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Guidance and training available to you

Government has invested heavily in AI guidance, and a growing set of training resources is openly available across the public sector. The challenge is not finding guidance; it is knowing which resources are most relevant to where you are now.

Official government guidance

AI Playbook for Government (DSIT)

Sets out the principles and guardrails for safe, responsible AI deployment across government.

Covers human oversight, transparency, explainability, data governance, bias mitigation, and accountability. Mandatory reading for any team deploying AI in high-impact areas such as policing, welfare, or healthcare.

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The People Factor (Cabinet Office)

A practical framework for the human side of AI adoption.

Structures change management into three stages: Adopt (building initial uptake), Sustain (embedding AI into daily workflows), and Optimise (continuously improving how tools are used). Essential for leaders thinking about culture and behaviour change alongside technology.

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AI Opportunities Action Plan

Published by DSIT, this plan shifts the focus from ambition to implementation.

It introduces the Scan, Pilot, Scale framework, identifies priority use cases, and calls for investment in data foundations and skills development. It sets the direction for AI adoption across government departments and arm's-length bodies.

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Skills and training resources

Resource
What It Covers
Who It Is For
Civil Service Learning AI Skills Pathway
Foundational AI literacy through to practical application. Free, government-specific modules.
All civil servants. Strongly recommended for SCS.
GDS Academy – AI for Leaders
Practical digital and data leadership. Covers AI strategy, procurement, and governance for non-technical leaders.
Directors, DDs, and operational leads.
NHS AI Lab Learning Resources
Healthcare-specific AI ethics, governance, and use case evaluation. Strong on patient safety considerations.
NHS and health-adjacent public bodies.
Microsoft Learn – AI Fundamentals (AI-900)
Free certification pathway. Covers AI, ML, and Azure AI services. Practical and well-structured for non-specialists.
Any public sector team on the Microsoft stack.
Alan Turing Institute – Public Sector AI Guides
Research-backed guidance on ethics, fairness, transparency, and responsible deployment. Peer-reviewed and authoritative.
Policy, governance, and ethics leads.

What is AI?

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