BCP Council boosts data & AI skills with staff training drive

BCP Council has engaged with Multiverse to provide data and artificial intelligence training to more than 50 staff members as part of its ongoing transformation programme.

The training initiative aims to improve decision-making, enhance public services, and contribute to the council's goal of achieving financial sustainability. Staff from the Operations, IT, and Programmes teams are enrolled in the Multiverse-led courses, which focus on upskilling individuals in key areas such as data analysis, automation, and AI applications.

This partnership is central to BCP Council's broader efforts to modernise internal processes and increase organisational efficiency. The council's stated ambition is to deliver better outcomes for its residents. According to the council, investment in technical skills through practical learning is intended to create a workforce capable of more confidently delivering data-driven services and strategic decisions.

Sarah Chamberlain, Director of IT & Programmes at BCP Council, commented, "This partnership is a vital part of our digital transformation strategy. Building internal capability in data and AI allows us to make faster, better-informed decisions and deliver more responsive services for our communities. We're already seeing early signs of impact and are excited to expand this further in the months ahead."

The data and AI programmes provided by Multiverse are fully funded via the apprenticeship levy, and are delivered using a model that combines real-world projects with focused coaching. Courses on offer include Data Literacy (Level 3), which helps staff gain foundational data skills for interpreting, visualising, and applying data to daily decisions; Data Fellowship (Level 4), designed to develop advanced analysis skills including dashboard creation, workflow automation, and deriving insights from complex datasets; and AI Productivity & Leadership, a set of focused programmes aimed at facilitating the adoption of tools like Microsoft Copilot and providing leaders with the knowledge to manage AI-led transformation projects.

The council reports that, as a result of staff participation in these training programmes, over 200 hours previously spent on manual activities have already been saved. Organisational improvements cited include gains in service design, reporting, and digital innovation, which saw learners apply their training to projects that yielded efficiency gains and savings across various departments.

Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, said, "BCP Council is showing what's possible when public sector organisations invest in future-ready skills. By training over 50 staff in data and AI, they're not just improving how decisions are made — they're building a modern, agile workforce that can continuously adapt and innovate to meet residents' needs."

Multiverse has trained more than 20,000 apprentices since its inception in 2016 and has previously collaborated with over 50 councils across the UK to address skill shortages in data, AI, and digital transformation. The company's training model is based on delivering a blend of applied learning and mentorship, targeting skills that are critical to workforce development within a technological context.

BCP Council provides services to around 400,000 residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole and hosts nearly 15 million visitors annually. The council has outlined ambitions to develop the BCP region as a desirable coastal location for living, working, and investing. It has placed an emphasis on adapting to the digital age by equipping its employees with the requisite skills to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.