Why AI Could Be the Catalyst for a More Agile Public Sector

AI is dominating the headlines and for good reason. Across industries, it’s reshaping how we work, make decisions, and deliver services. But in the UK public sector, where demands are increasing, budgets are tight, and scrutiny is intense, AI represents not just an incremental improvement, but a chance to reimagine how transformation happens. 

The Pressures on the Public Sector 

Public bodies are being asked to do more with less. They face: 

• Complex programmes with competing priorities
• Legacy systems and data silos
• Growing expectations for transparency and outcomes
• A shortage of time, skills, and resources.

Traditional approaches to managing change, with spreadsheets, reports, and manual oversight, are under strain. Leaders need sharper insight, greater agility, and tools that take some of the weight off their teams. 

The AI Opportunity 

AI offers exactly that. It can help the public sector shift from retrospective management to proactive, predictive, and adaptive transformation. 

Some of the biggest opportunities include: 

• Predictive insight – Identifying risks, bottlenecks, or cost pressures before they escalate. 

• Faster reporting – Automating the time-consuming process of generating dashboards, performance packs, and audit trails. 

• Smarter prioritisation – Recommending which programmes deliver the greatest value against strategic priorities. 

• Natural language access – Allowing leaders to ask questions in plain English (“Which projects are most at risk of delay?”) and receive clear answers in seconds. 

• Resource optimisation – Matching people, skills, and budgets to where they’re needed most. 

Why Now? 

AI is no longer experimental. It’s practical, accessible, and increasingly embedded in the tools organisations already use. For the UK public sector, the timing matters. With Integrated Care Boards, local authorities, and central government all facing complex change agendas, AI can provide the clarity and agility they need to succeed. 

Human + AI, Not Human vs AI 

The important point: AI won’t replace public sector leaders, programme managers, or delivery teams. It will augment them. Leaders still set the vision, provide context, and make the decisions. AI simply gives them sharper foresight, reduces manual burden, and helps them act with greater confidence. 

What This Means for Change Delivery 

For public sector organisations, adopting AI could mean: 

• More agile responses to shifting priorities 

• Stronger assurance for boards, ministers, and the public 

• A culture of data-driven, evidence-based decision-making 

• Faster progress on transformation programmes that matter to citizens. 

Verto’s Perspective 

At Verto, we see this moment as a turning point. We’re already embedding AI capabilities into our platform, designed specifically for the UK public sector. From smart reporting to predictive analytics, our goal is to make AI accessible, safe, and genuinely useful for public bodies managing complex change. 

The UK public sector doesn’t just need to keep pace with change, it needs to lead it. AI is an enabler for that shift. It can turn today’s pressures into tomorrow’s opportunities, helping leaders deliver more impact with greater confidence. 

The opportunity is here. The question is: will we seize it? 

Ross Mardell will be speaking at DigiGov in the AI Theatre at 10:30am on September 25th 

His session is titled AI Meets PMO: Cutting through complexity to drive public value. Learn how AI is already being applied in live public sector projects to help make better decisions and free up skilled delivery teams. See practical examples of AI at work: Identifying problem areas, promoting good practice and relieving mundane tasks. Discover how to get better data out of your PMO, without adding reporting burden to your delivery teams. Hear how leadership teams are getting real-time visibility across hundreds of projects, allowing for faster, smarter decisions. Get inspiration to modernise your portfolio management, whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your existing setup. Find out what the future of programme delivery looks like, and what you can do now to stay ahead.