactions to this model of collaboration, see a detailed report from The Guardian on the wider implications here.
Key Takeaways
- Non‑cash agreement aims to accelerate modernisation while remaining within procurement rules.
- Focuses on migration from legacy systems, cyber capability and upskilling civil servants.
- Data hosting and use are limited to protect sensitive information.
- Early pilot results show time savings and positive uptake among public servants.
- Government intends to use its scale to shape future commercial terms and value for taxpayers.
UK government’s AI push: what’s been agreed and why it matters
The package pairs a large-scale training drive with a unified cloud platform to tackle ageing systems and lift digital capability across departments.
Key facts at a glance: Google Cloud pact, civil servant upskilling and cyber resilience
DSIT’s commitment includes a pledge to train 100,000 civil servants by 2030 through the Google Cloud Training Programme. The target supports a goal of having one in ten civil servants in tech roles within the same years.
The arrangement also funds a cross-government cyber security platform. That platform is designed to monitor threats and coordinate responses, reducing risk across siloed systems.
Microsoft’s Copilot trial results and implications for public services
A 20,000-person Copilot pilot saved an average of 26 minutes per day per user. Eighty-two per cent of participants preferred not to return to previous working methods.
Those time savings can translate into improved public services and potential cost benefits for taxpayers. The government emphasised guardrails: no permission will be granted to train models on sensitive data and legal conditions govern overseas storage.
“The training and cloud capabilities are intended to be put to use across core systems to reduce fragmentation and boost resilience,” said kyle said.
- Skills: a multi-year training push to upskill the sector.
- Security: a foundational platform for threat detection and response.
- Efficiency: pilot evidence shows real productivity gains and value for taxpayers.
Inside the Google-DSIT partnership: scale, tools and public value
The pact sets out a wide-ranging programme to retrain civil teams, modernise infrastructure and shift services off ageing contracts.
Training 100,000 civil servants by 2030 to tackle legacy tech across public services
The partnership will train 100,000 civil servants by 2030 to help departments move away from fragile legacy systems. This aims to build practical skills across the sector so teams can migrate services and run cloud-native systems with confidence.
Cross-government cyber security platform and “secure-by-design” infrastructure
The programme includes a cross-government security platform that centralises monitoring and response. Shared tooling reduces duplicated effort and closes gaps across public systems.
Secure-by-design infrastructure and optional air-gapped deployments are offered to protect sensitive data while allowing interoperable cloud operations.
From DeepMind to Gemini: the Extract tool digitising planning documents
The collaboration produced Extract, a Gemini-based tool that digitises handwritten planning documents and maps data for faster decision-making. Local authorities can use it to cut delays in planning and speed housing delivery.
Market clout, taxpayer value and plans to migrate systems off “ball and chain” contracts
By pooling demand, the government hopes to secure better pricing and performance guarantees for taxpayers. The aim is clear: move services off expensive, hard-to-exit ball chain contracts into flexible cloud models that reduce outages and long-term cost.
“The partnership seeks measurable delivery: training volumes, platform rollout and tool deployment that can be assessed against promised public value.”
- Scale: workforce training to tackle legacy tech across public services.
- Security: a shared cyber platform and secure infrastructure choices.
- Tooling: document digitisation to speed planning workflows.
- Value: pooled buying power to improve outcomes for the public sector.
Microsoft and Google Secure Major UK Government AI Deals: opportunities, risks and governance
The pact has opened a debate over opportunities to modernise services while exposing long-term dependencies in public procurement.
Digital sovereignty and data location
Campaigners such as Foxglove warned the deal could entrench market power and risk digital sovereignty. They questioned dependence on overseas providers and the impact of shifting international policy.
The government said the agreement forbids training models on government data and limits overseas storage to cases with proper legal and security safeguards. Clients may choose independent infrastructure or air-gapped options to keep control of where data is processed.
Procurement, lock-in and market dynamics
There was no tender because no funds changed hands, so DSIT says the said agreement fits procurement law. That approach raises concerns about transparency and how future contracts will be structured.
“What looks like value today could create lock-in tomorrow,” warned Imogen Parker of the Ada Lovelace Institute.
- Opportunities: quicker adoption of artificial intelligence and improved security posture across public services.
- Risks: long-term dependence on a few firms and the need to manage complex contracts over time.
- Governance: measures such as data minimisation, portability clauses, value-for-money reviews and published transparency reports can protect the taxpayer.
Ministers, including the secretary, said UK technology companies will have a fair shot in future competitions. kyle said multi-vendor strategies and clear performance metrics are needed to balance innovation with accountability.
Conclusion: Microsoft and Google Secure Major UK Government AI Deals
By using buying power and focused upskilling, ministers aim to retire legacy systems and free services from costly ball chain contracts. This partnership and the wider agreement mark a step-change in how the public sector modernises core systems.
Training for 100,000 civil servants, faster cloud migrations and tools such as Extract that digitise planning documents give early proof points. The Copilot pilot showed near-term time savings while multi-year migrations continue.
Robust data governance, clear exit clauses in contracts and continued competition between companies will be vital. The secretary and peter kyle say success depends on disciplined delivery, intelligence-led security and transparent measures to protect the taxpayer.
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