AI Readiness of UK Local Authorities 2025: Insights for public and private organisations
AI adoption is accelerating across government, industry, universities, and civil society. Yet our research highlights a persistent misconception: that AI readiness is driven primarily by access to tools, funding, or technical expertise.
Our findings suggest otherwise.
An 18-month, data-driven assessment of AI readiness across 208 UK local authorities, covering 56% of councils nationwide, shows that organisations struggle with AI less due to the technology itself and more due to gaps in institutional capacity, including governance, skills, and the ability to scale AI safely and consistently.
The assessment evaluated councils across three dimensions: Data Maturity, AI Maturity, and AI Culture. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combined quantitative scoring with qualitative analysis, drawing on surveys of senior digital and service leaders, reviews of published strategies and governance frameworks, and analysis of reported AI use, pilots, and service activity over time.
These findings are published in AI Readiness of UK Local Authorities 2025, led by GoLLM in collaboration with the Intelligent Automation Systems Lab at Heriot-Watt University, and in partnership with APSE, SOCITM, Coram Children’s Charity, and the Sustainable Scotland Network, with grant support from Interface.
Key findings
Across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, five clear patterns emerge:
- AI readiness is uneven and non-linear. Most councils sit in a mixed-readiness position, where experimentation outpaces the foundations needed for safe and repeatable scaling.
- Organisational size is a poor predictor of maturity. Several smaller councils outperform expectations, while some larger authorities underperform.
- Internal capability matters more than geography or budget. Leadership, governance discipline, strategic clarity, and usable data foundations are the strongest drivers of progress.
- Regional variation reflects structure, not ambition. Differences are shaped by governance models, shared platforms, and funding stability rather than appetite for innovation.
- AI activity remains largely pilot-dominated. Scaling is constrained by legacy IT, fragmented data estates, and unclear ownership.
Regional patterns reinforce this picture. England shows strong innovation in metropolitan areas but fragmentation across county and district tiers. Scotland benefits from national programmes and university links, though rural councils face capacity limits. Wales remains constrained by legacy systems and skills shortages, increasing reliance on national architectures. Northern Ireland reflects the long-term effects of funding constraints and the need for pooled capability.
From research to action
This research sits at the core of GoLLM’s mission: helping organisations understand where they truly stand today and what actions to take next.
Leveraging our flagship product D.A.V.E. (Dynamic Analytics and Visualisation Engine) as well as our expert research team, GoLLM supports end-to-end survey design, advanced analytics, and insight generation across multiple domains not limited to local government. By combining robust, validated analytics for surveys and other feedback with expert interpretation, D.A.V.E. uncovers hidden signals that allow organisations to adapt quicker while mitigating risks and capitalising on opportunities for the benefit of their customers, employees, and communities.
We support clients such as:
- Market Research, HR, and Insight Consultancies
- Enterprise and other private sector organisations
- Public sector organisations
GoLLM enables organisations to move beyond data collection delivering insights that support diagnostic analysis, strategic prioritisation, and confident decision-making.
What performance gaps reveal
Comparative performance analysis brings these patterns into sharper focus. Surrey County Council and Leeds City Council illustrate how sustained investment in data strategy and embedded analytics can support progress beyond isolated pilots. Several smaller authorities, including West Dunbartonshire, Orkney Islands Council, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, perform above expectations, reflecting clear prioritisation and more cohesive governance arrangements. By contrast, councils such as Ashford, Test Valley, and Monmouthshire sit below their expected maturity levels, highlighting how fragmentation, legacy processes, and unclear ownership can constrain progress even where structural conditions appear favourable..
From experimentation to capability
The report calls for a shift from isolated pilots toward capability-led adoption, focused on shared platforms, clear AI governance, workforce development aligned to service needs, and regional collaboration.
Progress will depend less on new technology and more on leadership, coordination, and institutional alignment.
📘 AI Readiness of UK Local Authorities 2025 sets out the full evidence, methodology, regional analysis, and recommendations.
From research to action
This research sits at the core of GoLLM’s mission: helping organisations understand where they truly stand today and what actions to take next.
Leveraging our flagship product D.A.V.E. (Dynamic Analytics and Visualisation Engine) as well as our expert research team, GoLLM supports end-to-end survey design, advanced analytics, and insight generation across multiple domains not limited to local government. By combining robust, validated analytics for surveys and other feedback with expert interpretation, D.A.V.E. uncovers hidden signals that allow organisations to adapt quicker while mitigating risks and capitalising on opportunities for the benefit of their customers, employees, and communities.
We support clients such as:
- Market Research, HR, and Insight Consultancies
- Enterprise and other private sector organisations
- Public sector organisations
GoLLM enables organisations to move beyond data collection delivering insights that support diagnostic analysis, strategic prioritisation, and confident decision-making.