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The Chancellor’s announcement of a 15% cut in civil service costs has understandably sparked concern. But for those working at the intersection of public service and technology, it also presents a moment of opportunity—a chance to reimagine how the civil service works, collaborates and delivers impact in a more efficient, digitally mature way.

At Generation Digital, we’ve spent years supporting public sector organisations—police forces, NHS trusts, UKRI, and various government departments—on this journey. As a G-Cloud certified supplier, we understand the pressures of public procurement, taxpayer scrutiny, and the balancing act of doing more with less.

The truth is that technology won’t solve everything. But applied intelligently—with clear outcomes, good governance, and the right cultural conditions—AI and modern productivity tools can help the civil service offset many of the challenges a 15% cut will bring.

Rethinking Workflows, Not Just Headcounts

The risk in cost-cutting exercises is that we look first at headcounts and last at workflows. However, the real inefficiencies often lie in our work: outdated systems, duplicated effort, siloed departments, and slow manual processes.

AI-powered tools—like intelligent document processing, summarisation, and automated data extraction—can free up thousands of hours previously spent on administrative tasks. When paired with smart collaboration platforms like Asana, Miro and Glean, they help teams work in sync, track progress transparently, and move faster without sacrificing accountability.

It’s not just about replacing effort—it’s about unlocking higher-value work.

Collaboration Across Departments Is No Longer Optional

Many public sector leaders tell us the same thing: their teams are doing good work but in silos. Cross-department collaboration remains slow, misaligned, or manually coordinated via endless email threads and spreadsheets.

This is where digital collaboration platforms come into their own. They offer a central source of truth for multi-agency projects, align objectives across departments, and provide live updates without the need for constant meetings. In short, they make collaboration easy, scalable, and visible.

Trust, Procurement and Experience Matter

Technology is only part of the solution. The right partner makes a difference—especially when public money is at stake.

At Generation Digital, we bring years of hands-on experience helping civil service teams navigate procurement frameworks, deploy digital tools, and embed them with minimal disruption. Our track record with NHS partners, police forces, and civil service agencies means we’re not learning on the job—we’re bringing trusted expertise into every engagement.

We’re also a G-Cloud-certified supplier, which means working with us is straightforward, compliant, and tailored to the nuances of government procurement.

A Human-Centred Approach to Digital Change

While much of the public conversation centres on AI and automation, we never forget the human side of this work. Our role isn’t just to deploy software—to ensure civil servants are empowered, trained, and confident in the tools at their disposal.

Ultimately, the best systems don’t just reduce costs—they unlock the potential of those who use them.

Final Thoughts

This is a challenging time for the civil service, but it’s also a moment for innovation, courage, and strategic partnerships that support long-term change.

If you’re exploring how digital tools, AI, and better working methods can help your department navigate the coming cuts without compromising service delivery, we’re ready to support you.

Let’s rethink what’s possible—together.

Graham Mackay
Generation Digital